Rig Veda Sukta 70
Mandala 9Sukta 7010 Mantras

Sukta 70

Sukta 9.70

Devata

Soma Pavamāna (purified Soma as an inner power of truth and delight)

Himne Soma Pavamāna ini memuliakan Indu yang telah dimurnikan ketika ia diperas, disaring, dan dibuat bercahaya—perwujudan Ṛta (hukum-kebenaran kosmis) serta sukacita sejati yang menutrisi para dewa dan dunia-dunia. Ia menggambarkan kenaikan dan daya Soma yang makin meluas: diperah oleh “tujuh” kekuatan pemelihara, menyelubungi dirinya dengan ranah-ranah gemilang, dan akhirnya melesat laksana kuda perang ke dalam perut Indra untuk menganugerahkan kekuatan, tuntunan, dan perlindungan dari celaan.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.70

Mantras

Mantra 1

त्रिरस्मै सप्त धेनवो दुदुह्रे सत्यामाशिरं पूर्व्ये व्योमनि । चत्वार्यन्या भुवनानि निर्णिजे चारूणि चक्रे यदृतैरवर्धत ॥

Tiga kali tujuh daya pemelihara memerah baginya kenikmatan sejati di keluasan purba langit. Dan ia membentuk empat dunia lain yang elok sebagai jubah cahayanya, ketika ia bertambah oleh hukum-hukum Ṛta.

Mantra 2

स भिक्षमाणो अमृतस्य चारुण उभे द्यावा काव्येना वि शश्रथे । तेजिष्ठा अपो मंहना परि व्यत यदी देवस्य श्रवसा सदो विदुः ॥

Mencari keabadian yang indah, ia membentang—dengan penglihatan sang penyair—melintasi kedua langit. Dengan kedermawanan yang cepat ia melingkupi perairan yang paling bercahaya, ketika oleh kemuliaan dewa mereka mengenal singgasana itu (stasiun bercahaya).

Mantra 3

ते अस्य सन्तु केतवोऽमृत्यवोऽदाभ्यासो जनुषी उभे अनु । येभिर्नृम्णा च देव्या च पुनत आदिद्राजानं मनना अगृभ्णत ॥

Semoga cahaya-cahayanya tak-mati, tak-terkalahkan, mengikuti kedua kelahiran. Dengan itu—oleh kekuatan manusia dan oleh daya ilahi—ketika ia menyucikan, pikiran-pikiran sungguh menangkap Sang Raja (Soma).

Mantra 4

स मृज्यमानो दशभिः सुकर्मभिः प्र मध्यमासु मातृषु प्रमे सचा । व्रतानि पानो अमृतस्य चारुण उभे नृचक्षा अनु पश्यते विशौ ॥

Disucikan oleh sepuluh karya yang benar, ia melaju bersama Para Ibu yang di tengah, dalam ukuran yang mendahului. Meminum keabadian yang elok, dengan pandangan yang melihat manusia ia menatap kedua kaum—dua ranah.

Mantra 5

स मर्मृजान इन्द्रियाय धायस ओभे अन्ता रोदसी हर्षते हितः । वृषा शुष्मेण बाधते वि दुर्मतीरादेदिशानः शर्यहेव शुरुधः ॥

Mengilapkan dirinya demi daya Indra, ia bersukacita, ditempatkan di antara dua ujung dunia. Sebagai banteng oleh kekuatan, ia menghalau pikiran-pikiran yang bengkok; menerjang, laksana pemburu, terhadap para penghalang.

Mantra 6

स मातरा न ददृशान उस्रियो नानददेति मरुतामिव स्वनः । जानन्नृतं प्रथमं यत्स्वर्णरं प्रशस्तये कमवृणीत सुक्रतुः ॥

Ia melenguh seperti sapi-sapi terang, seakan memanggil Para Ibu, dengan bunyi para Marut. Mengetahui Ṛta yang pertama, daya yang memanggul surga itu, yang berkehendak teguh memilihnya bagi pujiannya.

Mantra 7

रुवति भीमो वृषभस्तविष्यया शृङ्गे शिशानो हरिणी विचक्षणः । आ योनिं सोमः सुकृतं नि षीदति गव्ययी त्वग्भवति निर्णिगव्ययी ॥

Mengaum, dahsyat, sang banteng menajamkan tanduknya dengan daya; yang keemasan, berwawasan luas. Soma pun duduk ke dalam rahim yang tersusun baik; kulit yang lahir dari sapi menjadi jubahnya yang berkilau, dan yang lahir dari sapi pula menjadi selubungnya yang bercahaya.

Mantra 8

शुचिः पुनानस्तन्वमरेपसमव्ये हरिर्न्यधाविष्ट सानवि । जुष्टो मित्राय वरुणाय वायवे त्रिधातु मधु क्रियते सुकर्मभिः ॥

Suci, menyucikan, ia menjadikan tubuhnya tanpa noda; yang keemasan itu menetap di punggung bulu domba. Diterima oleh Mitra, Varuṇa, dan Vāyu, madu tiga-lapis dibentuk oleh laku-karya yang benar.

Mantra 9

पवस्व सोम देववीतये वृषेन्द्रस्य हार्दि सोमधानमा विश । पुरा नो बाधाद्दुरिताति पारय क्षेत्रविद्धि दिश आहा विपृच्छते ॥

Mengalirlah, Soma, demi kenikmatan para dewa; masuklah ke singgasana-Soma di hati Sang Banteng, Indra. Sebelum menimpa, seberangkan kami melampaui kesesakan dan kejahatan. Engkau yang mengetahui ladang, nyatakanlah arah-arah kepada dia yang bertanya.

Mantra 10

हितो न सप्तिरभि वाजमर्षेन्द्रस्येन्दो जठरमा पवस्व । नावा न सिन्धुमति पर्षि विद्वाञ्छूरो न युध्यन्नव नो निदः स्पः ॥

Bagaikan kuda yang telah dipasangi kekang, melesatlah menuju kelimpahan daya; wahai Indu, sucikanlah dirimu ke dalam perut Indra. Bagaikan perahu menyeberangi sungai, engkau melintas dengan mengetahui jalan; bagaikan pahlawan yang bertempur, halaukanlah dari kami cercaan-cercaan musuh.

Inside Sukta 70

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma’s primordial source and abundance are invoked: the ‘seven’ fostering powers draw out the true delight in the ancient sky-wide expanse, and Soma grows by Ṛta.

  2. Development

    The hymn builds Soma’s living imagery—lowing like cows, sounding like the Maruts—while stressing his knowledge of the first Ṛta and his fitness for praise and offering.

  3. Climax

    Soma surges like a harnessed steed toward power, purifying himself into Indra’s belly—the decisive moment where clarified delight becomes divine strength.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn ends with practical grace: Soma as the knowing guide who helps one cross like a boat and who, like a hero, wards off hostile speech and reproach.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaSoma is praised as the pressed and purified sacred draught that flows through the filter, shining, roaring, and becoming fit for the gods—especially for Indra. He is depicted as a radiant, truth-bearing power that is ‘milked’ from hidden sources and increases by Ṛta, fashioning luminous worlds as his robe.
  • Cosmic functionMediator and energizer: he invigorates Indra for victory, supports Ṛta, and sustains the ordered worlds through his clarified, life-giving flow.
  • Inner significanceThe clarified Soma symbolizes purified consciousness—truth-perception and bliss (ānanda) distilled from experience—rushing toward the divine will (Indra) and enabling inner strength, right discernment, and protection from negativity.

Famous verses

त्रिरस्मै सप्त धेनवो दुदुह्रे सत्यामाशिरं पूर्व्ये व्योमनि । चत्वार्यन्या भुवनानि निर्णिजे चारूणि चक्रे यदृतैरवर्धत ॥
Verse 9.70.1Establishes the hymn’s grand cosmology: Soma’s ‘true delight’ is drawn forth by the seven fostering powers, and he expands by Ṛta, clothing himself in beautiful worlds.Read verse 9.70.1 →
स मातरा न ददृशान उस्रियो नानददेति मरुतामिव स्वनः । जानन्नृतं प्रथमं यत्स्वर्णरं प्रशस्तये कमवृणीत सुक्रतुः ॥
Verse 9.70.6Links Soma’s sound and movement with cosmic forces (cows/Maruts) and explicitly frames him as knower of the ‘first Ṛta,’ grounding purification in truth-law.Read verse 9.70.6 →
हितो न सप्तिरभि वाजमर्षेन्द्रस्येन्दो जठरमा पवस्व । नावा न सिन्धुमति पर्षि विद्वाञ्छूरो न युध्यन्नव नो निदः स्पः ॥
Verse 9.70.10A vivid culmination: Soma rushes like a steed into Indra, becomes the means of crossing difficulties like a boat, and protects devotees from hostile reproaches.Read verse 9.70.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Purifying flow (pavamāna)
  • Radiance and clarity
  • Upholder/knower of Ṛta
  • Giver of strength and victory
  • World-fashioning/widening power
  • Protective, reproach-dispelling force

Also by this seer

  • Part of the RV Book 9 Pavamāna collection (Soma hymns used in Soma-pressing rites)
  • Contributes to the shared ‘Soma-poetics’ of flowing, shining, and strengthening imagery across Maṇḍala 9

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma (abhiṣava) and collect the expressed juice
  • Mix/prepare with water and supportive substances as per rite
  • Strain through the filter (pavitra) while chanting Pavamāna verses
  • Collect the clarified Soma in vessels for offering
  • Make libations to Indra (and allied deities), accompanied by praise
  • Conclude with prayers for strength, right guidance, and protection from hostility/reproach

Offerings

  • Clarified Soma juice (Indu)
  • Libations into the fire (as prescribed)
  • Optional accompanying offerings per Soma rite (e.g., ghee/oblations as integrated in the ceremony)

Frequently Asked Questions

The deity is Soma Pavamāna (Indu)—Soma as the purified sacred draught flowing through the filter, offered especially to Indra for strength.

It teaches that purification brings ‘true delight’ aligned with Ṛta (truth-law): Soma becomes radiant, strengthens Indra, widens the worlds, and grants protection and right passage through obstacles.

It is chanted during the Soma-pressing and straining stage, when the expressed juice is purified through the filter and then offered as clarified Soma in the Soma sacrifice.

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