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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 832 of 1027

Mandala 9: HYMN CIX. Soma Pavamana.

1.PLEASANT to Indra’s Mitra’s, Pūṣan’s Bhaga’s taste, sped onward, Soma, with thy flowing stream.

2.Let Indra drink, O Soma, of thy juice for wisdom, and all Deities for strength.

3.So flow thou on as bright celestial juice, flow to the vast, immortal dwelling-place.

4.Flow onward, Soma, as a mighty sea, as Father of the Gods to every form.

5.Flow on, O Soma, radiant for the Gods and Heaven and Earth and bless our progeny.

6.Thou, bright Juice, art Sustainer of the sky: flow, mighty, in accordance with true Law.

7.Soma, flow splendid with thy copious stream through the great fleece as in the olden time.

8.Bom, led by men, joyous, and purified, let the Light-finder make all blessings flow:

9.Indu, while cleansed, keeping the people safe, shall give us all possessions for our own.

10.Flow on for wisdom, Soma, and for power, as a strong courser bathed, to win the prize.

11.The pressers purify this juice of thine, the Soma, for delight, and lofty fame

12.They deck the Gold-hued Infant, newlyborn, even Soma, Indu, in the sieve for Gods.

13.Fair Indu hath flowed on for rapturous joy, Sage for good fortune in the waters’ lap.

14.He bears the beauteous name of Indra, that wherewith he overcame all demon foes.

15.All Deities are wont to drink of him, pressed by the men and blent with milk and curds.

16.He hath flowed forth with thousand streams effused, flowed ihsough the filter and the sheep’s long wool.

17.With endless genial flow the Strong hath run, purified by the waters, blent with milk.

18.Pressed out with stones, directed by the men, go fortli, O Soma, into Indra’s throat.

19.The mighty Soma with a thousand streams is poured to Indra through the cleansing sieve.

20.Indu they balm with pleasant milky juice for Indra, for the Steer, for his delight.

21.Lightly, for sheen, they cleanse thee for the Gods, gold-coloured, wearing water as thy robe.

22.Indu to Indra streams, yea, downward streams, Strong, flowing to the floods, and mingling -there.

Asked of Guide

Why does the hymn call Soma both 'Indu' and 'Father of the Gods'?

The hymn names Soma

Indu

Father of the Gods

Sustainer of the sky

bright Juice

because it presents Soma as the living, nourishing drink that animates and legitimates the gods. Verses 4–6 and 14 say Soma flows

as Father of the Gods

and

bears the beauteous name of Indra

showing Soma’s role as source of divine power and fame.

This chapter’s treatment of Soma mirrors the way the Hymn to Soma in Rig Veda Mandala 9 generally treats the plant as both physical offering and cosmic agent; compare Mandala 1, Hymn 32, where Soma also grants

strength and wisdom

Guide is the guide inside the Gnosis app, where every book on these shelves is free to read. Guide is the part you pay for — your guide has read all of them, and answers about the passage you’re actually on. Ask your guide your own question.