Rig Veda Sukta 2
Mandala 9Sukta 210 Mantras

Sukta 2

Sukta 9.2

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha (traditional attribution for portions of RV 9.2; Soma Pavamāna context)

Chandas

Gāyatrī (3 pādas of 8 syllables typical for many Pavamāna verses)

RV 9.2 ialah sebuah himne Soma Pavamāna, di mana sang resi mendesak Soma agar mengalir melalui penapis (pavitra), menjadi cemerlang, bertenaga, dan layak dipersembahkan. Ketika Soma disucikan, baginda diundang untuk “memasuki Indra,” lalu memperkasa kepahlawanan ilahi, kemenangan, dan kerja korban. Himne ini memuncak dengan memuji Soma sebagai Diri batin purba bagi yajña, kuasa hakiki yang menjadikan persembahan itu berkesan.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.2

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna (Soma in the act of purification), with explicit linkage to Indra

    Soma is the pressed and living draught that “flows” and is “purified” through the sieve, becoming radiant, tawny, and sun-like; he is addressed as Indu (the drop) and as a bull of power who exhilarates Indra.

Mantras

Mantra 1

पवस्व देववीरति पवित्रं सोम रंह्या । इन्द्रमिन्दो वृषा विश ॥

Mengalirlah, wahai Soma, melampaui ayakan, menuju dorongan maju yang bercahaya; masuklah ke dalam Indra, wahai Banteng, wahai titisan kenikmatan—agar keperwiraan ilahi dalam diri kami terjaga dan menang.

Mantra 2

आ वच्यस्व महि प्सरो वृषेन्दो द्युम्नवत्तमः । आ योनिं धर्णसिः सदः ॥

Wahai Indu yang perkasa, curahan agung, banteng yang paling kaya kuasa cahaya—terucaplah, nyatakanlah dirimu; duduklah di yoni, di kediaman teguh bagi upacara (yajña) dalam diri kami.

Mantra 3

अधुक्षत प्रियं मधु धारा सुतस्य वेधसः । अपो वसिष्ट सुक्रतुः ॥

Mereka telah memerah madu yang tercinta: aliran-aliran Soma yang diperah bagi sang bijaksana pembentuk (vedhas). Wahai Vasiṣṭha, air-air itu—dipimpin oleh kehendak baik dari kecerdasan—membawa serta menjernihkan kemanisan itu dalam diri kami.

Mantra 4

महान्तं त्वा महीरन्वापो अर्षन्ति सिन्धवः । यद्गोभिर्वासयिष्यसे ॥

Air-air agung, sungai-sungai perkasa, mengalir mengikuti engkau, wahai Yang Mahaluas, apabila engkau akan diselubungi oleh sinar-sinar pencerahan—apabila kegembiraan terbalut dalam bentuk-bentuk cahaya pengetahuan.

Mantra 5

समुद्रो अप्सु मामृजे विष्टम्भो धरुणो दिवः । सोमः पवित्रे अस्मयुः ॥

Samudra di dalam air telah dijernihkan; penopang yang teguh dan luas, pemegang langit—Soma, di dalam penyuci (pavitra), mencari kami, menarik wujud kami menuju keteguhan dan keluasan.

Mantra 6

अचिक्रदद्वृषा हरिर्महान्मित्रो न दर्शतः । सं सूर्येण रोचते ॥

Daya kekuningan yang perkasa telah berseru nyaring—agung, indah dipandang bagaikan sahabat; ia bersinar seiring dengan Surya: kenikmatan menjadi satu dengan cahaya-kebenaran.

Mantra 7

गिरस्त इन्द ओजसा मर्मृज्यन्ते अपस्युवः । याभिर्मदाय शुम्भसे ॥

Kata-katamu, wahai Indu, dijernihkan oleh daya—mereka yang bersemangat akan kerja; dengannya engkau dihias untuk ekstasi: mantra yang disucikan menjadi kuasa, menjadi perhiasan kegirangan batin.

Mantra 8

तं त्वा मदाय घृष्वय उ लोककृत्नुमीमहे । तव प्रशस्तयो महीः ॥

Wahai Engkau yang menyala-berapi, kami memohon-Mu demi ekstasi suci—Engkau, pembentuk seluruh alam. Besarlah puji-pujian bagi-Mu; kerana kegembiraan-Mu menegakkan dalam diri kami susunan ciptaan yang sempurna dan teratur.

Mantra 9

अस्मभ्यमिन्दविन्द्रयुर्मध्वः पवस्व धारया । पर्जन्यो वृष्टिमाँ इव ॥

Untuk kami, wahai Indu, yang mendambakan Indra, mengalirlah sebagai madu dalam aliran yang teguh—seperti Parjanya yang kaya dengan hujan; biarlah kenikmatan itu turun sebagai daya pemelihara, menambah pertumbuhan batin.

Mantra 10

गोषा इन्दो नृषा अस्यश्वसा वाजसा उत । आत्मा यज्ञस्य पूर्व्यः ॥

Wahai Indu, Engkau pemberi sinar, pemberi keperwiraan sejati, pemberi daya-hidup yang pantas dan kepenuhan kekuatan; Engkau ialah Diri purba bagi yajña—inti terdalam yang menjadikan persembahan batin berkesan.

Inside Sukta 2

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct imperative to Soma: flow beyond the sieve into swift, luminous motion, and enter Indra as invigorating power (RV 9.2.1).

  2. Development

    Soma’s purifying passage is portrayed as the emergence of radiant strength—tawny, mighty, friend-like—shining in consonance with the Sun and with ṛta-like clarity (cf. RV 9.2.6).

  3. Climax

    Soma’s identity expands from ritual drink to cosmic-psychic force: giver of rays, manhood, speed, and power, the very life of the sacrificial act.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn seals its praise by naming Soma the ancient Self of the yajña (ātmā yajñasya pūrvyaḥ), affirming that purified delight is the hidden efficacy within worship (RV 9.2.10).

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • Cosmic functionTransforms raw vitality into luminous strength: as the purifying current, Soma supports ṛta (truth-order), feeds the gods, and energizes Indra for world-protecting victory.
  • Inner significanceThe refining of consciousness—desire and life-force clarified into joy, clarity, and victorious will; the ‘filtered’ delight that can enter and strengthen the higher power (Indra) within.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha-gotra (one of the Saptaṛṣi lineages) · Foremost among Vedic seers; renowned for spiritual authority, kingship-counsel, and hymns of harmony (notably the Mitra–Varuṇa vision).

Famous verses

pavasva … ati pavitram
Verse 9.2.1Sets the program of the whole sukta: Soma’s purification through the pavitra and his deliberate entry into Indra to awaken victorious divine force.Read verse 9.2.1 →
saṃ sūryeṇa rocate
Verse 9.2.6A vivid image of Soma’s awakened power and beauty—mighty, tawny, and ‘friend-like’—culminating in his shining union with the Sun (truth-light symbolism).Read verse 9.2.6 →
ātmā yajñasya pūrvyaḥ
Verse 9.2.10Doctrinal summit: Soma is praised not only as giver of boons but as the ‘ancient Self of the sacrifice,’ expressing the inner essence behind ritual efficacy.Read verse 9.2.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Purifying flow (pavamāna) through the pavitra
  • Luminous, sun-allied radiance
  • Bull-like potency and exhilaration
  • Friendliness/beneficence (pleasant to behold, ‘like a friend’)
  • Yajña’s inner essence (ātmā yajñasya)
  • Bestower of rays, manly force, speed, and plenitude (goṣā, nṛṣā, aśvasā, vājasā)

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rigveda Maṇḍala 7 traditionally attributed to Vasiṣṭha and his clan
  • Hymns to Mitra–Varuṇa, Agni, Indra, and the Vasiṣṭha family corpus
  • Later tradition associates Vasiṣṭha with Dharma-teaching and royal priesthood (purohita) roles

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma plant and collect the expressed juice
  • Filter the juice through the pavitra (wool/strainer) while chanting Gāyatrī pavamāna verses
  • Mix/season according to rite (commonly with water and sometimes milk/curd) and clarify the flow
  • Offer libations to Indra (and associated deities) in the fire, inviting strength and victory
  • Distribute/partake according to ritual protocol, sealing the rite with praise and intention

Offerings

  • Filtered Soma (Indu) libations
  • Ghee (as accompanying oblation in the fire ritual context)
  • Water used in purification; milk/curd admixture where prescribed

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Soma while he is being filtered and purified, asking him to become radiant and powerful, and to strengthen Indra and the sacrificer’s victorious energy.

In Vedic ritual language, Soma is the invigorating drink that empowers Indra; symbolically, purified delight and clarity feed the higher will that overcomes obstacles.

It means “the ancient Self of the sacrifice”: Soma is portrayed as the innermost essence that makes the offering effective—both ritually as Soma-juice and inwardly as purified spiritual force.

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