RIG VEDA

HYMN LXIV. Soma Pavamana.

1. Soma, thou art a splendid Steer, a Steer, O God, with steerlike sway:
Thou as a Steer ordainest laws.

2. Steer-strong thy might is as a steer’s, steerstrong thywood, steer-like thy drink
A Steer indeed, O Steer, art thou.

3. Thou, Indu, as a vigorous horse, hast neighed together steeds and kine:
Unbar for us the doors to wealth.

4. Out of desire of cows and steeds and horses. potent Soma-drops,
Brilliant and swift, have been effused.

5. They purified in both the hands, made beautiful by holy men,
Flow onward to the fleecy cloth.

6. These Soma juices shall pour forth all treasures for the worshipper
From heaven and earth and firmament.

7. The streams of Pavamana, thine, Finder of all, have been effused,
Even as Surya’s rays of light.

8. Making the light that shines from heaven thou flowest on to every form
Soma, thou swellest like a sea.

9. Urged on thou sendest out thy voice, O Pavamana; thou hast moved,
Like the God Surya, to the sieve.

10. Indu, Enlightener, Friend, hath been purified by the sages’ hymns:
So starts the charioteer his steed-

11. Thy God-delighting wave which hath flowed to purifying seive,
Alighting in the home of Law.

12. Flow to our sieve, a gladdening draught that hath most intercourse with Gods,
Indu, to Indra for his drink.

13. Flow onward with a stream for food, made beautiful by sapient men:
Indu with sheen approach the milk.

14. While thou art cleansed, Song-Lover, bring comfort and vigour to the folk,
Poured, Tawny One! on milk and curds.

15. Purified for the feast of Gods, go thou to Indra’s special place,
Resplendent, guided by the strong.

16. Accelerated by the hymn, the rapid drops of Soma juice
Have flowed, urged onward, to the lake.

17. Easily have the living drops, made beautiful, approached the lake,
Yea, to the place of sacrifice.

18. Compass about, our faithful Friend, all our possessions with thy might:
Guard, hero like, our sheltering home.

19. Loud neighs the Courser Etasa, with singers, harnessed for the place,
Guided for travel to the lake.

20. What time the Swift One resteth in the golden place of sacrifice,
He leaves the foolish far away.

21. The friends have sung in unison, the prudent wish to sacrifice:
Down sink the unintelligent.

22. For Indra girt by Maruts, flow, thou Indu, very rich in sweets,
To sit in place of sacrifice.

23. Controlling priests and sages skilled in holy song adorn thee well:
The living make thee beautiful.

24. Aryaman, Mitra, Varuna drink Pavamana’s juice, yea, thine:
O Sage, the Maruts drink thereof.

25. O Soma, Indu, thou while thou art purified urgest onward speech.
Thousandfold, with the lore of hymns.

26. Yea, Soma, Indu, while thou art purified do thou bring to us
Speech thousandfold that longs for war.

27. O Indu, Much-invoked, while thou art purifying, as the Friend.
Of these men enter thou the lake.

28. Bright are these Somas blent with milk, with light that flashes brilliantly. And form that utters loud acclaim.

29. Led by his drivers, and sent forth, the Strong Steed hath come nigh for spoil,
Like warriors when they stand arrayed.

30. Specially, Soma, coming as a Sage from heaven to prosper us,
Flow like the Sun for us to see.


HYMN LXV. Soma Pavamana.

1. THE, glittering maids send Sura forth, the glorious sisters, close-allied,
Send Indu forth, their mighty Lord.

2. Pervade, O Pavamana, all our treasures with repeated light,
God, coming hither from the Gods.

3. Pour on us, Pavamana, rain, as service and rain praise for Gods:
Pour all to be our nourishment.

4. Thou art a Steer by lustre: we, O Pavamana, faithfully
Call upon thee the Splendid One.

5. Do thou, rejoicing, nobly-armed! pour upon us heroic strength:
O Indu, come thou bitherward.

6. When thou art cleansed with both the hands and dipped in waters, with the wood.
Thou comest to the gathering-place.

7. Sing forth your songs, as Vyasva sang, to Soma Pavamana, to,
The Mighty One with thousand eyes;

8. Whose coloured sap they drive with stones, the yellow meath-distilling juice,
Indu for Indra, for his drink.

9. We seek to gain the friendly love of thee that Strong and Mighty One,
Of thee the winner of all wealth.

10. Flow onward with thy stream, a Steer, inspiriting the Maruts’ Lord,
Winning all riches by thy might.

11. I send thee forth to battle from the press, O Pavamana, Strong,
Sustainer, looker on the light.

12. Acknowledged by this song of mine, flow, tawny-coloured, with thy stream
Incite to battle thine ally.

13. O Indu, visible to all pour out for us abundant food:
Soma, be thou our prosperer.

14. The pitchers, Indu, with thy streams have sung aloud in vigorous might
Enter them, and let Indra drink.

15. O thou whose potent gladdening juice they milk out with the stones, flow on,
Destroyer of our enemies.

16. King Pavamana is implored with holy songs, on man’s behalf,
To travel through the firmament.

17. Bring us, O Indu, hundredfold increase of kine, and noble steeds,
The gift of fortune for our help.

18. Pressed for the banquet of the Gods, O Soma, bring us might, and speed,
Like beauty for a brilliant show.

19. Soma, flow on exceeding bright with loud roar to the wooden vats,
Falcon-like resting in thine home.

20. Soma, the Water-winner flows to Indra, Vayu, Varuna,
To Visnu and the Marut host.

21. Soma , bestowing food upon our progeny, from every sides,
Pour on us riches thousandfold

22. The Soma juices which have been expressed afar or near at hand,
Or there on Saryanavan’s bank,

23. Those pressed among Arjikas, pressed among the active, in men’s homes,
Or pressed among the Races Five-

24. May these celestial drops, expressed, pour forth upon us, as they flow,
Rain from the heavens apd hero strength.

25. Urged forward o’er the ox-hide flows the Lovely One of tawny hue,
Lauded by Jamadagni’s song.

26. Like horses urged to speed, the drops, bright, stirring vital power, when blent
With milk, are beautified in streams.

27. So they who toil with juices send thee forward for the Gods’ repast:
So with this splendour flow thou on.

28. We choose to-day that chariot-steed of thine, the Strong, that brings us bliss,
The Guardian, the desire of all,

29. The Excellent, the Gladdener, the Sage with heart that understands,
The Guardian, the desire of all;

30. Who for ourselves, O thou Most Wise, is wealth and fair intelligence,
The Guardian, the desire of all.