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Pavamana Suktam (Punantu Mam)

Pavamana Suktam (Punantu Mam) in English · English

🕉️ vedic·📿 7× repetitions·🕐 During sacred bathing (snana), at the close of homa/puja, or at dawn·📜 Rigveda, Mandala 9, Sukta 67 (verses 21-27)

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Pavamana Suktam (Rigveda 9.67.21-27) is the celebrated 'Punantu Mam' purification hymn, addressed to Pavamana Soma together with Agni, Savitr, the Vasus and the Vishvedevas. Verse by verse it prays to be cleansed of fear and impurity 'from every side', invoking the gods to purify body, mind and speech. It is one of the most important Vedic mantras for inner purification, recited at the conclusion of rites, in prayaschitta (atonement), and during sacred bathing and homa.

Origin & Story

Rigveda, Mandala 9, Sukta 67 (verses 21-27) · Rishi Pavitra Angirasa and the seers of the Soma-Pavamana hymns (traditional) · c. 1500-1200 BCE

The ninth Mandala of the Rigveda is devoted entirely to Soma Pavamana — the sacred draught as it is pressed and purified through the woollen strainer. From this Mandala the closing verses of Sukta 67 form the 'Punantu Mam' hymn, in which the imagery of straining and purifying Soma becomes a prayer for the purification of the worshipper himself. Adopted across the Vedic ritual tradition, it is recited wherever inner and outer purity is sought — in bathing, atonement and the sealing of every sacred rite.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition holds that the Pavamana Suktam carries the cleansing power of Soma itself: just as the strained Soma becomes clear and radiant, the worshipper who recites 'Punantu Mam' with faith is said to be inwardly purified of fear, fault and impurity. For this reason it is the mantra invoked to make a person and a ritual fit and whole, washing away even unknown lapses.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

Om yadanti yachcha durake bhayam vindati mamiha; Pavamana vi tajjahi.

Meaning:Om. Whatever fear besets me — near at hand or far away — O Pavamana, drive it utterly away.

Verse 2

Pavamanah so adya nah pavitrena vicharshanih; Yah pota sa punatu nah.

Meaning:May Pavamana, the all-discerning, purify us this day with his cleansing strainer; he who is the purifier, may he make us pure.

Verse 3

Yatte pavitramarchishyagne vitatamantara; Brahma tena punihi nah.

Meaning:That purifying power, O Agni, which is spread within your flame — with that, purify us by the sacred word.

Verse 4

Yatte pavitramarchivadagne tena punihi nah; Brahmasavaih punihi nah.

Meaning:That purifying, flaming power of yours, O Agni — with it purify us; purify us through the impulses of sacred knowledge.

Verse 5

Ubhabhyam deva savitah pavitrena savena cha; Mam punihi vishvatah.

Meaning:O divine Savitr, with both the purifier and the divine impulse, purify me on every side.

Verse 6

Tribhishtvam deva savitarvarshishthaih soma dhamabhih; Agne dakshaih punihi nah.

Meaning:With your three loftiest states, O Savitr, O Soma, and with your powers, O Agni, purify us.

Verse 7

Punantu mam devajanah punantu vasavo dhiya; Vishve devah punita ma jatavedah punihi ma.

Meaning:May the divine beings purify me; may the Vasus purify me through wisdom; O all you gods, purify me; O Jatavedas, purify me.

Verse 8

Om shantih shantih shantih.

Meaning:Om, peace, peace, peace.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

yat anti🔊Whatever (fear) is near at hand

yat cha durake🔊And whatever is far away

bhayam vindati mam iha🔊The fear that finds / afflicts me here

Pavamana🔊O Pavamana (the ever-purifying, flowing Soma)

vi tat jahi🔊Drive that (fear) away / destroy it

pavitrena vicharshanih🔊The all-seeing one, by his purifying strainer

yah pota sa punatu nah🔊He who is the purifier, may he purify us

pavitram archishi agne🔊O Agni, the purifying power in your flame

vitatam antara🔊Spread out within / pervading throughout

brahma tena punihi nah🔊Purify us by that sacred power / prayer

brahmasavaih🔊Through the impulses / inspirations of sacred knowledge

deva savitah🔊O divine Savitr (the impeller, the Sun-god)

pavitrena savena cha🔊By both the purifier and the (divine) impulse

mam punihi vishvatah🔊Purify me from every side / completely

tribhih varshishthaih dhamabhih🔊By the three loftiest abodes / states

dakshaih punihi nah🔊Purify us by (your) powers / skills

punantu mam devajanah🔊May the divine beings purify me

punantu vasavah dhiya🔊May the Vasus purify me through (right) thought

vishve devah punita ma🔊O all you gods (Vishvedevas), purify me

jatavedah punihi ma🔊O Jatavedas (Agni, knower of all beings), purify me

Benefits of Chanting Pavamana Suktam (Punantu Mam)

✦

Purifies the body, mind and speech from every side (mam punihi vishvatah)

✦

Removes fear, both near and far (yadanti yachcha durake bhayam)

✦

Cleanses subtle impurities and the effects of wrongdoing; used in prayaschitta (atonement)

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Recited at the conclusion of homas, pujas and Vedic rituals for completeness and purity

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Brings deep inner peace, clarity and sanctity to the practitioner

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Invokes the combined purifying grace of Soma, Agni, Savitr and all the gods

How to Chant Pavamana Suktam (Punantu Mam)

Repetitions7times

Best TimeDuring sacred bathing (snana), at the close of homa/puja, or at dawn

Traditionally recited during ritual bathing, while sprinkling water for self-purification (proksana), and at the conclusion of homas and pujas to sanctify the act. Sit or stand facing east, recite each verse with the sincere intention of inner cleansing, and conclude with the threefold shanti. It is also chanted as a daily purification mantra before worship or meditation.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Pavamana Suktam (Punantu Mam) written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is a Vedic purification hymn from the Rigveda (9.67.21-27), popularly known by its refrain 'Punantu Mam' ('may they purify me'). It invokes Pavamana Soma, Agni, Savitr and the gods to cleanse the worshipper of fear and impurity.

'Punantu Mam' means 'May they purify me'. In the climactic verse the worshipper prays for the divine beings, the Vasus, all the gods and Jatavedas (Agni) to purify him completely — in body, mind and speech.

It is chanted during sacred bathing, while sprinkling water for self-purification, in rites of atonement (prayaschitta), and at the conclusion of homas and pujas to sanctify and complete the ritual. Many recite it daily before worship.

'Pavamana' means 'the one being purified / the ever-flowing purifier' and refers to Soma as it is filtered and flows. By extension the hymn invokes the purifying power of Soma along with Agni, Savitr and all the gods.