Rig Veda Sukta 68
Mandala 9Sukta 6810 Mantras

Sukta 68

Sukta 9.68

Chandas

Trishtubh (probable for RV 9.68; requires pada-count verification per verse)

Himne Soma Pavamāna ini merayakan titisan Soma yang manis bagaikan madu, meluru menuju para dewa dan disucikan ketika mengalir melalui penapis serta perairan. Ia mengingatkan perolehan mitos Soma dari “jauh di seberang” dan memuji peranan para resi dalam membersihkan serta menegakkan Soma sebagai kuasa yang bercahaya dan layak dipuji dalam nyanyian suci. Himne ini memuncak dengan doa agar penyucian Soma menjadi asas bagi daya hidup para pemuja, keharmonian dengan Langit dan Bumi, serta kekayaan yang sarat dengan kekuatan kepahlawanan.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.68

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna (Soma in the act of self-purification)

    Soma is the pressed plant-essence that becomes a god: a honeyed, shining, flowing power, cleansed through the sieve and waters, moving as a radiant ‘ray’ fit for ṛc and ṛta.

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्र देवमच्छा मधुमन्त इन्दवोऽसिष्यदन्त गाव आ न धेनवः । बर्हिषदो वचनावन्त ऊधभिः परिस्रुतमुस्रिया निर्णिजं धिरे ॥

Menuju Hadirat Ilahi, titisan-titisan Soma yang sarat madu meluru, laksana lembu—laksana lembu perah—berdesak pulang ke kandangnya. Kuasa-kuasa yang duduk di atas barhis, kaya dengan sabda, menegakkan dengan ambingnya sinar yang mengalir dari Sinar-sinar pencerah—pakaian terangnya, kesucian.

Mantra 2

स रोरुवदभि पूर्वा अचिक्रददुपारुहः श्रथयन्त्स्वादते हरिः । तिरः पवित्रं परियन्नुरु ज्रयो नि शर्याणि दधते देव आ वरम् ॥

Ia mengaum, berseru di atas asas purba; mendaki ke atas, yang keemasan meleraikan dan memaniskan. Melintasi penapis, beredar dalam lintasan luas, sang dewa meletakkan gerak-gerak pantasnya dan datang kepada keunggulan yang terpilih.

Mantra 3

वि यो ममे यम्या संयती मदः साकंवृधा पयसा पिन्वदक्षिता । मही अपारे रजसी विवेविददभिव्रजन्नक्षितं पाज आ ददे ॥

Dia yang meluaskan dan mengukur dua dunia kembar yang dipasangkan pada kuk; ekstasinya (mada) tumbuh bersama, mengembang dengan susu kepenuhan, tidak susut. Dia menemukan dua hamparan luas tanpa tepi; mara ke hadapan, dia mengambil bagi dirinya kekuatan cahaya yang tidak pernah gagal.

Mantra 4

स मातरा विचरन्वाजयन्नपः प्र मेधिरः स्वधया पिन्वते पदम् । अंशुर्यवेन पिपिशे यतो नृभिः सं जामिभिर्नसते रक्षते शिरः ॥

Bergerak di antara dua Ibu, menggerakkan air-air supaya bertambah, yang bijaksana menurut hukumnya sendiri (svadhā) melengkapkan tempat kedudukan. Sinar (aṃśu) digiling bersama bijirin; kemudian, bersama manusia dan kuasa-kuasa sekeluarga, dia mencapai matlamat dan memelihara kepala—kemuncak kesedaran.

Mantra 5

सं दक्षेण मनसा जायते कविॠतस्य गर्भो निहितो यमा परः । यूना ह सन्ता प्रथमं वि जज्ञतुर्गुहा हितं जनिम नेममुद्यतम् ॥

Dengan daya pembedaan (dakṣa) dan dengan budi, Sang Kavi dilahirkan—rahim Kebenaran (ṛta) yang diletakkan terpisah, melampaui pasangan itu. Muda adanya mereka; namun merekalah yang pertama lahir: kelahiran yang tersembunyi, ditempatkan dalam rahsia, bangkit ke atas menuju gilirannya yang ditetapkan.

Mantra 6

मन्द्रस्य रूपं विविदुर्मनीषिणः श्येनो यदन्धो अभरत्परावतः । तं मर्जयन्त सुवृधं नदीष्वाँ उशन्तमंशुं परियन्तमृग्मियम् ॥

Para pemikir telah menemukan rupa Sang Penggembira (Soma), tatkala sang helang membawa sari Soma dari jauh yang melampaui. Dia mereka sucikan—yang subur membesar—di sungai-sungai: sinar yang paling didambakan, beredar mengelilingi, layak bagi puji-pujian dan irama ṛta (kebenaran kosmik).

Mantra 7

त्वां मृजन्ति दश योषणः सुतं सोम ऋषिभिर्मतिभिर्धीतिभिर्हितम् । अव्यो वारेभिरुत देवहूतिभिर्नृभिर्यतो वाजमा दर्षि सातये ॥

Sepuluh gadis menyucikan engkau, wahai Soma—yang telah diperah—yang oleh para ṛṣi ditegakkan melalui fikiran dan renungan yang teguh. Dengan ayak bulu, juga dengan seruan kepada para dewa, dengan daya-daya insan—dari sanalah engkau datang, menzahirkan kelimpahan tenaga demi kemenangan.

Mantra 8

परिप्रयन्तं वय्यं सुषंसदं सोमं मनीषा अभ्यनूषत स्तुभः । यो धारया मधुमाँ ऊर्मिणा दिव इयर्ति वाचं रयिषाळमर्त्यः ॥

Tatkala Soma bergerak mengelilingi segalanya—layak untuk terbang, bertakhta dengan baik—fikiran yang terilham dan puji-pujian telah menyanyikan baginya. Dia, kaya kemanisan, dengan gelombangnya dari langit, mengangkat sabda; yang tidak mati, ia menambah kelimpahan wujud.

Mantra 9

अयं दिव इयर्ति विश्वमा रजः सोमः पुनानः कलशेषु सीदति । अद्भिर्गोभिर्मृज्यते अद्रिभिः सुतः पुनान इन्दुर्वरिवो विदत्प्रियम् ॥

Soma ini dari langit menggerakkan segala ruang; sambil memurnikan dirinya, ia bersemayam di dalam mangkuk-mangkuk. Dengan air dan dengan sinar ia disucikan; diperah oleh batu-batu, titisan yang memurnikan—Indu—menemui keluasan lapang dan yang dikasihi: kenikmatan jiwa yang merelakan.

Mantra 10

एवा नः सोम परिषिच्यमानो वयो दधच्चित्रतमं पवस्व । अद्वेषे द्यावापृथिवी हुवेम देवा धत्त रयिमस्मे सुवीरम् ॥

Demikianlah, wahai Soma, apabila Engkau dicurahkan sekeliling, mengalirlah dalam kesucian-Mu, menegakkan dalam diri kami keluasan hidup yang paling menakjubkan. Dalam keharmonian yang tidak terbelah kami menyeru Langit dan Bumi; wahai para dewa, kurniakan kepada kami kelimpahan, kaya dengan daya kepahlawanan.

Inside Sukta 68

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Honeyed Soma-drops surge toward the divine like eager cattle, while word-rich powers on the sacred seat establish the streaming radiance in purity.

  2. Development

    The hymn elaborates Soma’s cleansing through waters/filters and his transformation into a bright, hymn-worthy ‘ray’; it also recalls the mythic origin—Soma brought by the eagle from the far beyond.

  3. Climax

    Recognition of Soma’s true form by the seers and the intense act of cleansing him in the rivers—Soma as purified delight aligned with ṛta and fit for sacred song.

  4. Where it settles

    A direct supplication: as Soma is poured all around, may he establish wondrous life-power in us; in undivided harmony Heaven-and-Earth are invoked, and the gods are asked to grant heroic wealth.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaHe is portrayed as rushing like cows to their home, wearing a bright garment of purity, and remembered as brought by the eagle from the far distance.
  • Cosmic functionTo purify and vitalize the worlds: Soma mediates between human offering and divine reception, strengthens gods and men, and renews cosmic order through clarified, luminous flow.
  • Inner significanceThe refining of consciousness: emotions and impulses are ‘pressed’ and ‘filtered’ into clarity, sweetness, and inspired speech; Soma becomes the purified delight that supports truth (ṛta), vigor, and harmonious integration.

Famous verses

प्र देवमच्छा मधुमन्त इन्दवोऽसिष्यदन्त गाव आ न धेनवः । बर्हिषदो वचनावन्त ऊधभिः परिस्रुतमुस्रिया निर्णिजं धिरे ॥
Verse 9.68.1Sets the hymn’s central imagery: Soma-drops rushing to the divine, compared to cows, and the establishment of Soma’s radiant ‘garment of purity’ through sacred action and inspired speech.Read verse 9.68.1 →
मन्द्रस्य रूपं विविदुर्मनीषिणः श्येनो यदन्धो अभरत्परावतः । तं मर्जयन्त सुवृधं नदीष्वाँ उशन्तमंशुं परियन्तमृग्मियम् ॥
Verse 9.68.6Highlights the mythic and doctrinal peak: the eagle bringing Soma from the far beyond, and the seers cleansing him into a hymn-worthy, truth-rhythmic radiance.Read verse 9.68.6 →
एवा नः सोम परिषिच्यमानो वयो दधच्चित्रतमं पवस्व । अद्वेषे द्यावापृथिवी हुवेम देवा धत्त रयिमस्मे सुवीरम् ॥
Verse 9.68.10Concluding prayer that links ritual purification to human benefit—vitality, harmony with Dyāvā-Pṛthivī, and wealth rich in heroic force—showing the sukta’s practical aim.Read verse 9.68.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • pavamāna (self-purifying/being purified)
  • madhu (honeyed sweetness)
  • śuci (bright, clean, radiant)
  • aṃśu (ray/beam, vital essence)
  • swift-flowing, world-strengthening
  • hymn-worthy (ṛgmya), aligned with ṛta

Also by this seer

  • Associated broadly with the Pavamāna hymns of Mandala 9 used by Soma-officiants (e.g., Udgātṛ/Hotṛ traditions) in the Soma sacrifice
  • Contributes to the recurring RV 9 theological-poetic motif: Soma as luminous, honeyed, world-strengthening purifier

The rite, step by step

  • Soma is pressed and its juice collected (savana context).
  • The juice is mixed/handled and led to the straining fleece/sieve (pavitra).
  • Purification: Soma ‘flows’ through the filter and waters, described as radiant streaming.
  • Libations are offered to the gods (especially Indra and the deities of the rite), accompanied by recitation/chant of Pavamāna verses.
  • Closing prayer for vitality (vayaḥ), harmony with Heaven-and-Earth, and wealth/heroic force (rayi, suvīra).

Offerings

  • Purified Soma libation
  • Ghee and ancillary oblations (as part of the wider Soma rite)
  • Praise-hymns (stotra/śastra) as verbal offering

Frequently Asked Questions

The main deity is Soma Pavamāna—Soma as it is being purified and made radiant for offering. The last verse also invokes Heaven and Earth (Dyāvā-Pṛthivī) and the gods collectively.

“Pavamāna” refers to Soma in the process of purification—flowing through the strainer and waters so that the juice becomes clear, bright, and fit to be offered to the gods.

The hymn asks Soma to establish vibrant life-power in the worshippers and requests the gods to grant wealth and well-being, especially “suvīra”—prosperity rich in heroic strength and capable offspring/energy.

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