Sukta 98
Sukta 9.98
Soma Pavamāna (Indu)
अयं पवमानसोमसूक्तः इन्दुं स्तौति—यः अप्सु च ऊर्णामयेषु पवित्रेषु च शोध्यमानः शुद्धिं गच्छति। स गायकान् प्रति बहुधनं बलं जयश्च वहन् “प्रस्रवतु” इति प्रार्थ्यते। तस्य शुद्धः प्रवाहः ऊर्ध्वं समुत्थाय सर्वैः देवैः सह हर्षयुक्तेन सामञ्जस्येन चरन् इव वर्ण्यते; यजमानान् बलीकरोति, पूर्णतायाः “गृहं” च उद्घाटयति। अन्ते ऋषयः सखायश्च समं कामयन्ते—सोमस्य दीप्तं नेतृत्वं प्राप्नुयुः, चिरस्थायि बलं समृद्धिं च सुरक्षितां लभेरन्।
Mantras
Mantra 1
अभि नो वाजसातमं रयिमर्ष पुरुस्पृहम् । इन्दो सहस्रभर्णसं तुविद्युम्नं विभ्वासहम् ॥
अभि नो वाजसातमं रयिम् अर्ष, पुरुस्पृहं; इन्दो सहस्रभर्णसं तुविद्युम्नं विभ्वासहम्।
Mantra 2
परि ष्य सुवानो अव्ययं रथे न वर्माव्यत । इन्दुरभि द्रुणा हितो हियानो धाराभिरक्षाः ॥
सुवानः सः परितोऽव्ययं रथे वर्मेवाव्यत; इन्दुरभि द्रुणा हितो हियानो धाराभिरक्षाः।
Mantra 3
परि ष्य सुवानो अक्षा इन्दुरव्ये मदच्युतः । धारा य ऊर्ध्वो अध्वरे भ्राजा नैति गव्ययुः ॥
सुवानः परितोऽक्षा इन्दुरव्ये मदच्युतः; धारा य ऊर्ध्वोऽध्वरे भ्राजा नैति गव्ययुः।
Mantra 4
स हि त्वं देव शश्वते वसु मर्ताय दाशुषे । इन्दो सहस्रिणं रयिं शतात्मानं विवाससि ॥
स हि त्वं देव शश्वते वसु मर्ताय दाशुषे; इन्दो सहस्रिणं रयिं शतात्मानं विवाससि।
Mantra 5
वयं ते अस्य वृत्रहन्वसो वस्वः पुरुस्पृहः । नि नेदिष्ठतमा इषः स्याम सुम्नस्याध्रिगो ॥
वयं तेऽस्य वृत्रहन् वसो वसवः पुरुस्पृहाः। नि नेदिष्ठतमा इषः स्याम सुम्नस्याध्रिगो॥
Mantra 6
द्विर्यं पञ्च स्वयशसं स्वसारो अद्रिसंहतम् । प्रियमिन्द्रस्य काम्यं प्रस्नापयन्त्यूर्मिणम् ॥
द्विर्यं पञ्च स्वयशसं स्वसारो अद्रिसंहतम्। प्रियमिन्द्रस्य काम्यं प्रस्नापयन्त्यूर्मिणम्॥
Mantra 7
परि त्यं हर्यतं हरिं बभ्रुं पुनन्ति वारेण । यो देवान्विश्वाँ इत्परि मदेन सह गच्छति ॥
परि त्यं हर्यतं हरिं बभ्रुं पुनन्ति वारेण। यो देवान्विश्वाँ इत्परि मदेन सह गच्छति॥
Mantra 8
अस्य वो ह्यवसा पान्तो दक्षसाधनम् । यः सूरिषु श्रवो बृहद्दधे स्वर्ण हर्यतः ॥
अस्य वः ह्यवसा पान्तो दक्षसाधनम्। यः सूरिषु श्रवो बृहद् दधे, स्वर्णं हर्यतः॥
Mantra 9
स वां यज्ञेषु मानवी इन्दुर्जनिष्ट रोदसी । देवो देवी गिरिष्ठा अस्रेधन्तं तुविष्वणि ॥
स वां यज्ञेषु मानवी इन्दुर्जनिष्ट रोदसी। देवो देवी गिरिष्ठा अस्रेदन्तं तुविष्वणिः॥
Mantra 10
इन्द्राय सोम पातवे वृत्रघ्ने परि षिच्यसे । नरे च दक्षिणावते देवाय सदनासदे ॥
इन्द्राय सोम पातवे वृत्रघ्ने परि षिच्यसे। नरे च दक्षिणावते देवाय सदनासदे॥
Mantra 11
ते प्रत्नासो व्युष्टिषु सोमाः पवित्रे अक्षरन् । अपप्रोथन्तः सनुतर्हुरश्चितः प्रातस्ताँ अप्रचेतसः ॥
ते प्रत्नासो व्युष्टिषु सोमाः पवित्रे अक्षरन्। अपप्रोथन्तः सनुतर्हुरश्चितः प्रातस्तान् अप्रचेतसः॥
Mantra 12
तं सखायः पुरोरुचं यूयं वयं च सूरयः । अश्याम वाजगन्ध्यं सनेम वाजपस्त्यम् ॥
तं सखायः पुरोरुचं यूयं वयं च सूरयः। अश्याम वाजगन्ध्यं सनेम वाजपस्त्यम्॥
Inside Sukta 98
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct invocation for Indu to flow toward the singers with the most winning wealth—abundant, thousand-bearing, and resistance-conquering power.
- Development
The hymn dwells on Soma’s purification: the beloved tawny/golden Soma is cleansed with water, and his delighted ecstasy is portrayed as encompassing and accompanying all the gods.
- Climax
Soma’s purified might is affirmed as vast luminous force that brings victory and plenitude, aligning the sacrificers with divine companionship and power.
- Where it settles
The hymn closes with a shared prayer of ‘friends’ and ‘illumined ones’ to attain the radiant-forerunner Soma and win the fragrance, home, and foundation of vāja (plenitude of force).
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- In the VedaIndu is the pressed Soma-juice “purifying” (pavamāna) as it runs through the filter, tawny/golden-brown, radiant, exhilarating, and bountiful—bringing rayi (wealth), vāja (victorious force), and wide luminous power.
- Cosmic functionMediates between human rite and divine realm: through purification and offering he invigorates the gods, sustains ṛta (right order), and releases prosperity, strength, and victorious momentum to the sacrificer.
- Inner significanceThe clarified Soma symbolizes purified consciousness and inspired vitality—ecstasy disciplined by purification—so that inner power becomes luminous, focused, and capable of overcoming resistances.
The seer
- Ascribed to a Soma-Pavamāna seer (Anukramaṇī tradition; specific name uncertain)Associated with the Ninth Maṇḍala’s Pavamāna corpus—hymns that poetically track Soma’s ritual purification and his role as inspirer, wealth-giver, and divine energizer.
Famous verses
अभि नो वाजसातमं रयिमर्ष पुरुस्पृहम् । इन्दो सहस्रभर्णसं तुविद्युम्नं विभ्वासहम् ॥परि त्यं हर्यतं हरिं बभ्रुं पुनन्ति वारेण । यो देवान्विश्वाँ इत्परि मदेन सह गच्छति ॥तं सखायः पुरोरुचं यूयं वयं च सूरयः । अश्याम वाजगन्ध्यं सनेम वाजपस्त्यम् ॥Attributes of the deity
- Purifying flow (pavamāna)
- Radiance/brightness (dyumna, puraḥruc)
- Bestower of wealth and victorious force (rayi, vāja)
- Exhilarating ecstasy (mada)
- All-conquering energy (vibhvāsah)
- Companion of the gods, moving in concord with them
Also by this seer
- Part of the broader RV 9 Pavamāna collection traditionally linked to multiple seer-families (e.g., Kaṇva, Atri, Vasiṣṭha, etc.), where individual hymn attributions can vary by recension and anukramaṇī notes.
- Contributes to the Soma-ritual theology: Soma as purified brilliance that strengthens Indra and the gods, and as the inner force of inspired speech (dhī).
The rite, step by step
- Press Soma (savana) and mix with water for purification.
- Filter through wool/strainers (pavitra), letting the stream ‘flow forth’ as Pavamāna.
- Collect the clarified Soma; accompany with chants praising his abundance, radiance, and victory-giving power.
- Offer portions in the fire and/or to the gods (notably Indra and the All-Gods), invoking strength and prosperity for the sacrificer.
- Conclude with communal aspiration: may the companions attain Soma’s radiant lead and secure the ‘home’ of plenitude.
Offerings
- Pressed Soma-juice (Indu)
- Purifying water used in cleansing the Soma
- Ghee and ancillary oblations as part of the Soma-yajña context
Frequently Asked Questions
The deity is Soma Pavamāna (Indu)—Soma as the purified, flowing juice during the ritual filtering process.
As Soma is purified, he is asked to flow toward the worshippers with abundant wealth, victorious strength, and radiant power that removes obstacles and supports the gods.
Because the hymn is meant for the Soma-pressing rite: the poetry mirrors Soma’s real movement through water and filters, and also symbolizes inner purification leading to clarity and power.
Ask anything about Sukta 98 of the Rig Veda
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
