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Rig Veda · 726 of 1027
Mandala 9: HYMN III. Soma Pavamana.
1.HERE present this Immortal God flies, like a bird upon her wings, To settle in the vats of wood.
2.This God, made ready with the hymn, runs swiftly through the winding ways, Inviolable as he flows.
3.This God while flowing is adorned, like a bay steed for war, by men Devout and skilled in holy songs.
4.He, like a warrior going forth with heroes, as he flows along Is fain to win all precious boons.
5.This God, as he is flowing on, speeds like a car and gives his gifts: He lets his voice be heard of all
6.Praised by the sacred bards, this God dives into waters, and bestows Rich gifts upon the worshipper.
7.Away he rushes with his stream, across the regions, into heaven, And roars as he is flowing on.
8.While flowing, meet for sacrifice, he hath gone up to heaven across The regions, irresistible.
9.After the ’way of ancient time, this God, pressed out for Deities, Flows tawny to the straining-cloth.
10.This Lord of many Holy Laws, even at his birth engendering strength, Effused, flows onward in a stream.
Asked of Guide
Why does the hymn describe Soma as a flowing god who 'dives into waters' and 'rushes with his stream'?
The hymn treats Soma as a living, moving power: he is “flowing,” “rushing,” and even “dives into waters,” which ties the pressed juice’s physical movement in the ritual to a divine agency that brings gifts and strength. The repeated verbs—flows, rushes, dives—make the sacrificial drink itself the vehicle of divine presence, active and victorious like a hero or bay steed.
This language matches other Rigveda hymns that fuse ritual action and cosmic force, for example Mandala 8 where sacrificial substances animate gods. Reading Soma’s motion alongside phrases like “Lord of many Holy Laws” shows the ritual aim: the poured, moving Soma establishes law, power, and blessing by its very movement.
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