Sukta 5
Sukta 9.5
अयं सोमपवमानसूक्तः स्वयमेव पवमानं सोमं स्तौति—यः दीप्तिं बलं च प्राप्य प्रज्वलति, पवित्रकर्मणा प्रवहन् प्राणशक्तीः प्रबोधयति। सः महाबलः आनन्ददः शक्तिरूपः, यस्य प्रकाशो रात्र्युषसोः इव पर्यायेण आविर्भवति। अन्ते च स्वाहाकारसमन्वितेन सोमाहुत्या प्रभाविते यज्ञे देवगणं सर्वं सोमपानाय आह्वयति।
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
समिद्धो विश्वतस्पतिः पवमानो वि राजति । प्रीणन्वृषा कनिक्रदत् ॥
समिद्धो विश्वतस्पतिः पवमानो वि राजति । प्रीणन्वृषा कनिक्रदत् ॥
Mantra 2
तनूनपात्पवमानः शृङ्गे शिशानो अर्षति । अन्तरिक्षेण रारजत् ॥
तनूनपात् पवमानः सोमः शृङ्गे शिशानोऽर्षति। अन्तरिक्षेण गत्वा रारजत्।
Mantra 3
ईळेन्यः पवमानो रयिर्वि राजति द्युमान् । मधोर्धाराभिरोजसा ॥
ईळेन्यः पवमानो सोमो द्युमान् रयिर्वि राजति। मधोर्धाराभिरोजसा।
Mantra 4
बर्हिः प्राचीनमोजसा पवमानः स्तृणन्हरिः । देवेषु देव ईयते ॥
पवमानः सोमः प्राचीनं बर्हिरोजसा स्तृणन् हरिः। देवो देवेष्वीयते।
Mantra 5
उदातैर्जिहते बृहद्द्वारो देवीर्हिरण्ययीः । पवमानेन सुष्टुताः ॥
उदात्तैर्जिहते बृहद्द्वारो देवीर्हिरण्ययीः; पवमानेन सुष्टुताः ऊर्ध्वारोहणस्य पन्थानं प्रकाशयन्ति।
Mantra 6
सुशिल्पे बृहती मही पवमानो वृषण्यति । नक्तोषासा न दर्शते ॥
सुशिल्पे बृहती-महीमध्ये पवमानः सोमो वृषण्यति; स नक्तोषासा इव दृश्यते—तमसो ज्योतिषश्च पर्यायेण स्वं प्रकाशयन्।
Mantra 7
उभा देवा नृचक्षसा होतारा दैव्या हुवे । पवमान इन्द्रो वृषा ॥
उभौ देवौ नृचक्षसौ दैव्यौ होतारौ अहं हुवे; पवमाने सोम इन्द्रो वृषा स्थितः—विजयबलस्य अन्तःशक्तिः।
Mantra 8
भारती पवमानस्य सरस्वतीळा मही । इमं नो यज्ञमा गमन्तिस्रो देवीः सुपेशसः ॥
पवमानस्य सोमस्य भारती सरस्वती मह्य् इळा—तिस्रो देवीः सुपेशसः—इमं नो यज्ञम् आगच्छन्तु; धियो वाचश्च सुसंस्कृत्याः शक्तयः अस्मासु समायान्तु।
Mantra 9
त्वष्टारमग्रजां गोपां पुरोयावानमा हुवे । इन्दुरिन्द्रो वृषा हरिः पवमानः प्रजापतिः ॥
त्वष्टारम् अग्रजं गोपां पुरोयावानम् अहं हुवे; यतः पवमान इन्दुः दीप्तः स इन्द्रः वृषा हरिः च, प्रजापतिः सृष्टेः पतिः अस्मासु।
Mantra 10
वनस्पतिं पवमान मध्वा समङ्ग्धि धारया । सहस्रवल्शं हरितं भ्राजमानं हिरण्ययम् ॥
हे पवमान सोम, मध्वा धारया वनस्पतिं समङ्ग्धि; स सहस्रवल्शः हरितो भ्राजमानो हिरण्ययः।
Mantra 11
विश्वे देवाः स्वाहाकृतिं पवमानस्या गत । वायुर्बृहस्पतिः सूर्योऽग्निरिन्द्रः सजोषसः ॥
विश्वे देवाः स्वाहाकृतिं पवमानस्य सोमस्य हविराकृतिं प्रति आगच्छन्तु। वायुः बृहस्पतिः सूर्यः अग्निरिन्द्रश्च—एते सर्वे सजोऽषसः समन्वितकर्माणः समागच्छन्तु।
Inside Sukta 5
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma is presented as kindled and sovereignly radiant—‘the lord of the many-sided totality’—shining forth as he purifies himself.
- Development
His power grows in the vastness of being; he is depicted as bull-strong, delight-increasing, and perceptible in rhythmic alternations like Night and Dawn.
- Climax
The hymn reaches a liturgical peak by shaping the offering with svāhā and summoning the divine host to the purified Soma.
- Where it settles
It closes in concord: major deities (Vāyu, Bṛhaspati, Sūrya, Agni, Indra, and the All-Gods) are asked to arrive harmonized, completing the sacrificial intention.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- In the VedaHe is praised as a lordly power that shines out, gladdens, and energizes, and whose clarified flow supports divine and cosmic order.
- Cosmic functionHe mediates between humans and gods through the offering, invigorates the deities (especially Indra), and sustains ṛta by transforming raw potency into clarified, life-giving essence.
- Inner significanceThe hymn reads Soma as purified consciousness and clarified delight (ānanda) that, when ‘strained’ through discipline and truth, becomes a radiant force awakening speech, will, and vital energies in harmonious rhythm (like Night-and-Dawn).
Famous verses
समिद्धो विश्वतस्पतिः पवमानो वि राजति । प्रीणन्वृषा कनिक्रदत् ॥सुशिल्पे बृहती मही पवमानो वृषण्यति । नक्तोषासा न दर्शते ॥svāhākṛtim
Attributes of the deity
- self-purifying (pavamāna)
- luminous and kingly radiance
- bull-force/virility (vृषन्)
- roaring/awakening power (kanikradat)
- delight-giving and invigorating
- ritually central as the pressed-and-strained offering
- harmonizer who draws multiple deities in accord
Also by this seer
- Soma Pavamāna hymns in Mandala 9 are broadly linked to multiple priestly families and ritual specialists; precise additional attributions for this specific sukta require recension-based cross-reference.
The rite, step by step
- Press Soma (savana) and mix/prepare according to rite.
- Strain/purify the juice through the filter (pavitra), reciting Pavamāna verses.
- Collect the clarified Soma in vessels; praise Soma as radiant and bull-strong.
- Offer Soma with svāhā into the ritual sequence, inviting the gods to partake.
- Conclude with an invocation for the deities to come ‘in one accord’ to the offering.
Offerings
- Pressed Soma juice (clarified through the filter)
- Svāhā-accompanied oblations
- Associated offerings customary in Soma rites (e.g., ghee/clarified butter as part of the broader yajña context)
Frequently Asked Questions
Soma Pavamāna is Soma in the act of self-purification—pressed, flowing, and clarified through the filter—praised as a radiant power that energizes gods and humans.
It sanctifies and celebrates the Soma flow during purification and offering, portraying Soma as increasing inner delight and strength, and inviting the gods to come to the oblation.
Night-and-Dawn symbolize rhythmic alternation—hidden and revealed. The hymn uses this image to show how Soma’s purified power becomes perceptible in ordered cycles of obscurity and light.
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