Sukta 81
Sukta 9.81
Soma Pavamāna, oriented to Indra’s empowerment.
Likely Triṣṭubh (requires verification).
अयं लघुः पवमानसूक्तः सोमस्य जीविततरङ्गान् स्तौति—ये शोधनमार्गेण शीघ्रं धावन्ति, इन्द्रं च प्रविश्य तं जयाय दानवीर्याय च प्रबोधयन्ति, प्रकाशं धनं च ददति। अथ प्रार्थना भवति—शुद्धः सोमः धनानि विकिरतु, प्राणबलं निर्मलां च प्रज्ञां वर्धयतु, समृद्धिं च समीपे धारयतु। अन्ते व्यापकाभिषेकः—द्यावापृथिव्यौ, आदित्याः, सर्वे देवाश्च शुद्धे सोमे मोदन्तामिति।
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्र सोमस्य पवमानस्योर्मय इन्द्रस्य यन्ति जठरं सुपेशसः । दध्ना यदीमुन्नीता यशसा गवां दानाय शूरमुदमन्दिषुः सुताः ॥
प्र सोमस्य पवमानस्योर्मयः सुपेशस इन्द्रस्य जठरं यन्ति। दध्ना यदीमुन्नीताः सुताः शूरम् उदमन्दिषुः, यशसा गवां दानाय तम् उन्नयन्ति।
Mantra 2
अच्छा हि सोमः कलशाँ असिष्यददत्यो न वोळ्हा रघुवर्तनिर्वृषा । अथा देवानामुभयस्य जन्मनो विद्वाँ अश्नोत्यमुत इतश्च यत् ॥
अच्छा हि सोमः कलशान् असिष्यद्, अदत्यो न वोळ्हा रघुवर्तनिर्वृषा। अथ देवानााम् उभयस्य जन्मनो विद्वान् अश्नोति अमुत इटश्च यत्।
Mantra 3
आ नः सोम पवमानः किरा वस्विन्दो भव मघवा राधसो महः । शिक्षा वयोधो वसवे सु चेतुना मा नो गयमारे अस्मत्परा सिचः ॥
आ नः सोम पवमानः किर वस्व्; इन्दो भव मघवा राधसो महः। शिक्षा वयोधो वसवे सुचेतुना; मा नो गयमारे अस्मत्परा सिचः।
Mantra 4
आ नः पूषा पवमानः सुरातयो मित्रो गच्छन्तु वरुणः सजोषसः । बृहस्पतिर्मरुतो वायुरश्विना त्वष्टा सविता सुयमा सरस्वती ॥
पवमानेन सोमेन सह सु॒रातयः पूषा नः प्रति आगच्छतु; मित्रो वरुणश्च स॒जोषसौ आगच्छताम्। बृहस्पतिः मरुतो वायुरश्विनौ त्वष्टा सविता सुयमा सरस्वती च नः समीपं यान्तु।
Mantra 5
उभे द्यावापृथिवी विश्वमिन्वे अर्यमा देवो अदितिर्विधाता । भगो नृशंस उर्वन्तरिक्षं विश्वे देवाः पवमानं जुषन्त ॥
उभे द्यावापृथिव्यौ विश्वमिन्वे, देवोऽर्यमा, विधाता अदितिश्च; भगो नृशंसश्चोर्वन्तरिक्षं च—विश्वे देवाः पवमानं सोमं जुषन्ताम्।
Inside Sukta 81
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens with kinetic imagery: Soma’s purified waves surge forward and enter Indra’s belly, beautifully formed and potent.
- Development
The focus shifts from description to petition—Soma is asked to scatter wealth, become a great giver, and teach growth in life and strength with clear insight, while keeping prosperity close.
- Climax
Soma’s role as the decisive empowerer is highlighted: the pressed, uplifted drink exhilarates the hero (Indra) for giving ‘rays of light’/cattle-wealth and victorious bounty.
- Where it settles
A universal consecration closes the hymn, calling on Heaven and Earth, Ādityas (Aryaman, Aditi), Bhaga, Nṛśaṃsa, the wide midspace, and all gods to delight in Pavamāna Soma.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna, oriented to Indra’s empowerment
- In the VedaSoma is the pressed and flowing sacred drink, envisioned as a radiant, moving power—its “waves” (ūrmi) surge forward while being purified (pavamāna), then enter Indra to exhilarate him. He is also addressed as a generous bestower who can shower wealth, vitality, and right-minded clarity.
- Cosmic functionTo mediate divine exhilaration and strength—especially empowering Indra for victory—while distributing prosperity, fame, and life-force through the sacrificial order (ṛta) enacted in pressing and purification.
- Inner significanceThe clarified Soma symbolizes purified consciousness and energized will: the uplift of inner vitality (ojas), the sharpening of insight (su-cetunā), and the capacity to hold one’s gains close rather than letting them dissipate.
The seer
- Anukta/Ascertained with uncertainty (Pavamāna Soma tradition; specific rishi not securely inferable from the provided excerpt)Mandala 9 hymns are largely associated with Soma-pavamāna specialists whose compositions accompany the pressing and filtration of Soma; this sukta reflects that liturgical-ritual voice rather than a clearly named seer in the excerpt.
Famous verses
indrasya yanti jaṭharaṃ
mā no gayam āre asmat parā sicaḥ
viśve devāḥ pavamānaṃ juṣanta
Attributes of the deity
- Purifying/clarifying (pavamāna)
- Wave-like, dynamic flow (ūrmi)
- Exhilarator and strength-giver to Indra
- Bestower of wealth and plenitude (rādhas, vasu)
- Bringer of clear seeing (su-cetunā)
- Universally acceptable—delighting all gods (Viśvedevas)
Also by this seer
- Soma Pavamāna hymns across Mandala 9 (general liturgical corpus tied to Soma pressing and purification)
- Ritual-poetic formulas used in Soma sacrifice sequences (pavamāna stotras/śastras in later śrauta framing, broadly)
The rite, step by step
- Press Soma and collect the expressed juice (suta).
- Mix/raise it with thickening agents such as curd (dadhnā), as indicated in the imagery.
- Filter/purify it (pavamāna) through the strainer (conceptually, the pavitra), producing the clarified flow.
- Offer the purified Soma to Indra (and by extension invite all gods to partake), reciting the hymn as accompaniment.
- Conclude with an inclusive invocation so the whole divine order ‘delights’ in the offering and the sacrificer’s gains remain near.
Offerings
- Pressed Soma juice (suta soma)
- Clarified/purified Soma (pavamāna)
- Curd or milk-mixture used in preparation (dadhī/related dairy admixture, per the verse’s imagery)
Frequently Asked Questions
The hymn addresses Soma in his purified form (Soma Pavamāna/Indu). It especially highlights Soma’s role in empowering Indra, while ending with an all-gods (Viśvedevas) appreciation of Soma.
In ritual language it describes the purified Soma drink being offered to Indra, which ‘fills’ him with exhilaration and strength. Symbolically it suggests purified energy entering the power of action and victory.
It asks Soma to scatter wealth and plenitude, increase life and strength, grant clear insight, and keep one’s gains close—so prosperity is not ‘poured away’ far from the worshipper.
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