Sukta 15
Sukta 9.15
Soma Pavamāna (in relation to Indra)
ಈ ಪವಮಾನ ಸೋಮ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರವು ಶೋಧಿತ ಸೋಮವು ಚಲನಿಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ವೇಗವಾಗಿ ಹರಿದು, ಪ್ರಕಾಶಮಾನ ಕಿರಣಗಳಿಂದ ಹೊಳೆಯುತ್ತಾ, ವಿಜಯಶಕ್ತಿಯ ‘ತೆರೆದ ಮೈದಾನ’ವೆನಿಸಿದ ಇಂದ್ರನ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಸಾಗುವುದನ್ನು ಕೊಂಡಾಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಸೋಮದ ಶುದ್ಧೀಕರಣವು ಯಜ್ಞಕರ್ಮ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ, ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾಂಡೀಯ–ಆಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮಿಕ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆಯೂ ಆಗಿ ಚಿತ್ರಿತವಾಗಿದೆ: ಆ ದೀಪ್ತ ಪಾನೀಯವು ಬಲ, ಆನಂದ ಮತ್ತು ಒಳಗಿನ ಆಯುಧವಾಗಿ ಪರಿವರ್ತನೆಗೊಂಡು, ವಿಜಯಕ್ಕೂ ಧರ್ಮಸಮ್ಮತ ಕ್ರಿಯೆಗೂ ದಾರಿ ತೆರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ.
Mantras
Mantra 1
एष धिया यात्यण्व्या शूरो रथेभिराशुभिः । गच्छन्निन्द्रस्य निष्कृतम् ॥
ಈ ಶೂರನು ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮ ಧೀ (ಧಿಯಾ) ಯಿಂದ ವೇಗವಾದ ರಥಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಾಗುತ್ತಾನೆ; ಸಾಗುತ್ತಾ ಇಂದ್ರನ ನಿಷ್ಕೃತದ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಾನೆ—ವಿಜಯಶಕ್ತಿಯ ಮುಕ್ತ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದ ಕಡೆಗೆ.
Mantra 2
एष पुरू धियायते बृहते देवतातये । यत्रामृतास आसते ॥
ಈ ಸೋಮನು ಅನೇಕ ಧೀ-ಜಾಗೃತಿಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಚಲಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ—ಬೃಹತ್ (ವಿಶಾಲ) ದ ಕಡೆಗೂ ದೇವತಾತಿ (ದೈವೀ ಪರಿಪೂರ್ಣತೆ) ದ ಕಡೆಗೂ; ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಅಮೃತಾಸಃ, ಅಮರ ಶಕ್ತಿಗಳು, ನಮ್ಮೊಳಗೆ ಆಸನಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತವೆ.
Mantra 3
एष हितो वि नीयतेऽन्तः शुभ्रावता पथा । यदी तुञ्जन्ति भूर्णयः ॥
ಈ ಸೋಮನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿತನಾಗಿ, ಪ್ರಕಾಶಮಾನ ಮಾರ್ಗದಿಂದ ಒಳಗೆ ನಡೆಸಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತಾನೆ; ಒತ್ತುವ ಶಕ್ತಿಗಳು ಅವನನ್ನು ತಳ್ಳಿಹಾಕಿ ಅವನ ಯಥಾರ್ಥ ಗತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರವೃತ್ತಿಗೊಳಿಸಿದಾಗ.
Mantra 4
एष शृङ्गाणि दोधुवच्छिशीते यूथ्यो वृषा । नृम्णा दधान ओजसा ॥
ಈ ಸೋಮನು, ಹಿಂಡಿನ ವೃಷಭನು, ತನ್ನ ಕೊಂಬುಗಳನ್ನು ಕದಲಿಸಿ ತಾನೇ ತೀಕ್ಷ್ಣನಾಗುತ್ತಾನೆ; ನೃಮ್ಣ ಮತ್ತು ಓಜಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿ—ವೀರ್ಯಬಲದಿಂದ ಪರಿಪೂರ್ಣನಾಗಿ.
Mantra 5
एष रुक्मिभिरीयते वाजी शुभ्रेभिरंशुभिः । पतिः सिन्धूनां भवन् ॥
ಈ ಸೋಮನು ಸುವರ್ಣ ಕಾಂತಿಯಿಂದ ಅಲಂಕರಿತನಾಗಿ ಮುಂದುವರೆಯುತ್ತಾನೆ; ತನ್ನ ಶುಭ್ರ ಕಿರಣಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ವಾಜಿಯಾಗಿ ಬಲದ ಪರಿಪೂರ್ಣತೆಯನ್ನು ಹೊತ್ತುಕೊಂಡು, ಸಿಂಧುಗಳ ಪತಿಯಾಗುತ್ತಾನೆ.
Mantra 6
एष वसूनि पिब्दना परुषा ययिवाँ अति । अव शादेषु गच्छति ॥
ಈ ಸೋಮನು ವಸುಗಳನ್ನೂ (ಸಂಪತ್ತನ್ನೂ) ಕುಡಿಯುತ್ತಾನೆ; ಕಠಿಣ ಸ್ಥಳಗಳನ್ನು ದಾಟಿ, ದೃಢ ಆಧಾರದ ಆಸನಗಳ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಇಳಿದು ಹೋಗಿ, ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಲಾಭವನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ.
Mantra 7
एतं मृजन्ति मर्ज्यमुप द्रोणेष्वायवः । प्रचक्राणं महीरिषः ॥
ಅವನನ್ನು ಅವರು ಶುದ್ಧಿಗೊಳಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ—ಶುದ್ಧಿಗೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕಾದವನನ್ನು—ದ್ರೋಣಗಳ (ವಾಟಗಳ) ಬಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ; ಹುಡುಕುವ ಆಯುಗಳು ಅವನನ್ನು ಚಲನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇಡುತ್ತಾರೆ, ಮತ್ತು ಪೋಷಣೆಯೂ ಶಕ್ತಿಯೂ ಆದ ಮಹಾ ಪ್ರೇರಣೆಗಳು ಅವನ ಹಿಂದೆ ಚಕ್ರದಂತೆ ತಿರುಗತೊಡಗುತ್ತವೆ.
Mantra 8
एतमु त्यं दश क्षिपो मृजन्ति सप्त धीतयः । स्वायुधं मदिन्तमम् ॥
ಈತನನ್ನೇ ಹತ್ತು ವೇಗವಾದ ಕೈಗಳು ಶುದ್ಧಿಗೊಳಿಸುತ್ತವೆ, ಮತ್ತು ಏಳು ಪ್ರೇರಿತ ಧೀತಿಗಳು (ಚಿಂತನೆಗಳು); ಅವನು ಸ್ವಯಂ-ಆಯುಧಧಾರಿ, ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಮದಿನ್ತಮ—ಹುಡುಕುವವನಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಳಕಿನ ಆಯುಧವಾಗುವ ಆನಂದ.
Inside Sukta 15
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma is introduced as a heroic, subtle-intelligence-guided power moving swiftly—like chariots—toward Indra’s liberated, victorious space (niṣkṛtam).
- Development
The hymn expands Soma’s radiance and force: he advances adorned with golden splendor and bright rays, mastering the ‘streams’ and flowing energies while being ritually and inwardly purified.
- Climax
The purification peaks in the image of “ten swift hands” and “seven inspired thoughts” cleansing Soma, revealing him as self-armed and most exhilarating—joy transmuted into a weapon of light.
- Where it settles
The movement resolves in Soma’s readiness for Indra: purified, radiant, and empowered, he stands fit to be offered and to confer victory, clarity, and vigor.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna, in relation to Indra
- In the VedaSoma is the pressed and filtered sacred draught that runs like a shining stream, clothed in bright rays (aṃśu), cleansed by hands and inspired thoughts, and offered to Indra as exhilarating strength. As Pavamāna, he is specifically Soma-in-the-act-of-purifying—swift, radiant, and victorious.
- Cosmic functionHe mediates between earth and heaven as the flowing essence that invigorates the gods (especially Indra), sustains ṛta (ordered truth), and renews vitality through cyclical purification and offering.
- Inner significanceThe refining of Soma mirrors the refining of consciousness: thoughts and senses ‘cleanse’ the inner drink of awareness until it becomes luminous, force-giving clarity—an energizing delight that can serve as a ‘weapon’ against inertia and confusion.
The seer
- Anonym (Pavamāna Soma tradition; ascription uncertain)This sukta belongs to the Ninth Maṇḍala’s specialized Soma corpus, where many hymns are preserved in family collections but individual verse-level ṛṣi attributions can be uncertain in some recensions; the voice is characteristic of the Pavamāna poets who focus on Soma’s purification, radiance, and Indra-connection.
Famous verses
indrasya niṣkṛtam
patiḥ sindhūnām
svāyudham madintamam
Attributes of the deity
- Purifying/cleansing power (pavamāna)
- Radiance and ‘rays’ (aṃśu) imagery
- Swift movement like chariots/streams
- Intoxicating delight that strengthens (madintama)
- Indra-empowering potency
- Lordship over the ‘streams’ (sindhūnām patiḥ)
Also by this seer
- Part of the RV Ninth Maṇḍala (Soma Pavamāna) hymn-cycle used in Soma pressing/filtration contexts
- Shares diction and imagery with other Pavamāna hymns describing Soma’s rush, shining ‘aṃśu’ rays, and empowerment of Indra
The rite, step by step
- Press Soma stalks and collect the juice (savana context).
- Filter/clarify the juice through wool or strainer (pavitra), repeatedly ‘cleansing’ it as it runs.
- Mix according to rite (often with water/milk as prescribed) and prepare offering portions.
- Recite Pavamāna verses as Soma ‘moves’ and ‘shines,’ inviting Indra to partake.
- Offer Soma into the ritual sequence (graha/offering portions) with accompanying fires and formulas.
- Conclude with distribution/consumption according to the ritual system (where applicable).
Offerings
- Filtered Soma juice (primary)
- Ghee and ancillary oblations as part of the Soma rite
- Water/milk admixtures where prescribed by the ritual tradition
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Soma in the moment of purification—rushing through the filters, shining brightly, and becoming the empowering drink offered to Indra for strength and victory.
Because purified Soma is imagined as a powerful flow: it can mean literal flowing waters and also the inner currents of energy and inspiration that Soma is said to master.
They point to two kinds of cleansing: the physical ritual cleansing by priests’ hands and the inner cleansing by concentrated, inspired thought—making Soma a clear, luminous force in both senses.
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