Rig Veda Sukta 12
Mandala 9Sukta 129 Mantras

Sukta 12

Sukta 9.12

Chandas

Gāyatrī (probable)

Himne Soma Pavamāna ini memuji titisan Soma yang diperah ketika meluru melalui penapis penyuci menuju ke tempat duduk Ṛta (tatanan kosmik), menjadi paling manis dan bercahaya demi penguatan Indra. Ia menggambarkan penjernihan Soma di dalam tempayan-tempayan dan melalui penapis, lalu memuncak dalam doa agar Indu yang telah disucikan menegakkan dalam diri pemuja suatu kelimpahan (rayi) yang mandiri, bersinar seribu jejari.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.12

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaMantras 1, 3-9Soma Pavamāna (for Indra)

    Soma is the pressed and flowing “Indu” that is purified (pavamāna) through the filter, made bright, sweet (madhu), and fit for the gods; in this hymn he streams toward Indra and is stationed in the vessels and the purifier.

  • IndraMantra 2Indra (as recipient) with Soma as offering-power

Mantras

Mantra 1

सोमा असृग्रमिन्दवः सुता ऋतस्य सादने । इन्द्राय मधुमत्तमाः ॥

Titisan-titisan Soma telah mengalir keluar—diperas—ke dalam sadana (singgasana/kedudukan) Ṛta; paling bermadu dalam kenikmatannya, mereka bergerak menuju Indra, untuk meneguhkan daya yang bercahaya dalam diri kami.

Mantra 2

अभि विप्रा अनूषत गावो वत्सं न मातरः । इन्द्रं सोमस्य पीतये ॥

Para resi yang terilham telah berseru kepadanya; sinar-sinar cahaya berhimpun seperti para ibu mengelilingi anak lembu mereka—menuju Indra, untuk meminum Soma.

Mantra 3

मदच्युत्क्षेति सादने सिन्धोरूर्मा विपश्चित् । सोमो गौरी अधि श्रितः ॥

Soma, menitis ekstasi, bersemayam teguh di tempat duduknya; laksana gelombang sungai, jernih dalam penyingkapan, ia bernaung di atas Gaurī yang bercahaya—asas terang pencerahan di dalam diri kita.

Mantra 4

दिवो नाभा विचक्षणोऽव्यो वारे महीयते । सोमो यः सुक्रतुः कविः ॥

Dari pusat langit, Soma yang tajam penglihatannya dibesarkan dalam aliran tapis bulu; dia yang berkehendak benar dan bercahaya, sang kavi—resi-penyair—menjadi agung di dalam diri kita.

Mantra 5

यः सोमः कलशेष्वाँ अन्तः पवित्र आहितः । तमिन्दुः परि षस्वजे ॥

Soma yang berada di dalam tempayan-tempayan, diletakkan di bahagian dalam penyaring (pavitra); dia itu—Indu yang bercahaya memeluknya dari segenap sisi, mengelilingi serta menyempurnakan sari yang telah dijernihkan dalam diri kami.

Mantra 6

प्र वाचमिन्दुरिष्यति समुद्रस्याधि विष्टपि । जिन्वन्कोशं मधुश्चुतम् ॥

Indu yang bercahaya mengalirkan Sabda yang terilham (vāc) dari singgahsana di atas samudera kewujudan; ia menggiatkan bejana (kośa) yang menitis madu, agar tutur dan kesedaran menjadi melimpah.

Mantra 7

नित्यस्तोत्रो वनस्पतिर्धीनामन्तः सबर्दुघः । हिन्वानो मानुषा युगा ॥

Sentiasa dipuji, Vanaspati—tuan pepohonan, daya tumbuhan yang diperah—di dalam fikiran menjadi pemberi hasil yang kaya; ia menggerakkan zaman-zaman manusia, mendorong jerih panjang umat menuju kematangan kesedaran.

Mantra 8

अभि प्रिया दिवस्पदा सोमो हिन्वानो अर्षति । विप्रस्य धारया कविः ॥

Soma, didorong ke hadapan, mengalir menuju tempat-tempat kediaman yang dikasihi di Syurga yang bercahaya; Sang Kawi (Resi) bergerak dalam yang terilham melalui arusnya, membawa kejernihan penglihatan.

Mantra 9

आ पवमान धारय रयिं सहस्रवर्चसम् । अस्मे इन्दो स्वाभुवम् ॥

Wahai Pavamāna, bawalah dan tegakkan bagi kami kelimpahan wujud—kekayaan dengan seribu sinar; wahai Indu, jadikanlah ia lahir-baik dan teguh dengan dirinya sendiri dalam diri kami.

Inside Sukta 12

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma-drops surge forth, pressed and entering the seat of Ṛta, moving honey-sweet toward Indra (RV 9.12.1).

  2. Development

    The hymn dwells on the concrete ritual imagery of purification—Soma placed in jars and set within the purifier—while emphasizing brightness, sweetness, and fitness for divine reception (e.g., RV 9.12.5).

  3. Climax

    The purified Indu is invoked as the active giver: to bring and uphold a thousand-rayed plenitude (rayi) for the worshipper (RV 9.12.9).

  4. Where it settles

    The prayer settles into assurance and request: Soma’s clarified essence should remain well-born, stable, and self-sustaining within us, linking rite to lasting benefit.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna, as offered for Indra

  • Cosmic functionHe mediates between human rite and divine power: by purification and offering, Soma becomes the energizing essence that upholds Ṛta and empowers Indra’s victorious force.
  • Inner significanceThe clarifying flow symbolizes refinement of consciousness—impulses and energies are ‘filtered’ into a lucid, honeyed clarity that can support inner strength, right order, and radiant abundance.

The seer

  • Asita Kāśyapa (traditional Anukramaṇī attribution)Kāśyapa-gotra (Kāśyapa lineage) · Counted among the seers connected with Soma-Pavamāna hymns, associated with the inner and ritual purification motif central to Mandala 9.

Famous verses

ṛtasya sādane
Verse 9.12.1Sets the hymn’s core frame: pressed Soma flowing into Ṛta and toward Indra, highlighting sweetness (madhu) and empowerment.Read verse 9.12.1 →
यः सोमः कलशेष्वाँ अन्तः पवित्र आहितः । तमिन्दुः परि षस्वजे ॥
Verse 9.12.5Iconic purification imagery—Soma set within jars and the pavitra—showing the transformation from raw juice to clarified, embraceable Indu.Read verse 9.12.5 →
rayiṃ sahasravarcasam
Verse 9.12.9Concluding boon: asks Pavamāna to establish ‘thousand-rayed’ prosperity that is stable and self-sustaining for the worshipper.Read verse 9.12.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Pavamāna (self-purifying/being purified)
  • Indu (luminous drop)
  • Madhu (honey-sweet delight)
  • Ṛtasya sādana (seat of cosmic order)
  • Clarified through pavitra (filter)
  • Bestower of rayi (plenitude/wealth)
  • Strengthener of Indra (heroic power)

Also by this seer

  • Associated in tradition with other Soma-Pavamāna hymns in RV Mandala 9 (Anukramaṇī-based attributions vary by hymn).
  • Kāśyapa seers are broadly linked with hymns on cosmic order (Ṛta), purification, and prosperity across the Saṃhitā.

The rite, step by step

  • Soma is pressed (suta) and its juice expressed as flowing drops (indavaḥ).
  • The juice is run through the pavitra (wool/grass filter) for clarification (pavamāna).
  • Purified Soma is collected/settled in vessels and jars (kalaśa).
  • Libations are offered with recitation to invite Indra and strengthen his power.
  • A concluding petition is made for rayi—radiant, stable prosperity—to be established in the sacrificer.

Offerings

  • Purified Soma libations
  • Associated oblations customary to Soma rites (water for mixing, ritual accompaniment offerings as per śrauta procedure)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Soma as he is pressed and purified through the filter, becoming sweet and luminous, and then offered toward Indra. It ends by asking Soma to bring radiant prosperity to the worshipper.

It means the purified Soma is aligned with Ṛta—cosmic truth and right order. The offering is not just a drink, but a force that supports harmony and rightful power.

It asks for “wealth/abundance with a thousand lights,” meaning a strong, radiant, many-sided prosperity—outer well-being and inner brightness together.

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