Rig Veda Sukta 28
Mandala 9Sukta 286 Mantras

Sukta 28

Sukta 9.28

Devata

Soma Pavamāna

Himne Pavamāna yang singkat ini memuji Soma ketika digerakkan oleh tangan dan daya manusia, melesat melalui saringan wol hingga menjadi arus jernih yang terpilih bagi para dewa. Soma dirayakan sebagai Yang Mahatahu dan penguasa budi, suatu daya laksana banteng yang didorong oleh “sepuluh kekuatan sekerabat”, memenuhi bejana-bejana yang disiapkan untuk persembahan. Himne ini berpuncak pada aliran pemurnian Soma yang tak terkalahkan, yang menghadirkan kepahlawanan ilahi dan memusnahkan ujaran yang mencelakakan dan palsu (aghaśaṃsa).

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.28

Mantras

Mantra 1

एष वाजी हितो नृभिर्विश्वविन्मनसस्पतिः । अव्यो वारं वि धावति ॥

Soma ini—kelimpahan daya—ditegakkan oleh kekuatan-kekuatan manusia; sang maha-tahu, penguasa manas, ia berlari luas menembus avya, saringan wol, melepaskan arus-arus pilihan.

Mantra 2

एष पवित्रे अक्षरत्सोमो देवेभ्यः सुतः । विश्वा धामान्याविशन् ॥

Soma ini, diperas bagi para dewa, telah mengalir melalui penyaring suci; memasuki segala kediaman dan ranah keberadaan, ia meresapi dan menegakkan tatanan ilahi di dalamnya.

Mantra 3

एष देवः शुभायतेऽधि योनावमर्त्यः । वृत्रहा देववीतमः ॥

Soma ini—keilahian itu—bercahaya di atas yoni, rahim perwujudan; ia abadi, pembunuh Vṛtra sang Penutup, yang paling unggul dalam memperoleh para dewa—ia menghadirkan daya-daya ilahi ke dalam karya kita.

Mantra 4

एष वृषा कनिक्रदद्दशभिर्जामिभिर्यतः । अभि द्रोणानि धावति ॥

Soma ini, Sang Banteng, mengaum ketika digerakkan oleh sepuluh daya seasal; ia berlari menuju bejana-bejana, memenuhi wadah-wadah yang telah disiapkan bagi keberadaan.

Mantra 5

एष सूर्यमरोचयत्पवमानो विचर्षणिः । विश्वा धामानि विश्ववित् ॥

Soma ini, ketika memurnikan diri, telah membuat Surya bersinar; luas penglihatan dan geraknya di antara manusia, sang Mahatahu memasuki serta menerangi segenap ranah keberadaan kita.

Mantra 6

एष शुष्म्यदाभ्यः सोमः पुनानो अर्षति । देवावीरघशंसहा ॥

Soma ini, perkasa dan tak terkalahkan, mengalir sambil memurnikan diri; ia menghadirkan daya-daya kepahlawanan para dewa, dan membinasakan ujaran permusuhan—kebohongan dan dosa—di dalam diri kita.

Inside Sukta 28

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma is established by human powers and immediately portrayed as the all-knowing lord of mind rushing through the woolen filter.

  2. Development

    The hymn intensifies Soma’s dynamism and potency: he is driven onward by coordinated powers, bellows like a bull, and hastens toward the prepared vessels.

  3. Climax

    Soma’s purifying flow is declared mighty and invincible, bringing divine heroism and power.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn ends with a protective note: Soma destroys hostile, sinful, or false speech (aghaśaṃsa), leaving the sacrificer strengthened and safeguarded.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaSoma “while purifying” (pavamāna) is the pressed and flowing sacred drink, imagined as a luminous, living power that runs through the woolen strainer, becomes clarified, and hastens to the offering vessels. He is called vājī (forceful, victorious), viśvavit (all-knowing), manasas patiḥ (lord of mind), and vṛṣā (bull-force).
  • Cosmic functionHe mediates between humans and gods: purified Soma energizes the deities, sustains ṛta (right order), and empowers victory, vitality, and inspired speech.
  • Inner significancePsychologically, Pavamāna symbolizes the purification of awareness—raw impulse and desire pressed, filtered, and clarified into luminous clarity, truthful speech, and divinely aligned will; the slaying of aghaśaṃsa points to overcoming inner negativity and self-deceiving talk.

The seer

  • Anukramaṇī-attributed: an unknown/unnamed seerThis hymn is part of the Soma Pavamāna corpus where many verses are transmitted without a clearly preserved individual r̥ṣi-name; the emphasis is on the liturgical voice of the Soma-pressing rite rather than a personal authorial signature.

Famous verses

manasas patiḥ
Verse 9.28.1Defines the core Pavamāna action—Soma as all-knowing ‘lord of mind’ rushing through the woolen strainer—linking ritual filtration with inner illumination.Read verse 9.28.1 →
daśabhir jāmibhiḥ
Verse 9.28.4Highlights Soma’s bull-like force and the striking image of being urged by ‘ten kindred powers,’ then running to fill the droṇa-vessels—central to the rite’s choreography.Read verse 9.28.4 →
aghaśaṃsa-hā
Verse 9.28.6Concluding affirmation of Soma’s invincibility and purifying power, especially his role in destroying aghaśaṃsa (harmful/false speech), giving the hymn its protective spiritual edge.Read verse 9.28.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Purifier (pavamāna)
  • All-knowing (viśvavit)
  • Lord of mind (manasas patiḥ)
  • Bull-like strength (vṛṣā)
  • Invincible (adābhya)
  • Mighty energy (śuṣmī)
  • Swift, streaming motion through the filter (avyā vāra)
  • Destroyer of harmful/false speech (aghaśaṃsa-hā)

Also by this seer

  • General association with Mandala 9 (Pavamāna Soma hymns) used in Soma purification and offering sequences
  • Themes shared across adjacent Pavamāna sūktas: Soma as purifier, inspirer, and slayer of hostile forces

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma stalks and mix with water according to the rite
  • Filter the expressed juice through the woolen strainer (vāra/avi) while chanting Pavamāna verses
  • Guide the clarified streams into the collecting vessels (droṇa)
  • Make libations/offerings to the gods (especially Indra and associated deities)
  • Conclude with prayers for strength, inspired mind, and the removal of hostile speech/forces

Offerings

  • Purified Soma juice (pavamāna soma)
  • Libations into the fire/onto the offering place as prescribed
  • Accompanying oblations customary to the Soma rite (e.g., ghee in connected offerings)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Soma as he is pressed and purified, flowing through the woolen strainer into vessels for offering, while granting strength, clarity of mind, and protection.

These are key parts of the Soma ritual: the juice is filtered through wool to become clear (pavamāna) and then collected in vessels (droṇa) before being offered to the gods.

It asks Soma to remove harmful, deceitful, or sinful talk—both outward negativity and inner false narratives—so the sacrificer’s speech and mind become truthful and strong.

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