Rig Veda Sukta 6
Mandala 9Sukta 69 Mantras

Sukta 6

Sukta 9.6

Himne Soma Pavamāna ini memuji aliran Soma yang gembira dan bertenaga melalui penapis bulu, ketika ia disucikan bagi para dewa dan dijadikan layak untuk persembahan. Soma digambarkan sebagai “lembu jantan” yang perkasa dan kuda tunggangan yang pantas, dibersihkan oleh sarana-sarana ritual, melahirkan ucapan ilham serta kemabukan ekstasi yang terutama diingini oleh Indra.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.6

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna

    Soma is the pressed and purified sacred juice, praised as self-purifying (pavamāna), gladdening, powerful, and radiant as he streams through the sheep’s-wool filters (āvya/vāra).

Mantras

Mantra 1

मन्द्रया सोम धारया वृषा पवस्व देवयुः । अव्यो वारेष्वस्मयुः ॥

Wahai Soma, mengalirlah dalam aliran yang menggembirakan, sebagai banteng kekuatan; sucikanlah dirimu sebagai pencari para Dewa. Dalam tapis bulu, merindu kepada kami, ambillah rupa untuk kami menerimamu.

Mantra 2

अभि त्यं मद्यं मदमिन्दविन्द्र इति क्षर । अभि वाजिनो अर्वतः ॥

Mengalirlah menuju ekstasi yang memabukkan dari kegirangan itu, wahai titisan Soma—“untuk Indra”; demikianlah engkau mengalir. Mengalirlah juga menuju kuda-kuda kelimpahan daya, menuju para pembawa pantas kemenangan kami.

Mantra 3

अभि त्यं पूर्व्यं मदं सुवानो अर्ष पवित्र आ । अभि वाजमुत श्रवः ॥

Mengalirlah menuju ekstasi purba itu, wahai Soma, tatkala engkau diperah; berlarilah masuk ke dalam penyuci (pavitra). Mengalirlah menuju vāja—kelimpahan daya—dan menuju śravas, kemasyhuran yang bercahaya.

Mantra 4

अनु द्रप्सास इन्दव आपो न प्रवतासरन् । पुनाना इन्द्रमाशत ॥

Titisan-titisan Soma saling menyusul, mengalir seperti air menuruni cerun. Dalam gerak pemurnian diri mereka mencapai Indra, agar kuasa kemenangan terjaga dalam diri kami.

Mantra 5

यमत्यमिव वाजिनं मृजन्ति योषणो दश । वने क्रीळन्तमत्यविम् ॥

Dia mereka bersihkan bagaikan kuda jantan yang pantas—sepuluh gadis bekerja—dia yang bermain di rimba, sang pelari yang melampaui. Demikian Soma digilap oleh daya-daya upacara hingga kelajuannya yang bercahaya terserlah.

Mantra 6

तं गोभिर्वृषणं रसं मदाय देववीतये । सुतं भराय सं सृज ॥

Wahai Soma, sari yang laksana banteng itu—yang telah diperah—himpunkanlah bersama sinar-sinar (go) untuk mabuk suci dan bagi penerimaan gembira para dewa. Satukanlah ia menjadi satu aliran untuk membawa persembahan di dalam diri kami.

Mantra 7

देवो देवाय धारयेन्द्राय पवते सुतः । पयो यदस्य पीपयत् ॥

Soma, dewa itu, yang telah diperah, mengalir dalam satu aliran bagi dewa Indra, apabila kekayaan bak susu miliknya mengembang lalu menyuburkannya. Demikianlah kenikmatan menambah daya yang memecahkan rintangan batin.

Mantra 8

आत्मा यज्ञस्य रंह्या सुष्वाणः पवते सुतः । प्रत्नं नि पाति काव्यम् ॥

Sebagai jiwa yajña, yang bergerak pantas, Soma—diperas dengan baik—mengalir, disucikan. Ia memelihara dan menegakkan hikmah ilham yang purba di dalam, puisi abadi para ṛṣi.

Mantra 9

एवा पुनान इन्द्रयुर्मदं मदिष्ठ वीतये । गुहा चिद्दधिषे गिरः ॥

Demikianlah, engkau yang menyucikan diri, yang mendambakan Indra, engkau membawa madhu—keghairahan suci yang paling kuat—untuk kenikmatan ilahi. Bahkan di guha yang tersembunyi pun engkau menegakkan girah, kata-kata ilham; maka bahagian-bahagian yang tersembunyi dari diri mula menuturkan Kebenaran.

Inside Sukta 6

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma is urged to flow in a gladdening stream—strong as a bull—purifying himself through the woolen filters toward the worshippers and gods (9.6.1).

  2. Development

    The hymn elaborates the dynamic imagery of purification: Soma is cleansed and polished like a swift steed by ritual powers, revealing speed, radiance, and potency fit for divine enjoyment (e.g., 9.6.5).

  3. Climax

    Soma, now self-purified and Indra-seeking, bears the most intense rapture for the gods; inspiration arises even from the secret inner ‘cave,’ establishing true speech (9.6.9).

  4. Where it settles

    The purification culminates in readiness for offering (vīti): Soma’s clarified force becomes joy, strength, and inspired utterance for the sacrificer and the gods.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaHe is invoked as a bull of strength and as a swift runner, bringing exhilaration (mada) to the gods, especially Indra.
  • Cosmic functionMediator of divine vitality: Soma’s purification and offering sustains the gods, strengthens Indra for victory, and renews ṛta (cosmic order) through consecrated exhilaration and luminous flow.
  • Inner significanceThe refining of consciousness: Soma’s passage through the ‘filters’ symbolizes the mind-life being clarified into a bright, inspired current that yields joy, strength, and true speech (giraḥ), even from the ‘hidden cave’ of the inner being.

Famous verses

mandrayā soma dhārayā vṛṣā pavasva
Verse 9.6.1Sets the core ritual-theological frame: Soma’s joyous stream, bull-like force, and purification through woolen filters directed toward gods and sacrificers.Read verse 9.6.1 →
यमत्यमिव वाजिनं मृजन्ति योषणो दश । वने क्रीळन्तमत्यविम् ॥
Verse 9.6.5Iconic metaphor of ritual purification: Soma is cleansed like a swift steed by ‘ten maidens’ (often read as ritual agencies/fingers/streams), emphasizing refinement and revealed power.Read verse 9.6.5 →
guhā cid dadhiṣe giraḥ
Verse 9.6.9Culminating insight: purified Soma, desiring Indra, brings the highest ecstasy and establishes inspired words even in hidden depths—linking ritual to inner revelation.Read verse 9.6.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Self-purifying (pavamāna)
  • Gladdening, ecstasy-giving (mada)
  • Bull-like vigor (vṛṣā)
  • Swift, racing energy (like a vājin/steed)
  • Filtered through woolen sieves (vāra/āvya)
  • Indra-strengthening and god-seeking (devayuḥ/indrayuḥ)
  • Source of inspired speech (giraḥ)

Also by this seer

  • Further attribution requires consulting the hymn colophon and traditional Anukramaṇī data for RV 9.6.

The rite, step by step

  • Pressing of Soma plant to obtain the juice (savana context)
  • Mixing/setting the juice to flow and be guided in a ‘stream’ (dhārā)
  • Purification through woolen filters (vāra/āvya), repeatedly cleansing and clarifying
  • Collection in vessels; enlivening with accompanying rite-actions and recitations
  • Libation/oblation to the gods—prominently to Indra—seeking strength, joy, and inspired speech

Offerings

  • Purified Soma juice (pavamāna soma)
  • Libations to Indra (and associated deities in Soma rites)
  • Optional adjuncts customary in Soma ritual such as water and milk/curds depending on śrauta procedure (context-dependent)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Soma as he is purified (pavamāna) while flowing through woolen filters, becoming fit to be offered to the gods and to strengthen Indra.

The images show Soma’s power and speed: as a ‘bull’ he is forceful and fertilizing, and as a ‘swift steed’ he is polished by the rite until his energy becomes bright and effective.

Alongside the ritual meaning, it suggests an inner meaning: purified Soma awakens inspiration from hidden depths of the person, so truthful speech and insight emerge.

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