Rig Veda Sukta 77
Mandala 9Sukta 775 Mantras

Sukta 77

Sukta 9.77

Himne Pavamāna yang ringkas ini memuji Soma ketika ia ditapis dan disucikan, lalu disiapkan di dalam bejana, bersinar sebagai vajra Indra—daya yang tidak tertahan yang membawa kemenangan dan kelimpahan. Bait-baitnya menggambarkan Soma yang telah ditapis sebagai manis, bercahaya, dan penegak hukum ṛta, menarik kepada dirinya aliran-aliran kaya sari bagaikan ghee, serta menguatkan si pelaksana korban dengan tenaga, “sinar-sinar” (go), dan tutur ilham. Pada gerak penutupnya, arus Soma disamakan dengan kuasa-kuasa Varuṇa dan Mitra yang luas dan setia, menjadikan penyucian itu bukan sekadar tindakan ritual, melainkan penyelarasan tertib kosmik dan kebenaran batin.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.77

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna (as Indra’s vajra-form)

    Soma is the pressed and filtered sacred drink, ‘pavamāna’ as he runs clear through the wool/strainer into the vessel, sweet (madhumat), radiant (vapuṣo vapuṣṭara), and compelling like Indra’s thunderbolt.

Mantras

Mantra 1

एष प्र कोशे मधुमाँ अचिक्रददिन्द्रस्य वज्रो वपुषो वपुष्टरः । अभीमृतस्य सुदुघा घृतश्चुतो वाश्रा अर्षन्ति पयसेव धेनवः ॥

Ia berseru nyaring di dalam bejana, sarat kemanisan madu—vajra Indra, lebih gemilang daripada segala gemilang. Kepadanya mengalir arus-deras Kebenaran (ṛta), yang memerah dengan limpah, menitis ghee; bagaikan lembu-lembu yang melenguh, mengalirkan susu mereka.

Mantra 2

स पूर्व्यः पवते यं दिवस्परि श्येनो मथायदिषितस्तिरो रजः । स मध्व आ युवते वेविजान इत्कृशानोरस्तुर्मनसाह बिभ्युषा ॥

Yang purba itu memurnikan diri dan mengalir—dia yang helang (śyena) bawa dari seberang, dari langit melampaui ruang antara. Ia melaju dengan kemanisan madu, bergetar oleh daya; bahkan Kṛśānu sang pemanah, dari busurnya, gentar dalam batin terhadapnya.

Mantra 3

ते नः पूर्वास उपरास इन्दवो महे वाजाय धन्वन्तु गोमते । ईक्षेण्यासो अह्यो न चारवो ब्रह्मब्रह्म ये जुजुषुर्हविर्हविः ॥

Semoga bagi kami titis-titis Soma yang dahulu dan yang kemudian melaju menuju kelimpahan agung daya, kaya akan sinar-sinar (go). Tampak dan cepat laksana ular-ular, mereka yang menyambut tiap persembahan dengan tiap mantra—semoga mereka bergerak di dalam diri kami, mantra demi mantra, persembahan demi persembahan.

Mantra 4

अयं नो विद्वान्वनवद्वनुष्यत इन्दुः सत्राचा मनसा पुरुष्टुतः । इनस्य यः सदने गर्भमादधे गवामुरुब्जमभ्यर्षति व्रजम् ॥

Soma ini, yang mengetahui, memenangi bagi kami—laksana pencari rimba (yang tersembunyi); ia bergerak lurus dengan minda, dipuji oleh ramai. Dia yang di singgasana menaruh benih (pembentukan batin) meluru menuju kandang luas sinar—kraal tempat kawanan bercahaya dihimpunkan.

Mantra 5

चक्रिर्दिवः पवते कृत्व्यो रसो महाँ अदब्धो वरुणो हुरुग्यते । असावि मित्रो वृजनेषु यज्ञियोऽत्यो न यूथे वृषयुः कनिक्रदत् ॥

Pelaku kerja-kerja yang benar, sari yang luas daya-kerjanya, mengalir turun dari langit bercahaya; agunglah ia, tidak dapat dikhianati—Varuṇa, kuasa Hukum Luas, bergerak di ruang-ruang yang lapang. Mitra juga diperah di ladang-ladang kewujudan kita, layak bagi yajña; seperti kuda jantan gagah dalam kawanan, ia melaung nyaring.

Inside Sukta 77

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma is heard and seen in the vessel—sweet, radiant, and explicitly named as Indra’s vajra-like power.

  2. Development

    The hymn expands the imagery: streams of ṛta and ghee-like richness flow toward him; the Soma-drops, ancient and later, speed toward great strength and ‘rays,’ accepting offering and mantra in a continuous inner movement.

  3. Climax

    Soma’s purified force is universalized: he flows from the luminous heaven as the ‘right-doer’ essence, vast and unbetrayable—identified with Varuṇa’s wide law and Mitra’s sacrificial harmony.

  4. Where it settles

    The flow culminates in a vigorous, victorious drive—like a strong stallion crying within the herd—leaving the hearer with energized aspiration and ordered power ready for ritual offering and inner conquest.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • Cosmic functionHe mediates between heaven and earth through sacrifice, quickening the gods, strengthening Indra for victory, and establishing the flow of ṛta (cosmic truth/order) as abundance, inspiration, and protection.
  • Inner significanceThe clarified Soma symbolizes purified consciousness and concentrated life-force: when filtered, it becomes decisive will (vajra), luminous discernment, and mantra-powered aspiration that aligns the seeker with truth and right action.

Famous verses

indrasya vajro vapuṣo vapuṣṭaraḥ
Verse 9.77.1Defines the hymn’s central vision: Soma in the vessel as ‘Indra’s vajra,’ sweeter-than-sweet and more radiant than radiance, with ṛta’s rich streams flowing to him.Read verse 9.77.1 →
brahma-brahma ye jujuṣur havir-haviḥ
Verse 9.77.3Links Soma-drops across time (‘ancient and later’) to the goal of vāja and go (strength and rays/cattle), and highlights the mantra-offering reciprocity (havir-haviḥ; brahma-brahma).Read verse 9.77.3 →
चक्रिर्दिवः पवते कृत्व्यो रसो महाँ अदब्धो वरुणो हुरुग्यते । असावि मित्रो वृजनेषु यज्ञियोऽत्यो न यूथे वृषयुः कनिक्रदत् ॥
Verse 9.77.5Reveals Soma’s cosmic breadth by invoking Varuṇa and Mitra as active powers in the Soma-flow—right action, vast law, and sacrificial harmony—ending with a forceful, stallion-like cry.Read verse 9.77.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Pavamāna (self-purifying, flowing clear)
  • Madhumat (honey-sweet delight)
  • Vajra-like force (Indra’s empowering might)
  • Ṛta-linked (streams of Truth)
  • Ghee-dripping richness (ghṛtaścuta)
  • Swift, visible movement (serpent-like imagery)
  • Wide-law power (Varuṇa aspect)
  • Harmonizing, sacrificial friendliness (Mitra aspect)

Also by this seer

  • General participation in Mandala 9’s Soma-Pavamāna hymns (praise of Soma in the act of filtration and pressing).

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma on the soma-stones and collect the juice.
  • Filter/purify through wool or strainer into the vessel (kośa/droṇa), reciting Pavamāna verses.
  • Offer purified Soma in libations to Indra (and associated deities), maintaining ṛta through correct chant and measure.
  • Complete with additional offerings and prayers for vāja (victorious force), go (rays/cattle), and protection under Varuṇa–Mitra order.

Offerings

  • Purified Soma juice (pavamāna)
  • Ghee (as accompanying oblation and as the hymn’s symbolic ‘richness’)
  • Havis offerings paired with mantras (havir-haviḥ)

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn praises Soma Pavamāna—Soma as he is purified and made ready for offering—described as Indra’s thunderbolt-like power.

Because purified Soma is seen as the force that empowers Indra to overcome obstacles; spiritually, it represents a concentrated, decisive energy born from purification.

The final verse shows Soma’s flow as carrying the powers of Varuṇa (vast, unbreakable cosmic law) and Mitra (harmony and right relationship), so the ritual purification also signifies alignment with ṛta.

Ask anything about Sukta 77 of the Rig Veda

Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.

Not sure where to start?

A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.

Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app

Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Continue reading in the Vedapath app

Open in App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play