Rig Veda Sukta 13
Mandala 9Sukta 139 Mantras

Sukta 13

Sukta 9.13

Chandas

Likely Triṣṭubh/Jagatī-class line length; requires syllable count verification.

Himne Soma Pavamāna ini memuji Soma yang menyucikan dirinya sendiri ketika meluru melalui penapis bulu domba dalam “seribu aliran,” lalu menjadi layak bagi para dewa. Ia khususnya menampilkan sari jernih Soma sebagai persembahan yang telah disiapkan bagi Vāyu dan Indra, sambil memohon agar daya-daya Indu yang mengalir membawa kekayaan melimpah, tenaga kepahlawanan, dan penewasan kuasa-kuasa yang memusuhi. Himne ini memuncak dengan Soma menetap dalam “rahim Ṛta,” menegakkan kesucian, tatanan yang benar, dan penglihatan yang bercahaya.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.13

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna (with explicit linkage to Vāyu and Indra as recipients)

    Soma is the pressed and flowing sacred drink, here celebrated specifically as pavamāna, “self-purifying”, as it streams through the sheep’s-wool filter (avi) in many currents and becomes the refined oblation.

Mantras

Mantra 1

सोमः पुनानो अर्षति सहस्रधारो अत्यविः । वायोरिन्द्रस्य निष्कृतम् ॥

Soma, sambil menyucikan dirinya, mengalir dengan seribu arus, melampaui penapis bulu; ia menuju tempat duduk yang disediakan dan ruang persembahan bagi Vāyu dan Indra dalam diri kami.

Mantra 2

पवमानमवस्यवो विप्रमभि प्र गायत । सुष्वाणं देववीतये ॥

Wahai para pencari kurnia, nyanyikanlah puji-pujian menuju Soma yang menyucikan, sang vipra yang terilham; setelah diperah, ia datang untuk sambutan gembira para dewa.

Mantra 3

पवन्ते वाजसातये सोमाः सहस्रपाजसः । गृणाना देववीतये ॥

Arus-arus Soma menyucikan diri demi kemenangan kelimpahan daya; seribu-kuat pada tenaga mereka, mereka mengalir sambil dipuji, untuk sambutan gembira para dewa.

Mantra 4

उत नो वाजसातये पवस्व बृहतीरिषः । द्युमदिन्दो सुवीर्यम् ॥

Dan bagi kami, demi kemenangan kelimpahan, sucikanlah dirimu menjadi dorongan-dorongan tenaga yang luas; wahai Indu, bawalah kuasa yang bercahaya dan keberanian pahlawan yang mulia ke dalam diri.

Mantra 5

ते नः सहस्रिणं रयिं पवन्तामा सुवीर्यम् । सुवाना देवास इन्दवः ॥

Moga Indu ini—ilahi pada kerjanya, terungkap dengan baik—memurnikan untuk kami kelimpahan seribu kali ganda, serta membawa juga suvirya, kekuatan kepahlawanan yang mulia, ke dalam diri kami; wahai Indu, yang diperah bagi para dewa.

Mantra 6

अत्या हियाना न हेतृभिरसृग्रं वाजसातये । वि वारमव्यमाशवः ॥

Seperti kuda-kuda pantas yang menerjah, tanpa dipacu cemeti, mereka mengalir deras demi memenangi kelimpahan; yang bersemangat itu membentangkan luas penapis bulu—membuka jalan bagi kenikmatan yang telah dijernihkan.

Mantra 7

वाश्रा अर्षन्तीन्दवोऽभि वत्सं न धेनवः । दधन्विरे गभस्त्योः ॥

Titisan Soma yang terang mengalir, seperti lembu-lembu melenguh menuju anaknya; mereka menetap dan menegakkan diri pada dua tangan—mendapat pegangan yang teguh dalam genggaman persembahan dan si pencari.

Mantra 8

जुष्ट इन्द्राय मत्सरः पवमान कनिक्रदत् । विश्वा अप द्विषो जहि ॥

Diterima oleh Indra, Soma yang membangkitkan—wahai Pavamāna—berseru dalam kegirangan sucinya; hapuskanlah segala kebencian, segala gerak permusuhan yang menentang pertumbuhan cahaya dalam diri kami.

Mantra 9

अपघ्नन्तो अराव्णः पवमानाः स्वर्दृशः । योनावृतस्य सीदत ॥

Sambil menyucikan diri, menumpaskan kuasa-kuasa yang memusuhi dan menyimpang, arus-arus Soma—yang memandang alam Surya—bersemayam dalam rahim Ṛta (Tertib-Kebenaran).

Inside Sukta 13

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma begins as an impetuous, thousand-streamed current, purifying himself as he rushes beyond the woolen filter toward the prepared divine seat.

  2. Development

    The hymn shifts from vivid ritual imagery (flowing, straining, preparation) to the boon-request: may the purified Indu-powers bring abundant wealth and noble heroic strength.

  3. Climax

    Soma’s purified force becomes openly militant and luminous—he smites hostile/crooked powers and attains ‘sun-seeing’ clarity.

  4. Where it settles

    The currents finally ‘take their seat in the womb of Ṛta,’ closing on establishment in truth-order and the secure fruition of purification.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaThe hymn depicts Soma as luminous, forceful, and truth-seated, driving away crooked/hostile powers and taking his place in the realm of Ṛta.
  • Cosmic functionSoma mediates between earth and heaven: extracted from the plant, clarified through ritual order, and offered so that the gods—especially Vāyu (breath/wind) and Indra (victorious power)—are strengthened to uphold cosmic stability and victory.
  • Inner significancePsychologically, Soma Pavamāna signifies the mind-life (prāṇa and thought) being clarified: impulses are strained of turbulence, energy becomes lucid, and the purified current settles into truth (ṛta), enabling ‘sun-seeing’ (svardṛś) consciousness.

The seer

  • Anukramaṇī attribution requiredThis sukta’s seer is not identifiable from the supplied data; in Mandala 9 many hymns are attributed to Soma-pavamāna seers from multiple families, and the precise r̥ṣi must be verified from the Sarvānukramaṇī for RV 9.13.1.

Famous verses

sahasradhāro atyaviḥ
Verse 9.13.1Sets the core Pavamāna image: Soma self-purifying in thousand currents, passing the woolen strainer, and becoming the prepared offering-space for Vāyu and Indra.Read verse 9.13.1 →
sahasriṇaṃ rayim
Verse 9.13.5Central benediction: the ‘Indu’ powers are asked to purify for the sacrificer a thousandfold plenitude (rayi) and to bring suvīrya—noble, victorious vigor.Read verse 9.13.5 →
yonau ṛtasya
Verse 9.13.9Doctrinal culmination: purified Soma-currents that ‘behold the sun-world’ destroy hostile forces and settle in the ‘womb of Ṛta,’ linking ritual purification to cosmic truth-order.Read verse 9.13.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Self-purifying (pavamāna)
  • Thousand-streamed abundance (sahasradhāra)
  • Passes beyond the woolen filter (atyaviḥ)
  • Prepared oblation-seat for Vāyu and Indra (vāyor indrasya niṣkṛtam)
  • Bestower of wealth and heroic power (rayi, suvīrya)
  • Destroyer of hostile/crooked forces (apaghnan arāvṇaḥ)
  • Truth-seated, Ṛta-womb abiding (yonau ṛtasya)
  • Luminous, ‘sun-world seeing’ (svardṛśaḥ)

Also by this seer

  • Attribution cannot be responsibly listed without Anukramaṇī confirmation for RV 9.13.

The rite, step by step

  • Soma is pressed/extracted (savana) and mixed as required with water for flow.
  • The juice is poured through the woolen strainer (avi/pavitra), repeatedly purified as it streams.
  • The clarified Soma is collected in the vessel and ‘prepared’ as niṣkṛta—fit/appointed for divine reception.
  • Invocations are made to Soma Pavamāna while directing the offering intention toward Vāyu and Indra.
  • Libations are offered into the fire or presented according to Soma-rite procedure, accompanied by requests for rayi (plenty) and suvīrya (heroic vigor).
  • Concluding aspiration: the purified currents ‘sit’ in Ṛta—stability, right order, and victory over hostile forces are affirmed.

Offerings

  • Pressed Soma juice (Soma-rasa)
  • Water for washing/flowing in purification
  • Optional accompaniments per rite (e.g., milk/curds in some traditions)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Soma as he is purified through the ritual strainer, then offered as a refined oblation—especially for Vāyu and Indra—while asking for wealth, strength, and protection.

Because Pavamāna Soma is defined by the act of purification: the juice is strained through wool so it becomes clear, potent, and ritually fit for offering.

It means the purified Soma settles into Ṛta—truth and right order—symbolizing that purification leads to clarity, harmony, and the defeat of crooked or hostile forces.

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