Rig Veda Sukta 89
Mandala 9Sukta 897 Mantras

Sukta 89

Sukta 9.89

Himne Pavamāna yang ringkas ini memuji Soma ketika ia disucikan—mengalir seperti hujan dari langit, bersemayam di “pangkuan ibu” (penapis/tempat pemerasan), dan memasuki para pemuja sebagai kekuatan serta kemanisan. Soma dibayangkan sebagai kuda perkasa berbelakang madu, dipasang pada kereta beroda lebar, dibersihkan oleh “saudari-saudari” (air-air) dan digerakkan menuju para dewa. Himne ini memuncak pada permohonan langsung: semoga Soma, yang disucikan bagi Indra, menganugerahkan kekayaan yang bercahaya dan daya kepahlawanan yang indah yang menewaskan segala rintangan.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.89

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna

    Soma as ‘Pavamāna’ is Soma-in-process: the pressed juice rushing through the woolen filter, clarified, bright, and fit for the gods.

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्रो स्य वह्निः पथ्याभिरस्यान्दिवो न वृष्टिः पवमानो अक्षाः । सहस्रधारो असदन्न्यस्मे मातुरुपस्थे वन आ च सोमः ॥

Ke hadapan ia bergerak, pembawa daya-nyala, melalui jalan-jalan yang benar; seperti hujan dari langit, Sang Pavamāna mengalir memancar. Seribu-aliran, Soma bersemayam dalam diri kami, di pangkuan Sang Ibu, di rimba pertumbuhan, lalu datang ke medan kewujudan kami.

Mantra 2

राजा सिन्धूनामवसिष्ट वास ऋतस्य नावमारुहद्रजिष्ठाम् । अप्सु द्रप्सो वावृधे श्येनजूतो दुह ईं पिता दुह ईं पितुर्जाम् ॥

Raja segala sungai, wahai Vasiṣṭha, ia telah menyarungkan busananya; ia telah menaiki bahtera ṛta yang terpantas. Di dalam air, titisan itu membesar, digerakkan oleh daya-helang; Sang Bapa memerahkannya keluar, dan ia memerah keluar pertalian Sang Bapa.

Mantra 3

सिंहं नसन्त मध्वो अयासं हरिमरुषं दिवो अस्य पतिम् । शूरो युत्सु प्रथमः पृच्छते गा अस्य चक्षसा परि पात्युक्षा ॥

Mereka mendekatinya seperti singa—tidak letih oleh nikmat madu; keemasan, kemerah-merahan, tuan bagi langit ini. Seorang wira, yang pertama dalam pertempuran, ia mencari Sinar (lembu-lembu); dengan penglihatannya, Sang Lembu Jantan berkuasa merayau sekeliling.

Mantra 4

मधुपृष्ठं घोरमयासमश्वं रथे युञ्जन्त्युरुचक्र ऋष्वम् । स्वसार ईं जामयो मर्जयन्ति सनाभयो वाजिनमूर्जयन्ति ॥

Kuda yang berpunggung madu, dahsyat dan tidak mengenal lelah, mereka pasangkan pada rata beroda luas, bergerak tinggi. Para saudari dan kaum kerabat menyucikannya; yang se-rahim menguatkan yang tangkas itu dengan tenaga.

Mantra 5

चतस्र ईं घृतदुहः सचन्ते समाने अन्तर्धरुणे निषत्ताः । ता ईमर्षन्ति नमसा पुनानास्ता ईं विश्वतः परि षन्ति पूर्वीः ॥

Empat kuasa pemerah ghee (ghṛta) berpaut padanya, duduk bersama pada asas batin yang sama. Mereka membuatnya mengalir, menyucikannya dengan hormat; mereka mengelilinginya dari segala penjuru—yang purba itu.

Mantra 6

विष्टम्भो दिवो धरुणः पृथिव्या विश्वा उत क्षितयो हस्ते अस्य । असत्त उत्सो गृणते नियुत्वान्मध्वो अंशुः पवत इन्द्रियाय ॥

Dialah penyangga langit, sokongan bumi; segala alam yang menetap berada dalam genggamannya. Mata airmu ditegakkan bagi si pemuji, dipasang dengan kekuatan-kekuatan; sinar bermadu (aṃśu) mengalir demi daya Indra—menuju kemenangan penguasaan.

Mantra 7

वन्वन्नवातो अभि देववीतिमिन्द्राय सोम वृत्रहा पवस्व । शग्धि महः पुरुश्चन्द्रस्य रायः सुवीर्यस्य पतयः स्याम ॥

Menaklukkan, didorong angin, bergeraklah menuju pertemuan para dewa; demi Indra, wahai Soma, pembunuh Vṛtra, sucikanlah dirimu. Kurniakan kepada kami kekayaan yang besar, yang banyak bersinar; semoga kami menjadi tuan bagi vīrya kepahlawanan yang indah dalam kekuatannya.

Inside Sukta 89

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma surges forward on rightful paths, pouring out like heavenly rain—an image of lawful, life-giving flow.

  2. Development

    The hymn elaborates Soma’s settling in the ‘mother’s lap’ (filter/pressing place) and his dynamic form as a formidable, tireless steed; the waters/kinswomen cleanse and strengthen him.

  3. Climax

    Soma is urged to purify himself for Indra’s divine encounter, taking on the role of victorious power that breaks obstruction.

  4. Where it settles

    A clear request concludes the hymn: grant great, many-shining riches and make the worshippers masters of beautiful, effective hero-force.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaHe is praised as thousand-streamed, honey-rich, swift like a steed, and as the inspirer who brings delight, power, and victorious force.
  • Cosmic functionHe mediates between heaven and earth: a divine elixir that invigorates Indra for the slaying of Vṛtra, sustains ṛta (right order) through correct ritual flow, and distributes vitality, rain-like abundance, and luminous prosperity.
  • Inner significanceThe purified Soma signifies clarified consciousness—desire and emotion refined into inspiration (mati), courage, and steady power. ‘Entering within us’ points to an inner sacrament: the settling of luminous strength in the heart-mind once impurities are strained away.

The seer

  • Anonymus (Rishi unknown)This hymn belongs to the Soma Pavamāna collection (Mandala 9), where many sūktas are transmitted without a clearly preserved seer-name; the focus is on the liturgical and visionary description of Soma’s purification rather than on a family signature.

Famous verses

प्रो स्य वह्निः पथ्याभिरस्यान्दिवो न वृष्टिः पवमानो अक्षाः । सहस्रधारो असदन्न्यस्मे मातुरुपस्थे वन आ च सोमः ॥
Verse 9.89.1Sets the core Pavamāna vision: Soma’s lawful movement, rain-like streaming, and his ‘settling within us’ through the maternal/filter imagery—linking ritual purification with inner indwelling.Read verse 9.89.1 →
मधुपृष्ठं घोरमयासमश्वं रथे युञ्जन्त्युरुचक्र ऋष्वम् । स्वसार ईं जामयो मर्जयन्ति सनाभयो वाजिनमूर्जयन्ति ॥
Verse 9.89.4A vivid emblem verse: Soma as honey-backed steed yoked to a wide-wheeled car, cleansed by ‘sisters’ (waters). It compresses the whole ritual mechanics into a single powerful metaphor.Read verse 9.89.4 →
वन्वन्नवातो अभि देववीतिमिन्द्राय सोम वृत्रहा पवस्व । शग्धि महः पुरुश्चन्द्रस्य रायः सुवीर्यस्य पतयः स्याम ॥
Verse 9.89.7The hymn’s culminating petition: Soma is purified for Indra’s victory and asked to bestow radiant wealth and heroic potency—showing the practical aim of the rite (strength, prosperity, overcoming).Read verse 9.89.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Purifying/clarifying (pavamāna)
  • Thousand-streamed flow
  • Honey-sweet, life-giving essence
  • Swift, chariot-yoked steed imagery
  • Empowers Indra (vṛtrahan function by support)
  • Bestower of wealth, radiance, and hero-force
  • Associated with waters as cleansers and carriers

Also by this seer

  • Participation (as part of the anonymous Mandala 9 tradition) in the Pavamāna corpus used in Soma-pressing rites
  • Preservation of key Soma imagery: rain-like outflow, thousand-streamed flow, and the waters as cleansing “sisters”

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma (or ritually prepare the Soma substitute) and collect the juice
  • Strain through the woolen filter (pavitra), accompanied by Pavamāna recitation
  • Mix/clarify with water and (as prescribed) milk or other enhancers; continue filtration until bright
  • Offer libations to Indra and the gods; recite petitions for strength, wealth, and victory
  • Distribute the consecrated remainder according to rite, sealing the intention of inner purification and empowerment

Offerings

  • Purified Soma juice (or ritual Soma preparation)
  • Water as the cleansing medium (‘sisters’)
  • Milk/curds/ghee additions where the ritual tradition prescribes

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn praises Soma as Pavamāna—Soma while being purified through the filter—then offered especially for Indra’s strength and victory.

It describes Soma’s abundant, many-channel flow during purification and symbolically suggests overflowing vitality and inspiration spreading in many currents.

Soma is poetically imagined as a powerful horse yoked to a chariot, while the “sisters” are the cleansing waters that wash and strengthen him during the filtering process.

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