Rig Veda Sukta 1
Mandala 9Sukta 110 Mantras

Sukta 1

Sukta 9.1

Rishi

Madhucchandas (traditionally, Soma Pavamāna seer-line; attribution varies by Anukramaṇī traditions)

Devata

Soma Pavamāna (Soma in the act of purification/flowing); with Indra as recipient

Chandas

Gāyatrī (3 pādas × 8 syllables)

この『ソーマ・パヴァマーナ』巻の冒頭讃歌は、搾られ濾されるソーマを呼びかけ、インドラの飲用のために、至上に甘く陶酔をもたらす流れとして奔り出るよう祈る。詩句は、ソーマが濾し布を通って浄められ、光り輝く力能へと澄明化する過程をたどり、その結果としてインドラの勝利の力が高まり、障碍(ヴリトラ)を打ち砕き、豊穣をもたらすことを語る。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.1

Mantras

Mantra 1

स्वादिष्ठया मदिष्ठया पवस्व सोम धारया । इन्द्राय पातवे सुतः ॥

ソーマよ、最も甘美にして最も陶酔をもたらす流れとして浄め流れ出よ。搾り出された汝は、インドラが飲むために。

Mantra 2

रक्षोहा विश्वचर्षणिरभि योनिमयोहतम् । द्रुणा सधस्थमासदत् ॥

ラクシャスを殺す者、万民に属する者は、胎座に向かい、そこに座を占める——まるで鉄に打ち込まれたかのように堅固に——共なる基盤に安住する。

Mantra 3

वरिवोधातमो भव मंहिष्ठो वृत्रहन्तमः । पर्षि राधो मघोनाम् ॥

われらのために、最もよく広き場(varivas)を開き立てる者となれ。最も寛く、最も力ある障碍(ヴリトラ)を討つ者(Vṛtrahan)となれ。施与者(maghavan)たちの富と恵みを、われらを彼岸へと渡し運べ。

Mantra 4

अभ्यर्ष महानां देवानां वीतिमन्धसा । अभि वाजमुत श्रवः ॥

搾り出された甘き歓喜(andhas)をもって流れ来たり、偉大なる神々の饗宴(vīti)へと向かえ。さらにvāja—力の充溢へ、またśravas—光り輝く名声へと流れ向かえ。

Mantra 5

त्वामच्छा चरामसि तदिदर्थं दिवेदिवे । इन्दो त्वे न आशसः ॥

われらはこの目的のために、日ごと日ごと、幾たびも汝のもとへと赴く。おおインドゥ(Indu)よ、われらの希望は汝のうちにある。

Mantra 6

पुनाति ते परिस्रुतं सोमं सूर्यस्य दुहिता । वारेण शश्वता तना ॥

太陽の娘は、めぐり流れ出る汝のソーマを浄める。彼女の存在なる永遠の水の篩によって――光明にして識別する力が、歓喜を澄みわたる真理へと漉し分ける。

Mantra 7

तमीमण्वीः समर्य आ गृभ्णन्ति योषणो दश । स्वसारः पार्ये दिवि ॥

その彼を、微妙に走る乙女たちは捉えて引き寄せる、共なる運行のうちに――遠き天における十人の姉妹。

Mantra 8

तमीं हिन्वन्त्यग्रुवो धमन्ति बाकुरं दृतिम् । त्रिधातु वारणं मधु ॥

疲れを知らぬ者たちは彼を駆り立てる。彼女らは精髄を宿す皮袋を吹きふくらませる――三重の秩序に護られた蜜を。

Mantra 9

अभीममघ्न्या उत श्रीणन्ति धेनवः शिशुम् । सोममिन्द्राय पातवे ॥

彼のまわりに、害されえぬ牝牛ら――養いの乳流――は、この幼子、すなわちソーマ(Soma)を調え満たし、インドラ(Indra)が飲むために備える。

Mantra 10

अस्येदिन्द्रो मदेष्वा विश्वा वृत्राणि जिघ्नते । शूरो मघा च मंहते ॥

このソーマの恍惚によって、インドラはまことに一切のヴリトラ(Vṛtra)と障碍を打ち砕く。英雄は力を増し、また施与と豊穣をも増し広げる。

Inside Sukta 1

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct imperative: Soma is urged to flow in the sweetest, most exhilarating stream for Indra to drink (RV 9.1.1).

  2. Development

    Purification imagery intensifies—Soma’s movement, straining, and brightening are linked to cosmic agencies, including the ‘Daughter of the Sun’ as a purifying, discriminating power (RV 9.1.6).

  3. Climax

    The purified Soma becomes the decisive force behind Indra’s conquest: in soma-ecstasy Indra strikes down all obstructions (vṛtrāṇi) (RV 9.1.10).

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn settles in the assurance that clarified delight, rightly offered, yields strength and bounty—victory and generosity increasing together in the sacrificer’s world.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaSoma is the pressed plant-juice made divine: as Pavamāna he is ‘self-purifying/flowing clear,’ rushing through the fleece-filter, becoming bright, sweet, and intoxicating, fit for the gods—especially Indra.
  • Cosmic functionHe mediates between earth and heaven as a consecrated essence: purified delight that empowers divine action, strengthens Indra for the victory over obstructive forces, and sustains ṛta through sacrificial circulation.
  • Inner significanceThe hymn presents purification as an inner yoga of clarity: raw impulse and delight are strained through discriminative light (‘sun’s daughter’ imagery), yielding a refined force that energizes will (Indra) to overcome inner resistances and expand luminous capacity.

The seer

  • MadhucchandasVāsiṣṭha (traditionally connected with the Vasiṣṭha line; Anukramaṇī attributions vary for Pavamāna hymns) · A prominent early seer associated with foundational Rigvedic utterance and with the Soma-Pavamāna visionary stream; remembered for hymns that set a template for praise-and-invocation (stuti–āhvāna).

Famous verses

svādiṣṭhayā madiṣṭhayā pavasva soma
Verse 9.1.1Programmatic opening of the Pavamāna book: it names Soma’s sweetest, most exhilarating flow and explicitly states the purpose—Indra’s drinking and empowerment.Read verse 9.1.1 →
sūryasya duhitā punāti
Verse 9.1.6Key purification image: ‘Sūryasya duhitā’ purifies the streaming Soma, expressing the principle that luminous discernment strains delight into clarity.Read verse 9.1.6 →
viśvā vṛtrāṇi jighnate
Verse 9.1.10Culminating effect-statement: Soma’s purified ecstasy becomes Indra’s power to destroy all vṛtras (obstructions) and to grow in might and gifts.Read verse 9.1.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • pavamāna (purifying/flowing)
  • svādiṣṭha (most sweet)
  • madiṣṭha (most exhilarating)
  • pressed (suta) and offered
  • clarifying/brightening through filtration
  • power-giving to Indra
  • obstacle-breaking efficacy via Indra’s soma-ecstasy

Also by this seer

  • Traditionally linked with RV 1.1 (Agni hymn) in some recensional/Anukramaṇī traditions
  • Associated in tradition with early gāyatrī-style invocations and the opening tone of ritual praise

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma (savana) to express the juice (suta).
  • Mix/prepare with water and guide it toward the straining apparatus.
  • Strain through the fleece/filter (pavitra) so it ‘flows clear’ (pavamāna).
  • Collect the clarified Soma in vessels; recite/chant Pavamāna verses over the flowing stream.
  • Make libations/offerings to Indra (and allied deities as appropriate) and distribute the remainder according to rite.

Offerings

  • Clarified Soma juice (pavamāna)
  • Water used in mixing/straining
  • Optional adjuncts per ritual tradition (e.g., milk/curds) accompanying Soma preparation

Frequently Asked Questions

It means Soma “as he is being purified/flowing clear” through the filter after pressing. The hymn praises this clarified Soma while it streams and becomes fit to offer.

Indra is the main drinker of Soma in many rites. The hymn says Soma’s purified exhilaration strengthens Indra, enabling him to overcome obstacles (vṛtra) and support prosperity.

It is a poetic image for a luminous purifying agency—often understood as the bright, discriminating power associated with the filtering/clarifying process (and sometimes linked with dawn-like radiance). It expresses how Soma is refined into clear, truthful potency.

Ask anything about Sukta 1 of the Rig Veda

Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.

Not sure where to start?

A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.

Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app

Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Continue reading in the Vedapath app

Open in App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play