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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 802 of 1027

Mandala 9: HYMN LXXIX. Soma Pavamana.

1.SPONTANEOUS let our drops of Soma juice flow on, pressed, golden-hued, among the Gods of lofty heaven. Perish among us they who give no gifts of food! perish the godless! May our prayers obtain success.

2.Forward to us the drops, distilling meath, shall flow, like riches for whose sake we urge the horses on. Beyond the crafty hindering of all mortal men may we continually bear precious wealth away.

3.Yea, yerily, foe of hate shown to himself is he, yea, verity, destroyer too of other hate. As thirst subdueth in the desert, conquer thou, O Soma Pavarnana, men of evil thoughts.

4.Near kin to thee is he, raised loftiest in the heavens: upon the earth’s high ridge thy scions have grown forth. The press-stones chew and crunch thee on the ox’s hide: sages have milked thee with their hands into the streams.

5.So do they hurry on thy strong and beauteous juice, O Indu, as the first ingredient of the draught. Bring low, thou Pavamana, every single foe, and be thy might shown forth as sweet and gladdening drink.

Asked of Guide

Why does the hymn call Soma both 'Pavamana' and 'Indu'?

The hymn uses Pavamana to stress Soma’s purifying, flowing quality — “spontaneous let our drops of Soma juice flow on” shows Soma as a cleanser and life-giver moving from press to vessel. Calling Soma Indu links it to brightness and refreshment, a “beauteous juice” that gladdens and conquers foes like a cooling draught.

This pairing matches other Rig Veda hymns where Soma is both sacrificial purifier and invigorating drink, as in Mandala 8’s invocations that praise Soma’s stream and power. The language ties ritual process (pressing, distilling) to cosmic effects: purification plus energizing reward for the worshippers.

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