Hymn to Soma Pavamana
Rigveda IX.97 is a sūkta (hymn of praise) from Maṇḍala 9 of the Rigveda, one of the 1,028 hymns organized within the ten books of the oldest Veda. The Rigveda was composed approximately 1700–1100 BCE in Vedic Sanskrit and preserved through oral transmission across millennia.
This is a Good Works Translation produced for the Good Works Library from the Sanskrit of the Śākala recension.
1. Purified by this impulse, by his own speed, the god has mingled his sap with the gods. Pressed, he moves around the filter, roaring, like a Hotar going to the fixed dwelling that has the sacrificial animals.
2. Wearing auspicious, matching robes, the great sage, uttering mystic words — turn yourself in the two bowls as you are purified, discerning, wakeful, at the feast of the gods.
3. The dear one is cleansed upon the sheepskin, more glorious than the glorious, dwelling with us. Roar out, course on as you are purified. Protect us always with your blessings.
4. Sing forth, let us praise the gods; send Soma onward for great wealth. The sweet one flows across the woolen filter and settles into the jar, seeking the gods on our behalf.
5. The drop, going into friendship with the gods, flows with a thousand streams for exhilaration. Praised by men, following the ancient order, he has gone to Indra for great good fortune.
6. Flow, tawny one, purified, for the praiser's wealth; let the exhilaration reach Indra to bring you gain. Ride in the same chariot with the gods toward bounty. Protect us always with your blessings.
7. Speaking his poetic wisdom like Uśanā, the god proclaims the births of the gods. Of great ordinance, pure in kinship, bright, he approaches on foot like a boar, roaring.
8. The wild geese fly toward his eager fury, and the troops of bulls have gone home. Friends together utter an unforgettable sound to him who is purified, worthy of praise.
9. He rushes with the speed of the wide-strider, playing freely, as the cows measure him out. Sharp-horned, he makes abundance; by day he is seen tawny, by night bright.
10. The drop, the prize-steed, flows purifying, flooding with cattle; Soma impels his might into Indra for exhilaration. He slays the demon, drives off hostilities on every side, makes room, king of the assembly.
11. Then, mingling with a stream of honey, he flows across the wool, milked by the stones. The drop, enjoying Indra's friendship, the god's exhilarating drink for the god, flows for delight.
12. Purifying himself, he flows toward his dear places, the god mingling the gods with his own sap. The drop, clothing himself in the ordinances in due season, is enveloped by the ten fingers on the sheep's back.
13. The ruddy bull, bellowing repeatedly at the cows, goes making earth and heaven resound. Like Indra's roar heard in the contest, he flows, proclaiming, uttering this speech.
14. Savory, swelling with milk, you go stirring the honeyed shoot. Purifying yourself, you go making an unbroken flow, O Soma, being poured out for Indra.
15. So purify yourself, intoxicating one, for exhilaration, bending down the uplifted one with your deadly weapons. Bearing a shining color about you, desiring cattle, flow for us, O Soma, when you are poured out.
16. Having granted us, O drop, smooth paths, good ways, purify yourself in open space, making room for us. Striking away troubles on every side like a club, run along the ridge, on the sheepskin back.
17. Send us the moving heavenly rain, rich in refreshment, bringing ease, swiftly given. Running like a sought-out lock of wool, sifting, sort out for us these near kinsmen, the winds, O drop.
18. Untie, like a knot, what is tied, O Soma, purifying both the straight path and the crooked. Neighing like a racehorse, the tawny one let loose, run, O god, like a young man reaching home.
19. Beloved, for exhilaration, at the assembly of the gods, O drop, run around the ridge, on the sheepskin back. Thousand-streamed, fragrant, unassailed, flow around at the winning of the prize, in the contest where men prevail.
20. Reinless, chariotless, unyoked, like racehorses let loose in the contest — these bright Somas run. O gods, come to them to drink.
21. So for us, O drop, toward the gods' feast, flow around, the flood of the cloud, in the bowls. May Soma give us desirable, great wealth, rich in men, mighty.
22. When the speech of the longing mind fashioned him, or by the ordinance of the eldest, at the head of the herd — then the cows came lowing of their own will to their cherished lord, the drop in the jar.
23. The giver of drops, heavenly, swelling with gifts, the wise one, flows pure, truth for the sake of truth. He is the law, king of the community; borne by the ten reins, he is carried to the earth.
24. Purifying himself through the filters, watching over men, king of gods and of mortals — in both realms he becomes lord of wealth among riches; the drop bears the truth, well-carried, lovely.
25. Like a racehorse toward fame, toward the prize, flow toward the feast of Indra and Vāyu. Grant us a thousand great refreshments; be, O Soma, the finder of wealth, as you are purified.
26. Favoring the gods, poured out around us, may the Somas run to a dwelling rich in strong sons. Worshipping rightly, granting every good thing, most gladdening, like priests who sacrifice to heaven.
27. So, O god, purify yourself at the assembly of the gods, for the great feast, Soma, drink of the gods. We indeed are set, even among the great, in this gathering — make the two worlds a good abode, as you are purified.
28. Neighing like a horse, yoked with the bulls, fearsome as a lion, swifter than thought — by the straightest paths that turn toward us, purify yourself and bring us good will, O drop.
29. A hundred god-born streams have been released; a thousand of these the poets comb. O drop, purify for us a means to win from heaven; you are the leader of great wealth.
30. Like heaven's outpourings, the streams of the days have poured forth; the wise one, like a king, does not break faith. Like a son following his father's purposes, purify yourself and bring this people safety from defeat.
31. Your honeyed streams have been let loose, when, purified, you pass through the woolen filter. O Purifying one, you cleanse the realm of the cows; newborn, you have made the sun swell with radiance.
32. Roaring along the path of truth, bright, you shine forth as the abode of the immortal. You, purifying yourself for Indra, full of exhilaration, urge on speech with the poets' thoughts.
33. As a heavenly eagle, look down, O Soma, swelling your streams through the rite, at the gods' feast. Enter, O drop, the jar that holds the Soma; go roaring, toward the sun's ray.
34. The charger stirs forth the three voices — the vision of truth, the insight of sacred speech. The cows go, seeking their herdsman; thoughts go to Soma, longing eagerly.
35. To Soma the milk-cows go, lowing eagerly; to Soma the inspired poets go, seeking him with their thoughts. Soma, pressed, is purified, anointed; in Soma the chants, the triṣṭubh verses, cry out together.
36. So, O Soma, being poured out for us, purify us as you are purified, for our welfare. Enter Indra with a mighty roar; strengthen speech, beget bounty.
37. The wakeful, inspired one, true to the thoughts of truth, Soma, purified, has taken his seat in the bowls, whom the paired eager priests attend — the Adhvaryus, charioteers of the rite, skillful of hand.
38. He, purifying himself, was set near, like the sun; he has filled both worlds, he has laid them open. Dear are his helpers, dear through their aid — may he grant wealth to the one who performs the rite.
39. He, the strengthener, strengthened as he is purified, Soma the bountiful, has aided us with his light — by which our forefathers of old, knowing the path, finders of the sun, burned open the rock for the cows.
40. The ocean roared at the first ordering, begetting creatures, king of the world. The bull, on the filter, upon the sheepskin back — the mighty Soma has grown, the drop being pressed.
41. That great deed the buffalo Soma did, when, embryo of the waters, he chose the gods. Purifying himself, he set might within Indra; the drop generated light in the sun.
42. Gladden Vāyu for his quest and his success; gladden Mitra and Varuṇa as you are purified. Gladden the Marut troop, gladden the gods; gladden Heaven and Earth, O god Soma.
43. Purify yourself straight, slayer of the crooked one, driving off affliction and scorn. Mix your milk with the milk of the cows; you are Indra's, and we are your companions.
44. Purify a sweet flow of honey, a spring of riches; purify for us a son and good fortune. Grow sweet for Indra as you purify yourself, O drop; purify for us wealth also out of the ocean.
45. Soma, pressed, with his stream, like a racehorse let loose, like a river toward the depth, the prize-winner has surged. He has settled, purified, into his wooden womb; the drop has flowed together with the milk and with the waters.
46. This Soma of yours purifies himself, O Indra, wise, in the bowls, mighty, for you who desire him. Sun-eyed, a charioteer, of true strength, he has been released like the very desire of those who seek the gods.
47. He, purifying himself with ancient vigor, taking on forms hidden within the Daughter's shapes, clothing himself in threefold shelter in the waters, goes like a Hotar at the gatherings, chanting.
48. Now, for us, you the charioteer, O god Soma, flow around in the two bowls, being purified — sweetest in the waters, honeyed, true to the order, like the god Savitar, whose purpose is true.
49. Flow, being praised, toward Vāyu, to his feast, toward Mitra and Varuṇa, as you are purified — toward the lord who quickens thought, who stands in the chariot, toward Indra, the bull, mace in hand.
50. Flow toward fine, well-fitting garments; toward well-milking cows, as you are purified. Flow toward gleaming gold for us to hold, toward horses with their chariots, O god Soma.
51. Flow to us the heavenly treasures, and toward all the earthly ones, as you are purified — toward that by which we may gain wealth, toward the sage's portion for us, as it was for Jamadagni.
52. With this stream of purification, purify these goods for us; at the moon's hiding, O drop, run forth into the lake. The ruddy sun here, driven like the wind — even the wise one gives us a champion to strike down the foe.
53. And by this same purification, purify for us at the famed and glorious ford. May he shake down sixty thousand treasures of the rival, like a ripe tree, for the joy of the contest.
54. Great are these two bull-named powers of his, in his might — at moon-hiding, in the mottled contest, or as weapon. He lulled the rivals to sleep and made them slip; the unmindful, senseless enemies.
55. You go together through the three outstretched filters, yet run along one as you are purified. You are Bhaga, you are the giver of the gift; you are the bounteous one to the bounteous, O drop.
56. This all-knowing, wise one purifies himself, Soma, king of the entire world. Stirring the drops at the rites, the drop passes through the woolen filter, comes together, and moves on.
57. The unassailed buffaloes lick the drop; at his trail the poets chant like eagles. The wise urge him on with their ten fingers; they anoint his form with the essence of the waters.
58. With you, O purifying Soma, may we ever draw the winning throw in the contest. May Mitra and Varuṇa grant us this — Aditi, the River, Earth, and Heaven.
Translator's note: A handful of terms resist confident rendering and are translated conservatively rather than guessed at: verse 8's "tṛpalam" and "durmarṣam" (an unusual fury and an "unforgettable" sound, both rare words); verse 17's "stukeva vītā" (a comparison to a "sought-out lock of wool"); verse 52's "māṁścatve" and "takave" (obscure hapax terms, taken here as referring to the moon's dark phase and a spear-bearer); verse 53's "naiguta" (rendered "rival"); and verse 54's cluster of rare words — "pṛśane," "vadhatre," "nigutaḥ," "snehayat" — rendered by their likely general sense (a mottled contest, a weapon, rivals lulled and made to slip) rather than a fixed technical meaning.
Colophon
Rigveda IX.97 is drawn from the Śākala recension of the Rigveda, composed approximately 1700–1100 BCE. This is a Good Works Translation rendered verse by verse from the Sanskrit text printed below. Prepared for the Good Work Library by the Tianmu Anglican Church with AI-assisted translation.
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Source Text: ṛgveda IX.97
Sanskrit source text from the Aufrecht edition (1877) via GRETIL (Van Nooten & Holland input). Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.
asya preṣā hemanā pūyamāno devo devebhiḥ sam apṛkta rasam |
sutaḥ pavitram pary eti rebhan miteva sadma paśumānti hotā || 1 ||
bhadrā vastrā samanyā3 vasāno mahān kavir nivacanāni śaṁsan |
ā vacyasva camvoḥ pūyamāno vicakṣaṇo jāgṛvir devavītau || 2 ||
sam u priyo mṛjyate sāno avye yaśastaro yaśasāṁ kṣaito asme |
abhi svara dhanvā pūyamāno yūyam pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ || 3 ||
pra gāyatābhy arcāma devān somaṁ hinota mahate dhanāya |
svāduḥ pavāte ati vāram avyam ā sīdāti kalaśaṁ devayur naḥ || 4 ||
indur devānām upa sakhyam āyan sahasradhāraḥ pavate madāya |
nṛbhiḥ stavāno anu dhāma pūrvam agann indram mahate saubhagāya || 5 ||
stotre rāye harir arṣā punāna indram mado gacchatu te bharāya |
devair yāhi sarathaṁ rādho acchā yūyam pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ || 6 ||
pra kāvyam uśaneva bruvāṇo devo devānāṁ janimā vivakti |
mahivrataḥ śucibandhuḥ pāvakaḥ padā varāho abhy eti rebhan || 7 ||
pra haṁsāsas tṛpalam manyum acchāmād astaṁ vṛṣagaṇā ayāsuḥ |
āṅgūṣya1m pavamānaṁ sakhāyo durmarṣaṁ sākam pra vadanti vāṇam || 8 ||
sa raṁhata urugāyasya jūtiṁ vṛthā krīḻantam mimate na gāvaḥ |
parīṇasaṁ kṛṇute tigmaśṛṅgo divā harir dadṛśe naktam ṛjraḥ || 9 ||
indur vājī pavate gonyoghā indre somaḥ saha invan madāya |
hanti rakṣo bādhate pary arātīr varivaḥ kṛṇvan vṛjanasya rājā || 10 ||
adha dhārayā madhvā pṛcānas tiro roma pavate adridugdhaḥ |
indur indrasya sakhyaṁ juṣāṇo devo devasya matsaro madāya || 11 ||
abhi priyāṇi pavate punāno devo devān svena rasena pṛñcan |
indur dharmāṇy ṛtuthā vasāno daśa kṣipo avyata sāno avye || 12 ||
vṛṣā śoṇo abhikanikradad gā nadayann eti pṛthivīm uta dyām |
indrasyeva vagnur ā śṛṇva ājau pracetayann arṣati vācam emām || 13 ||
rasāyyaḥ payasā pinvamāna īrayann eṣi madhumantam aṁśum |
pavamānaḥ saṁtanim eṣi kṛṇvann indrāya soma pariṣicyamānaḥ || 14 ||
evā pavasva madiro madāyodagrābhasya namayan vadhasnaiḥ |
pari varṇam bharamāṇo ruśantaṁ gavyur no arṣa pari soma siktaḥ || 15 ||
juṣṭvī na indo supathā sugāny urau pavasva varivāṁsi kṛṇvan |
ghaneva viṣvag duritāni vighnann adhi ṣṇunā dhanva sāno avye || 16 ||
vṛṣṭiṁ no arṣa divyāṁ jigatnum iḻāvatīṁ śaṁgayīṁ jīradānum |
stukeva vītā dhanvā vicinvan bandhūm̐r imām̐ avarām̐ indo vāyūn || 17 ||
granthiṁ na vi ṣya grathitam punāna ṛjuṁ ca gātuṁ vṛjinaṁ ca soma |
atyo na krado harir ā sṛjāno maryo deva dhanva pastyāvān || 18 ||
juṣṭo madāya devatāta indo pari ṣṇunā dhanva sāno avye |
sahasradhāraḥ surabhir adabdhaḥ pari srava vājasātau nṛṣahye || 19 ||
araśmāno ye 'rathā ayuktā atyāso na sasṛjānāsa ājau |
ete śukrāso dhanvanti somā devāsas tām̐ upa yātā pibadhyai || 20 ||
evā na indo abhi devavītim pari srava nabho arṇaś camūṣu |
somo asmabhyaṁ kāmyam bṛhantaṁ rayiṁ dadātu vīravantam ugram || 21 ||
takṣad yadī manaso venato vāg jyeṣṭhasya vā dharmaṇi kṣor anīke |
ād īm āyan varam ā vāvaśānā juṣṭam patiṁ kalaśe gāva indum || 22 ||
pra dānudo divyo dānupinva ṛtam ṛtāya pavate sumedhāḥ |
dharmā bhuvad vṛjanyasya rājā pra raśmibhir daśabhir bhāri bhūma || 23 ||
pavitrebhiḥ pavamāno nṛcakṣā rājā devānām uta martyānām |
dvitā bhuvad rayipatī rayīṇām ṛtam bharat subhṛtaṁ cārv induḥ || 24 ||
arvām̐ iva śravase sātim acchendrasya vāyor abhi vītim arṣa |
sa naḥ sahasrā bṛhatīr iṣo dā bhavā soma draviṇovit punānaḥ || 25 ||
devāvyo naḥ pariṣicyamānāḥ kṣayaṁ suvīraṁ dhanvantu somāḥ |
āyajyavaḥ sumatiṁ viśvavārā hotāro na diviyajo mandratamāḥ || 26 ||
evā deva devatāte pavasva mahe soma psarase devapānaḥ |
mahaś cid dhi ṣmasi hitāḥ samarye kṛdhi suṣṭhāne rodasī punānaḥ || 27 ||
aśvo na krado vṛṣabhir yujānaḥ siṁho na bhīmo manaso javīyān |
arvācīnaiḥ pathibhir ye rajiṣṭhā ā pavasva saumanasaṁ na indo || 28 ||
śataṁ dhārā devajātā asṛgran sahasram enāḥ kavayo mṛjanti |
indo sanitraṁ diva ā pavasva puraetāsi mahato dhanasya || 29 ||
divo na sargā asasṛgram ahnāṁ rājā na mitram pra mināti dhīraḥ |
pitur na putraḥ kratubhir yatāna ā pavasva viśe asyā ajītim || 30 ||
pra te dhārā madhumatīr asṛgran vārān yat pūto atyeṣy avyān |
pavamāna pavase dhāma gonāṁ jajñānaḥ sūryam apinvo arkaiḥ || 31 ||
kanikradad anu panthām ṛtasya śukro vi bhāsy amṛtasya dhāma |
sa indrāya pavase matsaravān hinvāno vācam matibhiḥ kavīnām || 32 ||
divyaḥ suparṇo 'va cakṣi soma pinvan dhārāḥ karmaṇā devavītau |
endo viśa kalaśaṁ somadhānaṁ krandann ihi sūryasyopa raśmim || 33 ||
tisro vāca īrayati pra vahnir ṛtasya dhītim brahmaṇo manīṣām |
gāvo yanti gopatim pṛcchamānāḥ somaṁ yanti matayo vāvaśānāḥ || 34 ||
somaṁ gāvo dhenavo vāvaśānāḥ somaṁ viprā matibhiḥ pṛcchamānāḥ |
somaḥ sutaḥ pūyate ajyamānaḥ some arkās triṣṭubhaḥ saṁ navante || 35 ||
evā naḥ soma pariṣicyamāna ā pavasva pūyamānaḥ svasti |
indram ā viśa bṛhatā raveṇa vardhayā vācaṁ janayā puraṁdhim || 36 ||
ā jāgṛvir vipra ṛtā matīnāṁ somaḥ punāno asadac camūṣu |
sapanti yam mithunāso nikāmā adhvaryavo rathirāsaḥ suhastāḥ || 37 ||
sa punāna upa sūre na dhātobhe aprā rodasī vi ṣa āvaḥ |
priyā cid yasya priyasāsa ūtī sa tū dhanaṁ kāriṇe na pra yaṁsat || 38 ||
sa vardhitā vardhanaḥ pūyamānaḥ somo mīḍhvām̐ abhi no jyotiṣāvīt |
yenā naḥ pūrve pitaraḥ padajñāḥ svarvido abhi gā adrim uṣṇan || 39 ||
akrān samudraḥ prathame vidharmañ janayan prajā bhuvanasya rājā |
vṛṣā pavitre adhi sāno avye bṛhat somo vāvṛdhe suvāna induḥ || 40 ||
mahat tat somo mahiṣaś cakārāpāṁ yad garbho 'vṛṇīta devān |
adadhād indre pavamāna ojo 'janayat sūrye jyotir induḥ || 41 ||
matsi vāyum iṣṭaye rādhase ca matsi mitrāvaruṇā pūyamānaḥ |
matsi śardho mārutam matsi devān matsi dyāvāpṛthivī deva soma || 42 ||
ṛjuḥ pavasva vṛjinasya hantāpāmīvām bādhamāno mṛdhaś ca |
abhiśrīṇan payaḥ payasābhi gonām indrasya tvaṁ tava vayaṁ sakhāyaḥ || 43 ||
madhvaḥ sūdam pavasva vasva utsaṁ vīraṁ ca na ā pavasvā bhagaṁ ca |
svadasvendrāya pavamāna indo rayiṁ ca na ā pavasvā samudrāt || 44 ||
somaḥ suto dhārayātyo na hitvā sindhur na nimnam abhi vājy akṣāḥ |
ā yoniṁ vanyam asadat punānaḥ sam indur gobhir asarat sam adbhiḥ || 45 ||
eṣa sya te pavata indra somaś camūṣu dhīra uśate tavasvān |
svarcakṣā rathiraḥ satyaśuṣmaḥ kāmo na yo devayatām asarji || 46 ||
eṣa pratnena vayasā punānas tiro varpāṁsi duhitur dadhānaḥ |
vasānaḥ śarma trivarūtham apsu hoteva yāti samaneṣu rebhan || 47 ||
nū nas tvaṁ rathiro deva soma pari srava camvoḥ pūyamānaḥ |
apsu svādiṣṭho madhumām̐ ṛtāvā devo na yaḥ savitā satyamanmā || 48 ||
abhi vāyuṁ vīty arṣā gṛṇāno3 'bhi mitrāvaruṇā pūyamānaḥ |
abhī naraṁ dhījavanaṁ ratheṣṭhām abhīndraṁ vṛṣaṇaṁ vajrabāhum || 49 ||
abhi vastrā suvasanāny arṣābhi dhenūḥ sudughāḥ pūyamānaḥ |
abhi candrā bhartave no hiraṇyābhy aśvān rathino deva soma || 50 ||
abhī no arṣa divyā vasūny abhi viśvā pārthivā pūyamānaḥ |
abhi yena draviṇam aśnavāmābhy ārṣeyaṁ jamadagnivan naḥ || 51 ||
ayā pavā pavasvainā vasūni mām̐ścatva indo sarasi pra dhanva |
bradhnaś cid atra vāto na jūtaḥ purumedhaś cit takave naraṁ dāt || 52 ||
uta na enā pavayā pavasvādhi śrute śravāyyasya tīrthe |
ṣaṣṭiṁ sahasrā naiguto vasūni vṛkṣaṁ na pakvaṁ dhūnavad raṇāya || 53 ||
mahīme asya vṛṣanāma śūṣe mām̐ścatve vā pṛśane vā vadhatre |
asvāpayan nigutaḥ snehayac cāpāmitrām̐ apācito acetaḥ || 54 ||
saṁ trī pavitrā vitatāny eṣy anv ekaṁ dhāvasi pūyamānaḥ |
asi bhago asi dātrasya dātāsi maghavā maghavadbhya indo || 55 ||
eṣa viśvavit pavate manīṣī somo viśvasya bhuvanasya rājā |
drapsām̐ īrayan vidatheṣv indur vi vāram avyaṁ samayāti yāti || 56 ||
induṁ rihanti mahiṣā adabdhāḥ pade rebhanti kavayo na gṛdhrāḥ |
hinvanti dhīrā daśabhiḥ kṣipābhiḥ sam añjate rūpam apāṁ rasena || 57 ||
tvayā vayam pavamānena soma bhare kṛtaṁ vi cinuyāma śaśvat |
tan no mitro varuṇo māmahantām aditiḥ sindhuḥ pṛthivī uta dyauḥ || 58 ||
Source Colophon
Sanskrit text of the Rigveda, Śākala recension. The standard scholarly edition is the Bombay Oriental (Vishva Bandhu, 5 vols., 1963–66). IAST transliteration available from GRETIL (Göttingen Register of Electronic Texts in Indian Languages) and Vedaweb (University of Cologne). Both sources are open access. IAST transliteration from the Aufrecht edition (1877) via GRETIL (Van Nooten & Holland input, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).