Sukta 72
Sukta 9.72
Soma-Pavamāna tradition (Book 9).
Likely Jagatī (to be metrically confirmed).
अयं सोमपवमानसूक्तः शुद्धं सोमं स्तौति—यथा स शुद्ध्यते, पिष्यते, दुग्धेन सह पात्रे निषिच्यते, तत्र च दीप्तिमान् प्रेरकशक्तिरिव भवति। स वाक्चेतसोः प्रबोधकः, ऋतस्य सदने जीवनस्य पुनर्नवकर्ता, उपासकाय च बहुधनं क्षेमं च दाता इति कीर्त्यते।
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
हरिं मृजन्त्यरुषो न युज्यते सं धेनुभिः कलशे सोमो अज्यते । उद्वाचमीरयति हिन्वते मती पुरुष्टुतस्य कति चित्परिप्रियः ॥
हरिं मृजन्ति; अरुषो न युज्यते। सं धेनुभिः कलशे सोमो अज्यते; उद्वाचमीरेयति हिन्वते मती। पुरुष्टुतस्य कति चित् परिप्रियः॥
Mantra 2
साकं वदन्ति बहवो मनीषिण इन्द्रस्य सोमं जठरे यदादुहुः । यदी मृजन्ति सुगभस्तयो नरः सनीळाभिर्दशभिः काम्यं मधु ॥
साकं वदन्ति बहवो मनीषिणः; इन्द्रस्य सोमं जठरे यदा अदुहुः। यदी मृजन्ति सुगभस्तयो नरः; सनीळाभिर्दशभिः काम्यं मधु॥
Mantra 3
अरममाणो अत्येति गा अभि सूर्यस्य प्रियं दुहितुस्तिरो रवम् । अन्वस्मै जोषमभरद्विनंगृसः सं द्वयीभिः स्वसृभिः क्षेति जामिभिः ॥
अरममाणः स गाः (रश्मीन्) अभ्यत्येति, सूर्यस्य प्रियं धामाभि; दुहितुः (दोहित्र्याः) रवमतिरो गच्छति। अन्वस्मै विनंगृसः (वक्रग्राही) जोषमानन्दमभरत्; स च द्वाभ्यां स्वसृभ्यां जामिभिः सह संयुक्तः क्षेति।
Mantra 4
नृधूतो अद्रिषुतो बर्हिषि प्रियः पतिर्गवां प्रदिव इन्दुॠत्वियः । पुरंधिवान्मनुषो यज्ञसाधनः शुचिर्धिया पवते सोम इन्द्र ते ॥
नृधूतो अद्रिषुतो बर्हिषि प्रियः पतिर्गवां प्रदिव इन्दुऋत्वियः। पुरंधिवान्मनुषो यज्ञसाधनः शुचिर्धिया पवते सोम इन्द्र ते॥
Mantra 5
नृबाहुभ्यां चोदितो धारया सुतोऽनुष्वधं पवते सोम इन्द्र ते । आप्राः क्रतून्त्समजैरध्वरे मतीर्वेर्न द्रुषच्चम्वोरासदद्धरिः ॥
नृबाहुभ्यां चोदितो धारया सुतोऽनुष्वधं पवते सोम इन्द्र ते। आप्राः क्रतून् समजैरध्वरे मतीर्वेरिव द्रुषच्चम्वोरासदद्धरिः॥
Mantra 6
अंशुं दुहन्ति स्तनयन्तमक्षितं कविं कवयोऽपसो मनीषिणः । समी गावो मतयो यन्ति संयत ऋतस्य योना सदने पुनर्भुवः ॥
अंशुं दुहन्ति स्तनयन्तमक्षितं कविं कवयोऽपसो मनीषिणः। समी गावो मतयो यन्ति संयत ऋतस्य योना सदने पुनर्भुवः॥
Mantra 7
नाभा पृथिव्या धरुणो महो दिवोऽपामूर्मौ सिन्धुष्वन्तरुक्षितः । इन्द्रस्य वज्रो वृषभो विभूवसुः सोमो हृदे पवते चारु मत्सरः ॥
पृथिव्या नाभिरिव, महतो दिवो धरण इव, अपामूर्मौ सिन्धुष्वन्तरुक्षितः—सोमः सिच्यते। इन्द्रस्य वज्रो वृषभो विभूवसुः; स चारु-मत्सरः सोमो हृदे पवते पवमानः।
Mantra 8
स तू पवस्व परि पार्थिवं रजः स्तोत्रे शिक्षन्नाधून्वते च सुक्रतो । मा नो निर्भाग्वसुनः सादनस्पृशो रयिं पिशङ्गं बहुलं वसीमहि ॥
स त्वं पवस्व परि पार्थिवं रजः; स्तोत्रं शिक्षस्वाधून्वतं च, हे सुक्रतो। मा नो निर्भाग्वसुनः सादनस्पृशः; रयिं पिशङ्गं बहुलं वसीमहि॥
Mantra 9
आ तू न इन्दो शतदात्वश्व्यं सहस्रदातु पशुमद्धिरण्यवत् । उप मास्व बृहती रेवतीरिषोऽधि स्तोत्रस्य पवमान नो गहि ॥
आ त्वं न इन्दो शतदात्वश्व्यं सहस्रदातु पशुमद्धिरण्यवत्। उप मास्व बृहती रेवतीरिषोऽधि स्तोत्रस्य पवमान नो गहि॥
Inside Sukta 72
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens with the vivid ritual image of Soma being cleansed and poured with milk into the jar, likened to a tawny steed yoked to its work.
- Development
It expands Soma’s identity from ritual liquid to inspired power: he raises speech, impels thought, and is ‘milked’ by seers as an inexhaustible, thunderous beam; all movements converge toward the womb of Ṛta.
- Climax
Soma’s flow is invoked to circle and pervade the earthly realm while educating the hymn and empowering the worker—granting access to the ‘seats of abundance’ without deprivation.
- Where it settles
The hymn settles into a protective petition: do not cut us off from treasure; may we possess tawny, manifold plenitude—wealth, fullness, and renewed becoming.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- In the VedaHe is linked with thunder-like power, inexhaustibility, and the ‘womb of Ṛta’ where renewal occurs.
- Cosmic functionHe mediates between earthly offering and divine plenitude—purifying, energizing, and sustaining the gods and the cosmic order while bestowing rayi (wealth/abundance) and vitality on the sacrificer.
- Inner significanceAs purified consciousness, Soma symbolizes the clarified mind-force that awakens inspired speech, concentrates thought, and renews the seeker by aligning inner life with Ṛta (truth/order).
The seer
- Soma-Pavamāna tradition (Pavamāna-ṛṣis of Mandala 9)Mandala 9 is a specialized collection devoted to Soma’s purification (pavamāna), composed by multiple seer-families; the ‘rishi’ is often transmitted as a liturgical tradition rather than a single named author.
Famous verses
ud vācam īrayati (he lifts up the word)
ṛtasya yonā (womb of Ṛta)
स तू पवस्व परि पार्थिवं रजः स्तोत्रे शिक्षन्नाधून्वते च सुक्रतो । मा नो निर्भाग्वसुनः सादनस्पृशो रयिं पिशङ्गं बहुलं वसीमहि ॥Attributes of the deity
- Purifying flow (pavamāna)
- Tawny/golden radiance
- Inspiration of speech and thought
- Kavi (seer-like intelligence)
- Milk-mingled sweetness
- Bestower of wealth and fullness (rayi, vasu)
- Linked to Ṛta and renewal (punar-bhuvaḥ)
Also by this seer
- Numerous Soma Pavamāna hymns across Rig Veda Mandala 9 (Soma Pavitra cycle)
- Liturgical shaping of Soma-pressing praise used in Soma-yajña contexts
The rite, step by step
- Press Soma (or prepare Soma substitute in later practice) and express the juice
- Filter/cleanse through the pavitra (wool/strainer), ‘cleansing the tawny one’
- Mix with milk streams (dhenubhiḥ) and pour into the kalaśa (collecting vessel)
- Chant stotras/śastras while Soma ‘flows around the earthly realm’ and is offered
- Make libations to the deities; conclude with prayers for wealth, protection, and continuity of Ṛta-aligned life
Offerings
- Purified Soma juice (pavamāna)
- Milk/curds mixed with Soma
- Ghee and accompanying oblations as part of the Soma rite
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Soma as he is purified through the filter and poured into the vessel with milk, and it asks him to inspire the worshipper and grant abundance.
In Vedic symbolism, purified Soma is not only a ritual drink; he is also the power that awakens inspired speech (vāc) and sets the mind’s insight (matī) in motion.
It refers to the source or seat of cosmic truth and order (Ṛta), where life and right becoming are renewed; the hymn says Soma leads energies and thoughts toward that renewing center.
Ask anything about Sukta 72 of the Rig Veda
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