Sukta 95
Sukta 9.95
अयं लघुः पवमानसोमसूक्तः कपिशं सोमं स्तौति—स विसृष्टः पवित्रे शुद्ध्यति, दारुमये सवनपात्रे पवित्रे चान्तः “पवित्रवसन” इव दीप्तिमद्वसनं परिधत्ते। कविः प्रेरितान् मनसः स्तोत्राणि च सोमं प्रति जलतरङ्गा इव वेगेन धावन्तीति चित्रयति, तथा च पवमानम् इन्दुं पवित्रं वाचं धियं च विस्तारयितुं प्रार्थयते। अन्ते इन्द्रेण सह समृद्ध्यै संयुक्तं कामं, तथा सोमशोधनजं सत्यं वीर्यं पराक्रमं चाधिगन्तुं स्वामित्वं च याचते।
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
कनिक्रन्ति हरिरा सृज्यमानः सीदन्वनस्य जठरे पुनानः । नृभिर्यतः कृणुते निर्णिजं गा अतो मतीर्जनयत स्वधाभिः ॥
कनिक्रन्ति हरिरा सृज्यमानः; पुनाानः वनस्य जठरे सीदति। यत्र नृभिः यतः क्रियते, तत्र सः स्वां दीप्तां निर्णिजं करोति; ततो स्वधाभिः मतीर्जनयति।
Mantra 2
हरिः सृजानः पथ्यामृतस्येयर्ति वाचमरितेव नावम् । देवो देवानां गुह्यानि नामाविष्कृणोति बर्हिषि प्रवाचे ॥
हरिः सृजानः ऋतस्य पथ्याम् ईरयति; अरितेव नावं वाचं प्रेरयति। देवो बर्हिषि प्रावाचे देवतानां गुह्यानि नामानि आविष्करोति।
Mantra 3
अपामिवेदूर्मयस्तर्तुराणाः प्र मनीषा ईरते सोममच्छ । नमस्यन्तीरुप च यन्ति सं चा च विशन्त्युशतीरुशन्तम् ॥
अपामिव ऊर्मयः तर्तुराणाः, मनिषाः सोमम् अच्छ प्र ईरते। नमस्यन्त्यः उप यन्ति, सं च यन्ति, च विशन्ति—उशतीः उशन्तम्।
Mantra 4
तं मर्मृजानं महिषं न सानावंशुं दुहन्त्युक्षणं गिरिष्ठाम् । तं वावशानं मतयः सचन्ते त्रितो बिभर्ति वरुणं समुद्रे ॥
तं मर्मृजानं महिषं न सानाव्—अंशुं दुहन्ति उक्षणं गिरिष्ठाम्। तं वावशानं मतयः सचन्ते; त्रितो बिभर्ति वरुणं समुद्रे।
Mantra 5
इष्यन्वाचमुपवक्तेव होतुः पुनान इन्दो वि ष्या मनीषाम् । इन्द्रश्च यत्क्षयथः सौभगाय सुवीर्यस्य पतयः स्याम ॥
इष्यन् वाचम् उपवक्तेव होतुः, पुनाान इन्दो, वि ष्य मनीषाम्। इन्द्रश्च यत् क्षयथः सौभगाय, सुवीर्यस्य पतयः स्याम—सत्यदृढस्य।
Inside Sukta 95
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma Hari is released and begins his purifying course, settling into the wooden vessel and assuming a radiant cleansing garment.
- Development
From the human work of pressing/cleansing arises brightness and the birth of inspired thoughts; the hymn links ritual purification with the generation of dhī/manīṣā.
- Climax
Inspirations surge toward Soma like rushing water-waves, gathering and entering him in reverent desire.
- Where it settles
The poet asks Soma to expand sacred speech and insight; with Indra abiding for good fortune, the hymn ends in a prayer for mastery of true heroic strength.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- In the VedaHe is addressed as a living, radiant flow that attracts prayers and inspirations and empowers speech.
- Cosmic functionMediator of vitality and illumination: Soma’s purified flow strengthens the gods (especially Indra), renews life-force, and supports ṛta by energizing sacrifice and the inspired mind that sustains it.
- Inner significanceThe ‘purifying Soma’ symbolizes the refining of consciousness—raw impulse and sensation are filtered into clarity, luminous insight, and truthful speech. As manīṣā and vāc are ‘spread out,’ inner inspiration becomes articulate prayer and effective intention.
Famous verses
कनिक्रन्ति हरिरा सृज्यमानः सीदन्वनस्य जठरे पुनानः । नृभिर्यतः कृणुते निर्णिजं गा अतो मतीर्जनयत स्वधाभिः ॥अपामिवेदूर्मयस्तर्तुराणाः प्र मनीषा ईरते सोममच्छ । नमस्यन्तीरुप च यन्ति सं चा च विशन्त्युशतीरुशन्तम् ॥इष्यन्वाचमुपवक्तेव होतुः पुनान इन्दो वि ष्या मनीषाम् । इन्द्रश्च यत्क्षयथः सौभगाय सुवीर्यस्य पतयः स्याम ॥Attributes of the deity
- Purifying (pavamāna, punāna)
- Tawny/golden (hari)
- Murmuring/flowing presence
- Radiant ‘cleansing robe’ (nirṇij)
- Generative of inspiration (matī, manīṣā)
- Allied with Indra for strength and victory
Also by this seer
- Part of the Pavamāna Soma tradition of Maṇḍala 9 (hymns used in Soma pressing and filtration).
- The imagery and diction align with other Soma hymns that emphasize purification (punāna), radiant clothing (nirṇij), and the birth of inspired thought (matī/manīṣā).
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the pressing space and wooden vessels; ready the filter (pavitra) and collecting cups.
- Press Soma; release the juice so it ‘murmurs as it is let go’ (imagery of RV 9.95.1).
- Filter/purify the juice; envision Soma taking on a bright cleansing ‘robe’ (nirṇij).
- Recite to invite inspirations and prayers to converge upon Soma (RV 9.95.3).
- Offer the purified Soma to the gods, especially Indra, seeking prosperity and heroic power (RV 9.95.5).
Offerings
- Purified Soma juice (Indu)
- Associated oblations customary to Soma rites (e.g., ghee and accompanying offerings as per śrauta procedure)
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Soma in his purified (pavamāna) form during the Soma ritual—how he is released, filtered, becomes radiant, and gives rise to inspired thoughts and sacred speech.
It shows how prayers and insights surge toward Soma with force and devotion, as if the mind’s inspirations naturally flow into the purified Soma current.
Soma is Indra’s empowering drink in Vedic ritual. The hymn asks that Soma and Indra together bring good fortune and grant ‘heroic power’ (strength, victory, capability) to the worshippers.
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