Sukta 99
Sukta 9.99
This Pavamāna Soma hymn celebrates Soma in the very act of purification—pressed, flowing, filtered through wool, and prepared as the exhilarating draught for Indra. The poets portray the ritual as a cosmic process: the shining drink is clothed in radiance, directed like a messenger, and seated in the bowls to empower victory, inspiration, and right-ordered strength.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
आ हर्यताय धृष्णवे धनुस्तन्वन्ति पौंस्यम् । शुक्रां वयन्त्यसुराय निर्णिजं विपामग्रे महीयुवः ॥
प्यारे और बहादुर भगवान के लिए लोग धनुष खींचते हैं। वो शक्ति का धनुष है। लोग उसके लिए चमकदार कपड़ा बुनते हैं। यह सब बोलने से पहले होता है। जो लोग उसकी बड़ाई करते हैं वो यह काम करते हैं।
Mantra 2
अध क्षपा परिष्कृतो वाजाँ अभि प्र गाहते । यदी विवस्वतो धियो हरिं हिन्वन्ति यातवे ॥
रात के बाद सोम को साफ करके आगे भेजा जाता है। वो ताकत के लिए आगे बढ़ता है। जब विवस्वत के खयाल उसे पुश करते हैं, तो वो पीले रंग वाला अपना सफर शुरू करता है।
Mantra 3
तमस्य मर्जयामसि मदो य इन्द्रपातमः । यं गाव आसभिर्दधुः पुरा नूनं च सूरयः ॥
हम इस सोम को साफ करते हैं। यह वो नशा है जो इंद्र के लिए सबसे बेस्ट है। पहले भी और अब भी सूरज की किरणों ने इसको अपने मुंह में लिया है।
Mantra 4
तं गाथया पुराण्या पुनानमभ्यनूषत । उतो कृपन्त धीतयो देवानां नाम बिभ्रतीः ॥
जब सोम को साफ किया जाता है, तो पुराने गानों से उसकी प्रशंसा होती है। भगवान के नाम लेके लोग अपने दिल की बात कहते हैं।
Mantra 5
तमुक्षमाणमव्यये वारे पुनन्ति धर्णसिम् । दूतं न पूर्वचित्तय आ शासते मनीषिणः ॥
सोम जो बह रहा है, उसे समझदार लोग एक खास कपड़े से साफ करते हैं। फिर उसे एक दूत की तरह भेजते हैं पुरानी याद के पास।
Mantra 6
स पुनानो मदिन्तमः सोमश्चमूषु सीदति । पशौ न रेत आदधत्पतिर्वचस्यते धियः ॥
सोम को साफ करके बाउल्स में डाला जाता है। वो बहुत ताकत देता है। जैसे बीज जीव में रखा जाता है, वैसे ही वो खयालों को शक्ति देता है।
Mantra 7
स मृज्यते सुकर्मभिर्देवो देवेभ्यः सुतः । विदे यदासु संददिर्महीरपो वि गाहते ॥
सोम को सही काम से साफ किया जाता है। यह देवता है जो दूसरों देवता के लिए बनाया जाता है। जब उसे जानना हो, वो पानी में मिल जाता है। बड़े-बड़े धारों में उतर जाता है।
Mantra 8
सुत इन्दो पवित्र आ नृभिर्यतो वि नीयसे । इन्द्राय मत्सरिन्तमश्चमूष्वा नि षीदसि ॥
इन्दु, तुझे छन्नी के थ्रू गुज़ारा जाता है। लोग तुझे ले जाते हैं। तू इतना तेज़ है कि इन्द्र को जगा देता है। इन्द्र के पास बैठ जाता है, ताकि इन्द्र तुझे पी सके।
Inside Sukta 99
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens with a vivid image of empowering preparation: Soma is armed with ‘manly power’ and clothed in a shining garment by those who magnify him (the poets/priests).
- Development
Attention shifts to the technical-sacred process—Soma pouring forth, being purified through the imperishable woolen filter, and being directed like a messenger toward primeval remembrance (pūrva-citti).
- Climax
Soma’s successful transformation into the most exhilarating draught culminates in his being made ready for Indra—ecstasy disciplined into strength for divine action.
- Where it settles
The hymn closes with Soma installed in the bowls for Indra’s drinking, sealing the ritual’s purpose: purified radiance becomes shared power and victorious inspiration.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- In the VedaHe is ‘clothed’ in shining splendor, guided by the wise, and installed in the cups as the drink of inspired power.
- Cosmic functionMediator of vitality and divine exhilaration: Soma renews strength, stimulates inspired speech (vip), and supports the gods’ victory and the world’s right functioning through the sacrificial order.
- Inner significancePurified consciousness: as Soma is clarified through the filter, so the mind and speech are refined—ecstasy becomes disciplined insight, and raw impulse is transformed into luminous, effective will.
The seer
- Anukramaṇī attribution varies (Pavamāna Soma seer tradition; often placed among Soma-seer lineages)Associated with the Soma Pavamāna corpus where the ‘seer’ voice is frequently collective—ritual poets describing Soma’s purification as both liturgy and revelation.
Famous verses
आ हर्यताय धृष्णवे धनुस्तन्वन्ति पौंस्यम् । शुक्रां वयन्त्यसुराय निर्णिजं विपामग्रे महीयुवः ॥तमुक्षमाणमव्यये वारे पुनन्ति धर्णसिम् । दूतं न पूर्वचित्तय आ शासते मनीषिणः ॥सुत इन्दो पवित्र आ नृभिर्यतो वि नीयसे । इन्द्राय मत्सरिन्तमश्चमूष्वा नि षीदसि ॥Attributes of the deity
- Purifying (pavamāna)
- Radiant/bright (śukra, indu)
- Invigorating and ecstatic (matsarin)
- Ritually ‘messenger-like’ carrier of intention
- Indra’s beloved draught
- Linked with inspired speech (vip) and poetic vision
Also by this seer
- Related Pavamāna hymns in Mandala 9 attributed across Anukramaṇī traditions to Soma-seer families (varies by recension and listing).
The rite, step by step
- Soma is pressed (suta) and made to flow.
- The juice is led into the pavitra (filter) and strained through the wool (vāra).
- The purified Soma is gathered and guided/‘commissioned’ by the ritual experts (manīṣiṇaḥ).
- Soma is ‘seated’ in the bowls (camū) as the offering portion.
- Libations are presented to the deities, with emphasis on Indra receiving the invigorating drink.
Offerings
- Purified Soma juice (primary)
- Libations into the offering vessels/bowls (camū)
- Accompanying praises (stotra/śastra) as the verbal offering
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Soma while he is being purified—pressed, strained through the filter, made radiant, and prepared as the sacred drink offered especially to Indra.
In the Soma ritual the juice is strained through a woolen filter (vāra/pavitra). The hymn treats this as both a physical purification and a symbol of refining consciousness and speech.
The poets describe purified Soma as carrying the sacrificer’s intention to the gods—directed by the wise like a messenger—so the offering reaches its divine goal and awakens ancient, foundational awareness.
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