Sukta 89
Sukta 9.89
Soma Pavamāna
This short Pavamāna hymn praises Soma as he is purified—streaming like rain from heaven, settling in the “mother’s lap” (the filter/pressing-place), and entering the worshippers as strength and sweetness. Soma is imagined as a powerful, honey-backed steed yoked to a wide-wheeled chariot, cleansed by “sisters” (the waters) and driven toward the gods. The hymn culminates in a direct petition: may Soma, purified for Indra, grant radiant wealth and beautiful hero-power that overcomes obstruction.
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्रो स्य वह्निः पथ्याभिरस्यान्दिवो न वृष्टिः पवमानो अक्षाः । सहस्रधारो असदन्न्यस्मे मातुरुपस्थे वन आ च सोमः ॥
सोम आगे बढ़ रहा है, अग्नि की तरह तेज़ हो के। सही रास्ते से चल रहा है, जैसे आसमान से बारिश गिरती है। हज़ारों धाराओं में बाह रहा है और हमारे पास आ रहा है। माँ की गोद में, जंगल में, और हमारे खेत में आके बैठ रहा है।
Mantra 2
राजा सिन्धूनामवसिष्ट वास ऋतस्य नावमारुहद्रजिष्ठाम् । अप्सु द्रप्सो वावृधे श्येनजूतो दुह ईं पिता दुह ईं पितुर्जाम् ॥
सोम नदियों का राजा है। वसिष्ठ, उसने अपने कपड़े पहन लिए है। वो सच्चाई की नावी चढ़ा है, सबसे तेज़। पानी में एक बूँद बड़ी हो रही है, बाज़ की तरह उड़ रही है। पिता उसे निकाल रहे हैं और वो पिता के रिश्ते को निकाल रहे हैं।
Mantra 3
सिंहं नसन्त मध्वो अयासं हरिमरुषं दिवो अस्य पतिम् । शूरो युत्सु प्रथमः पृच्छते गा अस्य चक्षसा परि पात्युक्षा ॥
लोग उसके पास आते हैं जैसे शेर के पास जाते हैं। वो थकता नहीं, उसमें मीठा रस भरा है। रंग सुनहरा और लाल, आसमान का मालिक है। युद्ध में वो सबसे पहले आगे निकलता है। वो किरणों को ढूंढता है, जैसे गाय को ढूंढते हैं। उसकी नज़र सब तरफ फैली हुई है।
Mantra 4
मधुपृष्ठं घोरमयासमश्वं रथे युञ्जन्त्युरुचक्र ऋष्वम् । स्वसार ईं जामयो मर्जयन्ति सनाभयो वाजिनमूर्जयन्ति ॥
यह घोड़ा मीठा रस वाला है, बड़ा ताकतवर, कभी थकता नहीं। उसे रथ में जोड़ा जाता है, जिसके पहिए बड़े हैं। उसकी बहनें और रिश्तेदार उसे साफ करते हैं। अपने लोग उसे ताकत देते हैं ताकि वो तेज़ी से चले।
Mantra 5
चतस्र ईं घृतदुहः सचन्ते समाने अन्तर्धरुणे निषत्ताः । ता ईमर्षन्ति नमसा पुनानास्ता ईं विश्वतः परि षन्ति पूर्वीः ॥
चार ताकतें उसके साथ चिपकी हुई हैं। वो सब अंदर बैठे हैं, एक ही जगह पर। वो उसे बहने देते हैं, साफ करते हैं। वो पुराने हैं और चारों तरफ से उसको घेरे हुए हैं।
Mantra 6
विष्टम्भो दिवो धरुणः पृथिव्या विश्वा उत क्षितयो हस्ते अस्य । असत्त उत्सो गृणते नियुत्वान्मध्वो अंशुः पवत इन्द्रियाय ॥
वो आसमान का सहारा है, ज़मीन का बेस। सारी दुनिया उसके हाथ में है। गाने वाले के लिए पानी का चश्मा बना है, ताकत के साथ। मीठी किरण इंद्र की ताकत के लिए बह रही है, जीत के लिए।
Mantra 7
वन्वन्नवातो अभि देववीतिमिन्द्राय सोम वृत्रहा पवस्व । शग्धि महः पुरुश्चन्द्रस्य रायः सुवीर्यस्य पतयः स्याम ॥
हवा के साथ चल के भगवान के पास पहुंच। इंद्र के लिए सोम, तू अपने आप को साफ कर। रास्ता रोकने वाले को तू मारता है। हमें बड़ा धन दे, चमक वाला। हम भी ताकतवाले बन जाएं, जीत वाले।
Inside Sukta 89
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma surges forward on rightful paths, pouring out like heavenly rain—an image of lawful, life-giving flow.
- Development
The hymn elaborates Soma’s settling in the ‘mother’s lap’ (filter/pressing place) and his dynamic form as a formidable, tireless steed; the waters/kinswomen cleanse and strengthen him.
- Climax
Soma is urged to purify himself for Indra’s divine encounter, taking on the role of victorious power that breaks obstruction.
- Where it settles
A clear request concludes the hymn: grant great, many-shining riches and make the worshippers masters of beautiful, effective hero-force.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- In the VedaSoma as ‘Pavamāna’ is Soma-in-process: the pressed juice rushing through the woolen filter, clarified, bright, and fit for the gods. He is praised as thousand-streamed, honey-rich, swift like a steed, and as the inspirer who brings delight, power, and victorious force.
- Cosmic functionHe mediates between heaven and earth: a divine elixir that invigorates Indra for the slaying of Vṛtra, sustains ṛta (right order) through correct ritual flow, and distributes vitality, rain-like abundance, and luminous prosperity.
- Inner significanceThe purified Soma signifies clarified consciousness—desire and emotion refined into inspiration (mati), courage, and steady power. ‘Entering within us’ points to an inner sacrament: the settling of luminous strength in the heart-mind once impurities are strained away.
The seer
- Anonymus (Rishi unknown)This hymn belongs to the Soma Pavamāna collection (Mandala 9), where many sūktas are transmitted without a clearly preserved seer-name; the focus is on the liturgical and visionary description of Soma’s purification rather than on a family signature.
Famous verses
प्रो स्य वह्निः पथ्याभिरस्यान्दिवो न वृष्टिः पवमानो अक्षाः । सहस्रधारो असदन्न्यस्मे मातुरुपस्थे वन आ च सोमः ॥मधुपृष्ठं घोरमयासमश्वं रथे युञ्जन्त्युरुचक्र ऋष्वम् । स्वसार ईं जामयो मर्जयन्ति सनाभयो वाजिनमूर्जयन्ति ॥वन्वन्नवातो अभि देववीतिमिन्द्राय सोम वृत्रहा पवस्व । शग्धि महः पुरुश्चन्द्रस्य रायः सुवीर्यस्य पतयः स्याम ॥Attributes of the deity
- Purifying/clarifying (pavamāna)
- Thousand-streamed flow
- Honey-sweet, life-giving essence
- Swift, chariot-yoked steed imagery
- Empowers Indra (vṛtrahan function by support)
- Bestower of wealth, radiance, and hero-force
- Associated with waters as cleansers and carriers
Also by this seer
- Participation (as part of the anonymous Mandala 9 tradition) in the Pavamāna corpus used in Soma-pressing rites
- Preservation of key Soma imagery: rain-like outflow, thousand-streamed flow, and the waters as cleansing “sisters”
The rite, step by step
- Press Soma (or ritually prepare the Soma substitute) and collect the juice
- Strain through the woolen filter (pavitra), accompanied by Pavamāna recitation
- Mix/clarify with water and (as prescribed) milk or other enhancers; continue filtration until bright
- Offer libations to Indra and the gods; recite petitions for strength, wealth, and victory
- Distribute the consecrated remainder according to rite, sealing the intention of inner purification and empowerment
Offerings
- Purified Soma juice (or ritual Soma preparation)
- Water as the cleansing medium (‘sisters’)
- Milk/curds/ghee additions where the ritual tradition prescribes
Frequently Asked Questions
The hymn praises Soma as Pavamāna—Soma while being purified through the filter—then offered especially for Indra’s strength and victory.
It describes Soma’s abundant, many-channel flow during purification and symbolically suggests overflowing vitality and inspiration spreading in many currents.
Soma is poetically imagined as a powerful horse yoked to a chariot, while the “sisters” are the cleansing waters that wash and strengthen him during the filtering process.
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