Rig Veda Sukta 71
Mandala 9Sukta 719 Mantras

Sukta 71

Sukta 9.71

Rishi

Traditionally attributed in Book 9 to Soma-Pavamāna seers; specific r̥ṣi for 9.71 varies by Anukramaṇī tradition (often listed under Pavitra/Āṅgirasa lineages).

Chandas

Likely Jagatī (common in Soma Pavamāna hymns), pending pada-count verification for this specific mantra.

Himne Soma-Pavamāna ini memuji Soma ketika ia diperah dan ditapis, menjadi kuasa yang berjaga-jaga dan bercahaya, yang melindungi upacara daripada penyelewengan (druḥ) serta kuasa-kuasa bermusuhan (rakṣas). Ia mengaitkan penyucian Soma dengan Dakṣiṇā (persembahan yang benar/kemahiran) dan Brahman (keampuhan mantera), sambil menggambarkan Soma yang telah dijernihkan seolah-olah menyarungkan dirinya dengan sinar dan bergerak menuju suatu “langkah” atau kedudukan cahaya yang rahsia, disediakan secara ilahi.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.71

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna (the self-purifying Soma), with associated powers of Dakṣiṇā and Brahman (mantric force)

    Soma as the tawny, shining draught that is pressed, made to flow, and purified through the filter; he is wakeful, protective, and clothed in radiant brilliance, spreading “milk”/brightness and establishing brahman as a purifying garment for the cups.

Mantras

Mantra 1

आ दक्षिणा सृज्यते शुष्म्यासदं वेति द्रुहो रक्षसः पाति जागृविः । हरिरोपशं कृणुते नभस्पय उपस्तिरे चम्वोर्ब्रह्म निर्णिजे ॥

Dakṣiṇā—kuasa pertimbangan yang benar dan persembahan yang berkesan—dilepaskan ke dalam gerak; yang perkasa datang ke tempat pemenuhan. Terjaga dan berjaga-jaga, ia melindungi daripada kuasa penyelewengan dan kegelapan yang memusuhi. Soma yang keemasan menyiapkan perhiasan cahayanya; sebagai selubung ia membentangkan penutupnya, dan bagi camū (bejana) ia menghamparkan brahman sebagai kain penyuci.

Mantra 2

प्र कृष्टिहेव शूष एति रोरुवदसुर्यं वर्णं नि रिणीते अस्य तम् । जहाति वव्रिं पितुरेति निष्कृतमुपप्रुतं कृणुते निर्णिजं तना ॥

Maju ia bergerak dengan daya yang menggerakkan, bagaikan penakluk ladang bagi umat-umat; dengan seruan yang bergema ia menanggalkan warna asurik—kegelapan—yang melekat padanya. Ia meninggalkan selubung yang membungkus dan menuju rumah Sang Bapa yang telah disediakan; dengan wujudnya sendiri ia menjadikan bagi dirinya kain penyuci, murni dan membersihkan.

Mantra 3

अद्रिभिः सुतः पवते गभस्त्योर्वृषायते नभसा वेपते मती । स मोदते नसते साधते गिरा नेनिक्ते अप्सु यजते परीमणि ॥

Diperas oleh batu-batu pemeras, ia mengalir dalam genggaman tangan; ia menjadi perkasa, dan dengan keluasan langit ia menggetarkan fikiran hingga terjaga. Ia bersukacita, ia mendekat dan menyempurnakan dengan kata ilham; dibasuh dalam air, ia mempersembahkan ibadah dalam kesempurnaan yang melingkari.

Mantra 4

परि द्युक्षं सहसः पर्वतावृधं मध्वः सिञ्चन्ति हर्म्यस्य सक्षणिम् । आ यस्मिन्गावः सुहुताद ऊधनि मूर्धञ्छ्रीणन्त्यग्रियं वरीमभिः ॥

Mengelilingi yang bersinar, yang dibesarkan oleh daya-gunung daripada kekuatan, mereka mencurahkan kenikmatan bermadu ke tempat penopang rumah. Di dalamnya lembu-lembu—sinar yang meneguk persembahan yang elok—mengadunkan di puncak kekayaan yang terunggul dengan sukatan mereka yang melimpah.

Mantra 5

समी रथं न भुरिजोरहेषत दश स्वसारो अदितेरुपस्थ आ । जिगादुप ज्रयति गोरपीच्यं पदं यदस्य मतुथा अजीजनन् ॥

Bersama-sama mereka menggerakkannya maju seperti kereta yang berdaya melimpah—sepuluh saudari di pangkuan Aditi. Ia datang dan menekan maju menuju tempat tersembunyi Sang Sinar; kerana para pembentuk yang bijaksana telah melahirkan baginya langkah rahsia itu.

Mantra 6

श्येनो न योनिं सदनं धिया कृतं हिरण्ययमासदं देव एषति । ए रिणन्ति बर्हिषि प्रियं गिराश्वो न देवाँ अप्येति यज्ञियः ॥

Bagaikan helang ia mencari sarangnya, tempat duduk yang dibentuk oleh dhī (wawasan batin)—peraduan keemasan yang diingini sang dewa. Mereka menggerakkannya di atas barhis (rumput suci) dengan kata yang dikasihi; laksana kuda pantas ia menuju para dewa, layak bagi persembahan (yajña).

Mantra 7

परा व्यक्तो अरुषो दिवः कविर्वृषा त्रिपृष्ठो अनविष्ट गा अभि । सहस्रणीतिर्यतिः परायती रेभो न पूर्वीरुषसो वि राजति ॥

Jauh ia terserlah nyata—resi kemerahan dari langit, banteng perkasa, bertulang-belakang tiga, mencari sinar-sinar. Dengan seribu penuntun ia meneruskan perjalanan; laksana penyanyi ia bersinar menembusi banyak fajar yang telah mendahului.

Mantra 8

त्वेषं रूपं कृणुते वर्णो अस्य स यत्राशयत्समृता सेधति स्रिधः । अप्सा याति स्वधया दैव्यं जनं सं सुष्टुती नसते सं गोअग्रया ॥

Ia membentuk bagi dirinya rupa yang tajam dan menyala; warnanya menjadi pekat. Di tempat ia berbaring—dipulihkan oleh penyambungan yang benar—di sana ia menolak para perosak keselarasan. Ia bergerak di dalam air menurut svadhā (hukum batinnya sendiri) menuju kaum ilahi; dengan pujian yang sempurna ia mendekat, dan bersama sinar-sinar terdepan ia meraih.

Mantra 9

उक्षेव यूथा परियन्नरावीदधि त्विषीरधित सूर्यस्य । दिव्यः सुपर्णोऽव चक्षत क्षां सोमः परि क्रतुना पश्यते जाः ॥

Bagaikan seekor lembu jantan yang bergerak bersama kawanan, ia telah bergema; ia meletakkan sinar-sinar gemilangnya pada Surya. Yang ilahi, bersayap indah, memandang ke bawah ke atas bumi; Soma, dengan kratu (kehendak-sedar)-nya, meninjau segala kelahiran dan segala makhluk di sekeliling.

Inside Sukta 71

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Dakṣiṇā is set in motion and Soma arrives powerfully at the ritual seat, wakeful and guarding against distortion and darkness.

  2. Development

    Soma’s purification is depicted as adornment and cosmic covering; his flow is coordinated by divine agencies (often imaged as ‘sisters’) that urge him like a strong chariot toward a hidden station.

  3. Climax

    Soma reaches the secret step/seat of light prepared by the wise, and his splendour is set upon/with the Sun—purification becomes cosmic illumination.

  4. Where it settles

    As a divine, fair-winged power he looks down upon earth; Soma, with deliberate will (kratu), surveys beings and births, sealing the rite with ordered, luminous awareness.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • Cosmic functionMediator of vitality and illumination: Soma quickens the gods, strengthens the rite, drives away hostile powers, and connects terrestrial pressing to solar radiance and cosmic order.
  • Inner significanceThe clarified mind-force: purification of impulses into discernment (dakṣiṇā), speech into effective mantra (brahman), and desire into luminous, life-supporting energy.

The seer

  • Soma-Pavamāna seer(s) (Anukramaṇī varies; often placed in Pavitra/Āṅgirasa streams)Pavitra / Āṅgirasa-associated (varies by Anukramaṇī tradition) · Book 9’s specialized vision of Soma as a self-purifying, mantra-animated deity whose flow through the filter becomes a model of inner clarification and ritual efficacy.

Famous verses

आ दक्षिणा सृज्यते शुष्म्यासदं वेति द्रुहो रक्षसः पाति जागृविः । हरिरोपशं कृणुते नभस्पय उपस्तिरे चम्वोर्ब्रह्म निर्णिजे ॥
Verse 9.71.1Defines the hymn’s core triad—Dakṣiṇā, protective vigilance against druḥ/rakṣas, and brahman as the purifying ‘robe’ laid upon the cups—linking ritual action to spiritual purification.Read verse 9.71.1 →
समी रथं न भुरिजोरहेषत दश स्वसारो अदितेरुपस्थ आ । जिगादुप ज्रयति गोरपीच्यं पदं यदस्य मतुथा अजीजनन् ॥
Verse 9.71.5Introduces the striking image of the ‘ten sisters’ in Aditi’s lap urging Soma like a chariot, and the movement toward a hidden, prepared ‘step’ (pada), a key Pavamāna motif of secret attainment.Read verse 9.71.5 →
उक्षेव यूथा परियन्नरावीदधि त्विषीरधित सूर्यस्य । दिव्यः सुपर्णोऽव चक्षत क्षां सोमः परि क्रतुना पश्यते जाः ॥
Verse 9.71.9Culminates in Soma’s bull-like roar, solar splendour, and divine vision: Soma as conscious will (kratu) surveying all beings—an apex statement of Soma’s cosmic intelligence.Read verse 9.71.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Self-purifying (pavamāna) flow
  • Vigilant protector against druḥ and rakṣas
  • Luminous/tawny radiance (hari)
  • Mantra-bearing power (brahman)
  • Linked to Aditi’s ordering vastness and to solar splendour
  • Seeker of a hidden/secret station (pada) of light

Also by this seer

  • Numerous Soma-Pavamāna hymns across Mandala 9 attributed to Pavamāna-focused seers in different Anukramaṇī lists
  • Development of Soma imagery around pavitra (filter), camū (cups), and brahman (mantric force) as operative ritual power

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma (abhiṣava) and mix/prepare the juice according to the rite
  • Filter through the pavitra (wool/strainer), chanting to invoke self-purification and vigilance
  • Fill and consecrate the two cups (camū), establishing brahman as the purifying ‘robe’
  • Offer Soma to the deities with dakṣiṇā (right offering/skill) and protective intention
  • Conclude with affirmations of Soma’s radiance and his surveying, ordering intelligence (kratu)

Offerings

  • Filtered Soma juice
  • Oblations accompanying Soma (as prescribed in Soma rites)
  • Dakṣiṇā (priestly gift/ritual fee, also invoked as sacred efficacy)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Soma while he is being purified through the filter, describing him as a bright, powerful force that protects the ritual and turns the offering into divine strength and clarity.

Dakṣiṇā represents the right, effective act of offering (and the sacred fee that completes the rite), while Brahman is the mantra-power. The hymn says Soma’s purification works through both: correct action and potent speech.

In ritual terms it is Soma’s destined station reached through proper pressing and filtering. In inner terms it suggests a secret level of clarity or light that becomes accessible when the mind and speech are purified.

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