Rig Veda · 741 of 1027
Mandala 9: HYMN XVIII. Soma Pavamana.
1.THOU, Soma, dweller on the hills, effused, hast flowed into the sieve,: All-bounteous art thou in carouse.
2.Thou art a sacred Bard, a Sage; the meath is offipring of thy sap: All-bountcous art thou in carouse.
3.All Deities of one accord have come that they may drink of thee: All-bounteous art thou in carouse.
4.He who containeth in his hands all treasures much to be desired: All-bounteous art thou in carouse.
5.Who milketh out this mighty Pair, the Earth and Heaven, like mother kine All-bounteous art thou in carouse.
6.Who in a moment mightily floweth around these two world-halvcs: All-bounteous art thou in carouse.
7.The Strong One, being purified, hath in the pitchers cried aloud: All-bounteous art thou in carouse.
Asked of Guide
Why does the hymn repeat “All-bounteous art thou in carouse” after every verse?
The repeated line praises Soma’s generous, overflowing nature and makes the hymn rhythmic for communal ritual. Each verse names a quality—dweller on the hills, sacred Bard, bringer of gods—and the refrain binds those qualities back to Soma’s gift: abundance in the sacrificial feast.
This litany form mirrors other Vedic hymns that use recurring refrains to focus attention and to be sung in sequence during pouring and drinking. The repetition works like the chorus in a communal performance, as in many Rig Veda hymns where a refrain keeps the congregation aligned while the priest elaborates.)
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