Sukta 19
Rishi: To be resolved via Anukramaṇī for AVŚ 6.19 (not provided in excerpt).
Devata: Pavamāna (Soma as purifier; generalized purificatory principle).
Chandas: Mixed/Anuṣṭubh tendency (requires metrical verification).
Mantras
Mantra 1
पावमानम्। पुनन्तु मा देवजनाः पुनन्तु मनवो धिया। पुनन्तु विश्वा भूतानि पवमानः पुनातु मा
Pavamāna! Let the god-born folk cleanse me; let the Manus cleanse me with their holy thought; let all beings cleanse me: may Pavamāna himself make me pure.
Mantra 2
पवमानः पुनातु मा क्रत्वे दक्षाय जीवसे । अथो अरिष्टतातये
May Pavamāna cleanse me for resolute purpose, for apt skill, for life’s continuance, and moreover for unhurtful safety.
Mantra 3
उभाभ्यां देव सवितः पवित्रेण सवेन च । अस्मान् पुनीहि चक्षसे
With both—thy purifier and thy quickening impulse—O god Savitar, do thou cleanse us for clear sight.
Frequently Asked Questions
In strict Vedic imagery Pavamāna is Soma ‘as it is being purified/strained.’ In Atharvanic domestic use, the same purifying principle is commonly applied through clean water (often symbolically ‘strained’), serving as a practical stand-in for the purifying flow.
It asks that purity mature into capability and well-being: firm resolve (kratu), effective skill (dakṣa), continuance of life (jīva), freedom from harm (ariṣṭatā), and finally clear sight/insight (cakṣus).
Recite the three verses with a vessel of clean water prepared as a purifier (optionally filtered through a cloth/kuśa). After recitation, sprinkle a little water on the head/heart (and symbolically near the eyes if seeking clarity), dedicating the act to śuddhi and protection.