Sukta 89
Sukta 9.89
अयं लघुः पवमानसूक्तः सोमं पवमानं स्तौति—स दिवो वृष्टिरिव स्रवन्, मातुरङ्के (पवित्रे/अधिषवने) उपविशन्, उपासकानां मध्ये बलं माधुर्यं च प्रविशति। स मधुपृष्ठो महाबलः अश्व इव कल्प्यते, विस्तीर्णचक्रे रथे युक्तः; “भगिन्यः” (आपः) तम् शुद्धयन्ति, स देवताभ्यः प्रेर्यते। अन्ते प्रत्यक्षं याचते—इन्द्राय पवमानः सोमः तेजस्वद् धनं रम्यं वीर्यं च ददातु, यत् निरोधं विघ्नं च जयति।
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्रो स्य वह्निः पथ्याभिरस्यान्दिवो न वृष्टिः पवमानो अक्षाः । सहस्रधारो असदन्न्यस्मे मातुरुपस्थे वन आ च सोमः ॥
प्रो स्य वह्निः पथ्याभिरस्य द्युवो न वृष्टिः पवमानोऽक्षाः। सहस्रधारः सोमोऽसदन्न्यस्मे मातुरुपस्थे वने च सोम आ च॥
Mantra 2
राजा सिन्धूनामवसिष्ट वास ऋतस्य नावमारुहद्रजिष्ठाम् । अप्सु द्रप्सो वावृधे श्येनजूतो दुह ईं पिता दुह ईं पितुर्जाम् ॥
राजा सिन्धूनाम् अवसिष्ट वास ऋतस्य नावमारुहद्रजिष्ठाम्। अप्सु द्रप्सो वावृधे श्येनजूतः दुह ईं पिता दुह ईं पितुर्जाम्॥
Mantra 3
सिंहं नसन्त मध्वो अयासं हरिमरुषं दिवो अस्य पतिम् । शूरो युत्सु प्रथमः पृच्छते गा अस्य चक्षसा परि पात्युक्षा ॥
सिंहं न सन्त मध्वो अयासं हरिमरुषं दिवोऽस्य पतिम्। शूरो युत्सु प्रथमः पृच्छते गा अस्य चक्षसा परि पात्युक्षा॥
Mantra 4
मधुपृष्ठं घोरमयासमश्वं रथे युञ्जन्त्युरुचक्र ऋष्वम् । स्वसार ईं जामयो मर्जयन्ति सनाभयो वाजिनमूर्जयन्ति ॥
मधुपृष्ठं घोरमयासमश्वं रथे युञ्जन्त्युरुचक्र ऋष्वम् । स्वसार ईं जामयो मर्जयन्ति सनाभयो वाजिनमूर्जयन्ति ॥
Mantra 5
चतस्र ईं घृतदुहः सचन्ते समाने अन्तर्धरुणे निषत्ताः । ता ईमर्षन्ति नमसा पुनानास्ता ईं विश्वतः परि षन्ति पूर्वीः ॥
चतस्र ईं घृतदुहः सचन्ते समाने अन्तर्धरुणे निषत्ताः । ता ईमर्षन्ति नमसा पुनानास्ता ईं विश्वतः परि षन्ति पूर्वीः ॥
Mantra 6
विष्टम्भो दिवो धरुणः पृथिव्या विश्वा उत क्षितयो हस्ते अस्य । असत्त उत्सो गृणते नियुत्वान्मध्वो अंशुः पवत इन्द्रियाय ॥
विष्टम्भो दिवो धरुणः पृथिव्या विश्वा उत क्षितयो हस्ते अस्य । असत्त उत्सो गृणते नियुत्वान्मध्वो अंशुः पवत इन्द्रियाय ॥
Mantra 7
वन्वन्नवातो अभि देववीतिमिन्द्राय सोम वृत्रहा पवस्व । शग्धि महः पुरुश्चन्द्रस्य रायः सुवीर्यस्य पतयः स्याम ॥
व॒न्वन्नवा॑तो अ॒भि दे॒ववी॑ति॒मिन्द्रा॑य सोम वृत्र॒हा प॑वस्व । श॒ग्धि म॒हः पु॑रुश्च॒न्द्रस्य॑ रा॒यः सु॒वीर्य॑स्य॒ पत॑यः स्याम ॥
Inside Sukta 89
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma surges forward on rightful paths, pouring out like heavenly rain—an image of lawful, life-giving flow.
- 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.
- Climax
Soma is urged to purify himself for Indra’s divine encounter, taking on the role of victorious power that breaks obstruction.
- 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 ॥मधुपृष्ठं घोरमयासमश्वं रथे युञ्जन्त्युरुचक्र ऋष्वम् । स्वसार ईं जामयो मर्जयन्ति सनाभयो वाजिनमूर्जयन्ति ॥वन्वन्नवातो अभि देववीतिमिन्द्राय सोम वृत्रहा पवस्व । शग्धि महः पुरुश्चन्द्रस्य रायः सुवीर्यस्य पतयः स्याम ॥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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