Sukta 74
Sukta 9.74
Soma Pavamāna (with imagery overlapping Agni/solar pursuit of svar)
Jagatī (probable; verify)
अयं पवमानसोमसूक्तः पिष्टं सोमं स्तौति—स नवजात इव तेजस्वी शक्तिर् भूत्वा स्वः (ज्योतिः) प्रति वेगेन धावति, ऊर्णामयेन पवित्रेण नदन् प्रवहति, अप्सु च मिश्रते। दिवः बीजं, अदितेर्गर्भशक्तिर् इव स सोमः यजमानाय पयः-बल-प्रजावृद्धिं, पूर्णतां च जनयति। अन्ते तस्य परिशुद्धिः समाप्यते, तथा च स्पष्टं प्रार्थ्यते—स इन्द्रस्य पानाय मधुरः, हर्षजनकश्च भवतु।
Mantras
Mantra 1
शिशुर्न जातोऽव चक्रदद्वने स्वर्यद्वाज्यरुषः सिषासति । दिवो रेतसा सचते पयोवृधा तमीमहे सुमती शर्म सप्रथः ॥
शिशुर्न जातोऽव चक्रदद्वने, स्वः यद् वाज्यरुषः सिषासति। दिवो रेतसा सचते पयोवृधा; तमीमहे सुमती शर्म सप्रथः॥
Mantra 2
दिवो यः स्कम्भो धरुणः स्वातत आपूर्णो अंशुः पर्येति विश्वतः । सेमे मही रोदसी यक्षदावृता समीचीने दाधार समिषः कविः ॥
यो दिवः स्कम्भो धरणः स्वातते स्वे महिम्नि प्रसारितः, स पूर्णोऽंशुः सर्वतः पर्येति। स इमे मही रोदसी यक्षदावृते परिगृह्य, समीचीने धारयति; कविः समिषः—आनन्दशक्तीः—सम्यक् समनक्ति।
Mantra 3
महि प्सरः सुकृतं सोम्यं मधूर्वी गव्यूतिरदितेॠतं यते । ईशे यो वृष्टेरित उस्रियो वृषापां नेता य इतऊतिॠग्मियः ॥
महि प्सरः—महान् प्रवाहः—सुकृतं सोम्यं मधु; उर्वी गव्यूतिरदितेः, ऋतं यतते पुरस्तात्। इहैव स वर्ष्टिं च उस्रियः—दीप्ताः गावः—च ईशे; वृषा स आपां नेता, इहैव तस्य ऊतिरृग्मिया—स्तोत्रार्हा।
Mantra 4
आत्मन्वन्नभो दुह्यते घृतं पय ऋतस्य नाभिरमृतं वि जायते । समीचीनाः सुदानवः प्रीणन्ति तं नरो हितमव मेहन्ति पेरवः ॥
आत्मन्वन्नभः घृतं पयश्च—दीप्तं मधु—दुह्यते; ऋतस्य नाभेरमृतं सारं विजायते, प्रसारं गच्छति। समीचीनाः सुदानवः तं प्रीणन्ति; नरो हि तमन्तः स्थापयित्वा, पेरवः पोषकवृष्टिरिव अव मेहन्ति।
Mantra 5
अरावीदंशुः सचमान ऊर्मिणा देवाव्यं मनुषे पिन्वति त्वचम् । दधाति गर्भमदितेरुपस्थ आ येन तोकं च तनयं च धामहे ॥
अंशुर् ऊर्मिणा सचमानोऽरावीदम्; देवा॒व्यं मनुषे त्वचं पिन्वति। अदितेरुपस्थे गर्भं दधाति—येन वयं तोकं च तनयं च, अनन्ते प्रतिष्ठितं धाम च धामहे।
Mantra 6
सहस्रधारेऽव ता असश्चतस्तृतीये सन्तु रजसि प्रजावतीः । चतस्रो नाभो निहिता अवो दिवो हविर्भरन्त्यमृतं घृतश्चुतः ॥
सहस्रधारेऽव ता असश्चतस् तृतीये रजसि प्रजावतीः सन्तु। चतस्रो नाभो निहिता अवो दिवो; हविर्भरन्त्य् अमृतं घृतश्चुतः।
Mantra 7
श्वेतं रूपं कृणुते यत्सिषासति सोमो मीढ्वाँ असुरो वेद भूमनः । धिया शमी सचते सेमभि प्रवद्दिवस्कवन्धमव दर्षदुद्रिणम् ॥
यत् सिषासति तदा श्वेतं रूपं कृणुते; सोमो मीढ्वान् असुरो वेद भूमनः। धिया शमीं सचते; सेमभि प्रवद्, दिवस्कवन्धं प्रकाशयन्, उद्धृतं उद्रिणं अव दर्षयति।
Mantra 8
अध श्वेतं कलशं गोभिरक्तं कार्ष्मन्ना वाज्यक्रमीत्ससवान् । आ हिन्विरे मनसा देवयन्तः कक्षीवते शतहिमाय गोनाम् ॥
अथ श्वेतं कलशं गोभिरक्तं कार्ष्मन्ना वाज्यक्रमीत् ससवान्। आ हिन्विरे मनसा देवयन्तः कक्षीवते शतहिमाय गोनाम्॥
Mantra 9
अद्भिः सोम पपृचानस्य ते रसोऽव्यो वारं वि पवमान धावति । स मृज्यमानः कविभिर्मदिन्तम स्वदस्वेन्द्राय पवमान पीतये ॥
अद्भिः सोम पपृचानस्य ते रसोऽव्यो वारं वि पवमान धावति। स मृज्यमानः कविभिर्मदिन्तमः स्वदस्वेन्द्राय पवमान पीतये॥
Inside Sukta 74
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma is introduced with vivid birth-and-forest imagery: like a newborn crying out, the ruddy force seeks svar and is invoked for wide peace and right-mindedness.
- Development
The hymn expands Soma’s cosmic generativity—joining heaven’s seed, swelling plenitude, and placing the embryo in Aditi—linking purification with fertility, home, and increase.
- Climax
Soma’s roaring, wave-driven surge as a radiant aṃśu culminates in his fully clarified, inspired potency shaped by the kavis (seer-poets).
- Where it settles
The hymn closes with a direct liturgical petition: as he runs through the wool-filter and is cleansed, Soma should become sweet and maximally exhilarating for Indra to drink.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- In the VedaSoma as ‘Pavamāna’ is the self-purifying pressed juice that runs swiftly through the woolen strainer, roaring like a forceful ray (aṃśu) and shining with ruddy/solar brilliance as it seeks svar. He is portrayed as mingling with the waters, as heaven’s seed, and as a generative power set in Aditi’s lap, increasing milk-like abundance and delight.
- Cosmic functionMediator of vitality and illumination: he links heaven and earth through waters and light, empowers the gods (especially Indra) for victory, and sustains fertility, increase, and right order in the sacrifice.
- Inner significanceThe clarified consciousness that is ‘filtered’ of obscurity—an inner rasa that becomes luminous, expansive (Aditi), and strength-giving; the surge of inspired delight that supports clarity (sumati) and wide peace (śarma).
The seer
- Anukramaṇī-attribution uncertain (Soma Pavamāna seer tradition)Mandala 9 hymns are largely attributed to a Soma-Pavamāna poet-seer tradition rather than a single clearly named rishi; this sukta’s specific rishi varies across recensional/anukramaṇī notices.
Famous verses
शिशुर्न जातोऽव चक्रदद्वने स्वर्यद्वाज्यरुषः सिषासति । दिवो रेतसा सचते पयोवृधा तमीमहे सुमती शर्म सप्रथः ॥अरावीदंशुः सचमान ऊर्मिणा देवाव्यं मनुषे पिन्वति त्वचम् । दधाति गर्भमदितेरुपस्थ आ येन तोकं च तनयं च धामहे ॥svadasvendrāya pavamāna pītaye
Attributes of the deity
- pavamāna (self-purifying)
- aṃśu (ray/beam)
- āvya vāra (wool-filtered)
- watery yet fiery/solar in imagery
- seed of heaven; placed in Aditi’s lap
- giver of strength, offspring, and abundance
- intoxicating delight for Indra
- swift, roaring, wave-moving
Also by this seer
- General contribution to the Ninth Maṇḍala (Pavamāna Soma corpus) used in Soma-pressing rites
- Associated with the liturgical-poetic tradition that shaped the standard imagery of Soma’s filtration (āvya vāra), waters, and Indra’s exhilaration
The rite, step by step
- Soma is pressed and mixed with water (adbhiḥ papṛcāna).
- The juice is led onto the strainer/wool filter (āvya vāra) to purify as it runs (dhāvati).
- Chanting accompanies the flow, praising Soma’s light-seeking, roaring, and life-increasing powers.
- The clarified Soma is collected in vessels and further prepared (often with milk/curds per rite) as invigorating draught.
- Offering is made to Indra (and related deities per sequence), praying Soma become sweet and exhilarating (svadasva… pītaye).
Offerings
- Pressed Soma juice
- Water for mixing/purification
- Woolen filter/strainer as the purifying medium (ritual implement)
- Common Soma accompaniments in practice (milk/curds) depending on śrauta procedure
Frequently Asked Questions
The hymn praises Soma as Pavamāna—Soma juice that purifies itself as it flows through the woolen filter during the Soma sacrifice.
It uses birth and light imagery to show Soma’s fresh, living force: he ‘cries out’ as he is pressed and then rushes like a radiant beam seeking svar (the Light).
It describes the actual filtration—Soma mixed with water running through the wool strainer—and asks that the clarified Soma become sweet and power-giving for Indra to drink.
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