Rig Veda Sukta 85
Mandala 9Sukta 8511 Mantras

Sukta 85

Sukta 9.85

Devata

Soma (for Indra; protective/exorcistic nuance against Rakṣas)

这首《帕瓦玛那·苏摩》赞颂被充分榨取的苏摩:在净滤中得以澄清,变得适合因陀罗饮用,并被赋予驱逐疾病与罗刹般敌对势力的威能。诗句在具体的祭仪场景——滤网、盛杯与祭司的操作——与光辉的宇宙异象之间往返:苏摩的守护之力(带有乾闼婆的意象)穿透天地而放射。全诗将苏摩呈现为既是圣饮,也是护身与驱邪的力量,确保生命力、清明与胜利。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.85

Mantras

Mantra 1

इन्द्राय सोम सुषुतः परि स्रवापामीवा भवतु रक्षसा सह । मा ते रसस्य मत्सत द्वयाविनो द्रविणस्वन्त इह सन्त्विन्दवः ॥

为因陀罗啊,苏摩——善榨者——四面流注;愿疾病与敌对的黑暗同被驱逐。莫让分裂而二心者品尝你的罗娑(rasa);愿明净的滴露在此——诸因度——充满真实存在之财富。

Mantra 2

अस्मान्त्समर्ये पवमान चोदय दक्षो देवानामसि हि प्रियो मदः । जहि शत्रूँरभ्या भन्दनायतः पिबेन्द्र सोममव नो मृधो जहि ॥

净化者苏摩啊,在战阵中催策我们前行;你确是诸神的巧智与威力,是他们所爱的醉悦(mada)。击倒那些逼迫我们、欲使我们受缚的仇敌;因陀罗啊,饮此苏摩——护佑我们,并诛灭阻遏我们进发的侵害。

Mantra 4

सहस्रणीथः शतधारो अद्भुत इन्द्रायेन्दुः पवते काम्यं मधु । जयन्क्षेत्रमभ्यर्षा जयन्नप उरुं नो गातुं कृणु सोम मीढ्वः ॥

具千般引领、百道流泉者,奇妙无比——因度(Indu)为因陀罗而净化,成为心所欲求的甘蜜之蜜。征服田野,奔流而临;征服诸水,为我们开辟广阔之路,苏摩啊,赐丰实之福者。

Mantra 5

कनिक्रदत्कलशे गोभिरज्यसे व्यव्ययं समया वारमर्षसि । मर्मृज्यमानो अत्यो न सानसिरिन्द्रस्य सोम जठरे समक्षरः ॥

在杯中轰鸣呼号,你以光芒(rays)受膏;于适时之刻,你穿过不坏的滤网而流出。被洗炼之时,如疾驰之马为赢取胜利;苏摩啊,你汇注倾流,入于因陀罗的腹中。

Mantra 6

स्वादुः पवस्व दिव्याय जन्मने स्वादुरिन्द्राय सुहवीतुनाम्ने । स्वादुर्मित्राय वरुणाय वायवे बृहस्पतये मधुमाँ अदाभ्यः ॥

甘美地流淌吧,为我们之内的神圣诞生;甘美地流淌吧,为因陀罗——其名为善召之名。甘美地流淌吧,为密特拉、伐楼那与伐由;为布里哈斯帕提而流,蜜满而不可攻破。

Mantra 7

अत्यं मृजन्ति कलशे दश क्षिपः प्र विप्राणां मतयो वाच ईरते । पवमाना अभ्यर्षन्ति सुष्टुतिमेन्द्रं विशन्ति मदिरास इन्दवः ॥

十只迅捷之手在杯中洗净那骏马;受灵感的圣贤之思与言奔涌向前。净化者奔流,趋向那善成的赞歌;醉人的明亮之滴进入我们之内的因陀罗。

Mantra 8

पवमानो अभ्यर्षा सुवीर्यमुर्वीं गव्यूतिं महि शर्म सप्रथः । माकिर्नो अस्य परिषूतिरीशतेन्दो जयेम त्वया धनंधनम् ॥

苏摩啊,当你被净化时,向我们奔流,带来英雄之力、广阔的光辉之域(gavyūti),以及宏大而远布的安宁庇护。愿此幽暗的围迫不得主宰我们。因杜啊,凭你,愿我们征服财富又财富——层层更新的丰盈。

Mantra 9

अधि द्यामस्थाद्वृषभो विचक्षणोऽरूरुचद्वि दिवो रोचना कविः । राजा पवित्रमत्येति रोरुवद्दिवः पीयूषं दुहते नृचक्षसः ॥

雄牛——大力者、广见的圣贤——立于天之上,使天界的光明境域炽然显现。王者(苏摩)越过滤器,轰然鸣响;具有人之洞见的诸圣者汲取天上的甘露(pīyūṣa)。

Mantra 10

दिवो नाके मधुजिह्वा असश्चतो वेना दुहन्त्युक्षणं गिरिष्ठाम् । अप्सु द्रप्सं वावृधानं समुद्र आ सिन्धोरूर्मा मधुमन्तं पवित्र आ ॥

在天之顶,渴慕的诸力,蜜舌而不倦,挤乳那立于高处的雄牛。于诸水中,增长的滴(drapsa)被滋养;自海洋,自河流的波浪,那富蜜的精髓来到滤器(pavitra)。

Mantra 11

नाके सुपर्णमुपपप्तिवांसं गिरो वेनानामकृपन्त पूर्वीः । शिशुं रिहन्ति मतयः पनिप्नतं हिरण्ययं शकुनं क्षामणि स्थाम् ॥

在天之顶,渴慕者的古老颂声塑成那已降落的美翼者。诸思惟舔抚并珍养那不断游行的幼子——金色之鸟,安立于大地的居处。

Mantra 12

ऊर्ध्वो गन्धर्वो अधि नाके अस्थाद्विश्वा रूपा प्रतिचक्षाणो अस्य । भानुः शुक्रेण शोचिषा व्यद्यौत्प्रारूरुचद्रोदसी मातरा शुचिः ॥

甘达婆高高挺立,驻于天穹之巅,凝观此显现的一切形相。以纯净光焰之辉,他的光芒广然迸耀;使两位母亲——天与地——在清明中显现发光。

Inside Sukta 85

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma is invoked to flow for Indra, simultaneously expelling sickness and Rakṣas-like darkness, and guarding the sacred rasa from the ‘double-minded.’

  2. Development

    The hymn dwells on the mechanics and poetry of purification—hands, cup, and inspired speech—showing Soma’s bright drops becoming fit to enter Indra and empower praise and victory.

  3. Climax

    A visionary elevation: the Gandharva-guardian stands aloft, beholding all forms, while Soma’s radiance flashes out and makes Heaven and Earth shine—purification becomes cosmic illumination.

  4. Where it settles

    The purified Soma is established as a beneficent, wealth-bringing, order-protecting power: fit for Indra, hostile forces repelled, and the rite secured in clarity and light.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna, for Indra

  • In the VedaSoma is the pressed and flowing plant-essence, purified through the filter, shining as ‘drops’ (indavaḥ), intoxicating and strengthening Indra, and driving away disease and hostile beings. He is praised as bright, swift, and truth-bearing, entering the god and the hymn, while guarded/overseen in cosmic imagery (e.g., Gandharva motif).
  • Cosmic functionMediator of vitality and power: Soma renews life-force, fuels Indra’s victorious might, purifies the atmosphere of harmful forces, and sustains ṛta (right order) through luminous clarity.
  • Inner significanceThe refining of Soma mirrors inner purification: clarifying mixed motives (‘double-minded’), expelling inner darkness, and distilling a concentrated ‘rasa’ of courage, discernment, and inspired speech that can ‘enter Indra’—the awakened power of decisive action.

The seer

  • An unknown seer (Anādeśya/Anonymous) of the Soma Pavamāna corpusThis hymn belongs to the 9th Maṇḍala’s specialized ‘Soma Pavamāna’ collection, where authorship is sometimes not clearly preserved in later indices; the focus is the technical and mystical language of Soma’s purification and empowerment for Indra.

Famous verses

apāmīvā bhavatu rakṣasā saha
Verse 9.85.1Sets the hymn’s protective tone: Soma flows for Indra while sickness and rakṣas-hostility are cast out; it also stresses safeguarding the rasa from ‘double-minded’ participation.Read verse 9.85.1 →
daśa kṣipaḥ
Verse 9.85.7A vivid ritual snapshot—‘ten swift hands’ cleanse Soma in the cup—linking priestly action, inspired speech, and Soma’s entry into Indra as intoxicating power.Read verse 9.85.7 →
ūrdhvo gandharvo adhi nāke asthāt
Verse 9.85.12Cosmic culmination using the Gandharva image: Soma’s guardian-radiance stands on high, sees all forms, and illumines Heaven and Earth—purification as universal shining.Read verse 9.85.12 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Purifying (pavamāna)
  • Luminous/bright (śukra, bhānu)
  • Intoxicating-strengthening (madira)
  • Protective/exorcistic (driving off amīvā and rakṣas)
  • Rasa-bearing (essence/juice)
  • Ritually exact (pressed, filtered, set in vessels)

Also by this seer

  • Participation (as an anonymous or uncertain attribution) in the wider RV 9 Pavamāna hymn tradition centered on Soma’s pressing, filtering, and ascent into the gods
  • Associated with the ritual-poetic idiom that links Soma’s rasa (essence) to protection, healing, and inspired speech (vāc)

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma (suṣuta) and set it to flow (pari srava)
  • Filter/purify through the strainer (pavitra), collecting in cups/vessels (kalaśa)
  • Priests ‘cleanse the steed’—repeated washing/clarifying actions as the Soma runs bright
  • Recite hymns of praise (suṣṭuti) to invite Soma’s entry into Indra and the rite
  • Consecrate as a protective draught: prayer to cast out amīvā (sickness) and repel rakṣas/hostility
  • Offer the clarified Soma to Indra (and associated deities) and distribute according to the rite

Offerings

  • Clarified Soma juice (Soma rasa)
  • Libations into the fire/offerings to Indra as per Soma-sacrifice procedure
  • Accompanying oblations customary to Soma rites (e.g., ghee and ritual portions, depending on śrauta setting)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Soma as it is purified for offering to Indra, asking that the clarified Soma drive away sickness and hostile forces (Rakṣas) and bring strength, clarity, and true wealth.

The verse warns that Soma’s sacred essence should not be approached with divided intention or deceit; purity of motive is part of the rite’s power and protection.

Here the Gandharva functions as a lofty guardian/witness of Soma, expressing Soma’s radiant, overseeing aspect—an image that turns the ritual purification into a cosmic illumination of Heaven and Earth.

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