Rig Veda

Book 9, Hymn XII. Soma Pavamana

1. To Indra have the Soma drops, exceeding rich in sweets, been poured,
Shed in the seat of sacrifice.

2 As mother kine low to their calves, to Indra have the sages called,
Called him to drink the Soma juice.

3 In the stream's wave wise Soma dwells, distilling rapture, in his seat,
Resting upon a wiId-cow's hide.

4 Far-sighted Soma, Sage and Seer, is worshipped in the central point
Of heaven, the straining-cloth of wool.

5 In close embraces Indu holds Soma when
poured within the jars.
And on the purifying sieve.

6 Indu sends forth a voice on high to regions of the sea of air,
Shaking the vase that drops with meath.

7 The Tree whose praises never fail yields heavenly milk among our hymns,
Urging men's generations on.

8 The Wise One, with the Sage's stream, the Soma urged to speed, flows on
To the dear places of the sky.

9 O Pavamana, bring us wealth bright with a thousand splendours. Yea.
O Indu, give us ready help.