Verses 1, 2, 3
त्वं सो॑म॒ प्र चि॑कितो मनी॒षा त्वं रजि॑ष्ठ॒मनु॑ नेषि॒ पंथां॑ । तव॒ प्रणी॑ती पि॒तरो॑ न इंदो दे॒वेषु॒ रत्न॑मभजंत॒ धीराः॑ ॥
tvám soma prá cikito manīṣā́ tvám rájiṣṭhamánu neṣi pánthām ǀ táva práṇītī pitáro na indo devéṣu rátnamabhajanta dhī́rāḥ ǁ
त्वं सो॑म॒ क्रतु॑भिः सु॒क्रतु॑र्भू॒स्त्वं दक्षैः॑ सु॒दक्षो॑ वि॒श्ववे॑दाः । त्वं वृषा॑ वृष॒त्वेभि॑र्महि॒त्वा द्यु॒म्नेभि॑र्द्यु॒म्न्य॑भवो नृ॒चक्षाः॑ ॥
tvám soma krátubhiḥ sukráturbhūstvám dákṣaiḥ sudákṣo viśvávedāḥ ǀ tvám vṛ́ṣā vṛṣatvébhirmahitvā́ dyumnébhirdyumnyábhavo nṛcákṣāḥ ǁ
राज्ञो॒ नु ते॒ वरु॑णस्य व्र॒तानि॑ बृ॒हद्ग॑भी॒रं तव॑ सोम॒ धाम॑ । शुचि॒ष्ट्वम॑सि प्रि॒यो न मि॒त्रो द॒क्षाय्यो॑ अर्य॒मेवा॑सि सोम ॥
rā́jño nú te váruṇasya vratā́ni bṛhádgabhīrám táva soma dhā́ma ǀ śúciṣṭvámasi priyó ná mitró dakṣā́yyo aryamévāsi soma ǁ
In these opening verses, the Ṛṣi introduces Soma not merely as a physical plant or ritual draught, but as a cosmic guide who directs the human mind along the straightest path of truth. Soma is conceptualized as an all-knowing sovereign whose wisdom matches that of Varuṇa, the guardian of Ṛta (cosmic order). Through an accumulation of majestic epithets—such as sukratu (possessor of noble will) and viśvavedas (knower of all things)—Soma is elevated to the highest tier of divine governance. The poetry bridges the inner psychological realm with the outer cosmic architecture. When the Ṛṣi declares that the wise ancestors attained their resplendent treasures among the gods through Soma's guidance, he is pointing to an ancient lineage of seekers who mastered the inner ecstasy of divine communion. Soma is simultaneously gentle like Mitra and fiercely capable like Aryaman, holding the dual powers of grace and moral force.
Verse 1: Thou, O Soma, with thy wisdom leadest us along the straightest path; by thy guidance, O Indu, the wise ancestors attained their radiant treasure among the gods.
Verse 2: Thou, O Soma, art the lord of noble will through thy deeds, possessor of effective power and knower of all worlds; a bull in thy bull-force, radiant in thy might, watchful over humanity.
Verse 3: Now are the laws of Varuṇa thine, O Soma; vast and profound is thy divine abode. Thou art pure, dear like Mitra, worthy of our highest reverence, like Aryaman thyself.
Sāyaṇa interprets these verses through the lens of ritual sacrifice, where the physical juice of the Soma plant brings divine favor. However, Sri Aurobindo and esoteric commentators see Soma as the 'Lord of Delight' (Ānanda) who flows from the higher celestial planes into the human consciousness, lifting the seeker above mere mortal limitation.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| त्वम् | tvam | thou |
| सोम | soma | O Soma |
| मनीषा | manīṣā | by wisdom or inspired thought |
| रजिष्ठम् | rajiṣṭham | the straightest |
| पन्थाम् | panthām | path |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| क्रतुभिः | kratubhiḥ | by wills, rites, or creative powers |
| सुदक्षः | sudakṣaḥ | possessor of great skill or capacity |
| विश्ववेदाः | viśvavedāḥ | knower of all things |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| वरुणस्य | varuṇasya | of Varuṇa |
| व्रतानि | vratāni | laws, observances, or divine commands |
| धाम | dhāma | abode, status, or sacred seat |
Picture a majestic river guided through winding valleys by an invisible, wise hand; that is Soma charting the straight path of truth through the human mind.
Verses 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
या ते॒ धामा॑नि दि॒वि या पृ॑थि॒व्यां या पर्व॑ते॒ष्वोष॑धीष्व॒प्सु । तेभि॑र्नो॒ विश्वैः॑ सु॒मना॒ अहे॑ळ॒न्राज॑न्त्सोम॒ प्रति॑ ह॒व्या गृ॑भाय ॥
yā́ te dhā́māni diví yā́ pṛthivyā́m yā́ párvateṣvóṣadhīṣvapsú ǀ tébhirno víśvaiḥ sumánā áheḷanrā́jantsoma práti havyā́ gṛbhāya ǁ
त्वं सो॑मासि॒ सत्प॑ति॒स्त्वं राजो॒त वृ॑त्र॒हा । त्वं भ॒द्रो अ॑सि॒ क्रतुः॑ ॥
tvám somāsi sátpatistvám rā́jotá vṛtrahā́ ǀ tvám bhadró asi krátuḥ ǁ
त्वं च॑ सोम नो॒ वशो॑ जी॒वातुं॒ न म॑रामहे । प्रि॒यस्तो॑त्रो॒ वन॒स्पतिः॑ ॥
tvám ca soma no váśo jīvā́tum ná marāmahe ǀ priyástotro vánaspátiḥ ǁ
त्वं सो॑म म॒हे भगं॒ त्वं यून॑ ऋताय॒ते । दक्षं॑ दधासि जी॒वसे॑ ॥
tvám soma mahé bhágam tvám yū́na ṛtāyaté ǀ dákṣam dadhāsi jīváse ǁ
त्वं नः॑ सोम वि॒श्वतो॒ रक्षा॑ राजन्नघाय॒तः । न रि॑ष्ये॒त्त्वाव॑तः॒ सखा॑ ॥
tvám naḥ soma viśváto rákṣā rājannaghāyatáḥ ǀ ná riṣyettvā́vataḥ sákhā ǁ
Having established Soma's cosmic credentials, the Ṛṣi invokes his presence across all dimensions of existence—in heaven, on earth, within the mountains, herbs, and flowing waters. This cosmic omnipresence emphasizes that the divine ecstasy of Soma is not localized to a single altar, but is the hidden sap of the entire universe. Soma is addressed as a king, a true protector, and a slayer of obstacles (vṛtrahán). The poet pleads for continued life-force (jīvātu) and dynamic spiritual energy (dakṣa), reminding us that spiritual realization in the Veda is never world-denying; it asks for vigor, health, and absolute safety from hostile, dark forces.
Verse 4: Whatever homes of thine are in heaven, on earth, in the mountains, in the herbs, or in the waters—with all these, gracious and unangered, accept our offerings, O King Soma.
Verse 5: Thou, O Soma, art the lord of beings, thou art the king and the slayer of Vṛtra; thou art the auspicious will.
Verse 6: And thou, O Soma, art our desire for life; may we not die. Thou art the lord of the forest, dear to song.
Verse 7: Thou, O Soma, assignest supreme fortune and spiritual skill to the youth who strives after the divine order, that he may live.
Verse 8: Do thou protect us on all sides, O King Soma, from the malicious mind; may the friend of one like thee never suffer harm.
The phrase 'vanaspati' (lord of the forest) explicitly confirms the plant origin of the terrestrial Soma, while the cosmic descriptions elevate it to a universal principle of divine nourishment.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| धामानि | dhāmāni | abodes or stations |
| ओषधीषु | oṣadhīṣu | in the plants/herbs |
| अहेळन् | aheḷan | unangered, benevolent |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| सत्पतिः | satpatiḥ | lord of beings or true existence |
| वृत्रहा | vṛtrahā | slayer of Vṛtra (obstacle/resistance) |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| जीवातुम् | jīvātum | sustenance of life |
| वनस्पतिः | vanaspatiḥ | lord of the forest / plant kingdom |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| भगम् | bhagam | share, fortune, or opulence |
| ऋतायते | ṛtāyate | to one who strives for Ṛta / truth |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| विश्वतः | viśvataḥ | from all sides / completely |
| अघायतः | aghāyataḥ | from the one who wishes harm |
Imagine roots spreading deep into the earth and branches reaching into the sky, soaking up vitality from every element—this is Soma permeating all creation.
Verses 9, 10, 11, 2, 13, 14, 15
सोम॒ यास्ते॑ मयो॒भुव॑ ऊ॒तयः॒ संति॑ दा॒शुषे॑ । ताभि॑र्नोऽवि॒ता भ॑व ॥
sóma yā́ste mayobhúva ūtáyaḥ sánti dāśúṣe ǀ tā́bhirno’vitā́ bhava ǁ
इ॒मं य॒ज्ञमि॒दं वचो॑ जुजुषा॒ण उ॒पाग॑हि । सोम॒ त्वं नो॑ वृ॒धे भ॑व ॥
imám yajñámidám váco jujuṣāṇá upā́gahi ǀ sóma tvám no vṛdhé bhava ǁ
सोम॑ गी॒र्भिष्ट्वा॑ व॒यं व॒र्धया॑मो वचो॒विदः॑ । सु॒मृ॒ळी॒को न॒ आ वि॑श ॥
sóma gīrbhíṣṭvā vayám vardháyāmo vacovídaḥ ǀ sumṛḷīkó na ā́ viśa ǁ
त्वं सो॑म॒ क्रतु॑भिः सु॒क्रतु॑र्भू॒स्त्वं दक्षैः॑ सु॒दक्षो॑ वि॒श्ववे॑दाः । त्वं वृषा॑ वृष॒त्वेभि॑र्महि॒त्वा द्यु॒म्नेभि॑र्द्यु॒म्न्य॑भवो नृ॒चक्षाः॑ ॥
tvám soma krátubhiḥ sukráturbhūstvám dákṣaiḥ sudákṣo viśvávedāḥ ǀ tvám vṛ́ṣā vṛṣatvébhirmahitvā́ dyumnébhirdyumnyábhavo nṛcákṣāḥ ǁ
सोम॑ रारं॒धि नो॑ हृ॒दि गावो॒ न यव॑से॒ष्वा । मर्य॑ इव॒ स्व ओ॒क्ये॑ ॥
sóma rārandhí no hṛdí gā́vo ná yávaseṣvā́ ǀ márya iva svá okyé ǁ
यः सो॑म स॒ख्ये तव॑ रा॒रण॑द्देव॒ मर्त्यः॑ । तं दक्षः॑ सचते क॒विः ॥
yáḥ soma sakhyé táva rāráṇaddeva mártyaḥ ǀ tám dákṣaḥ sacate kavíḥ ǁ
उ॒रु॒ष्या णो॑ अ॒भिश॑स्तेः॒ सोम॒ नि पा॒ह्यंह॑सः । सखा॑ सु॒शेव॑ एधि नः ॥
uruṣyā́ ṇo abhíśasteḥ sóma ní pāhyáṃhasaḥ ǀ sákhā suśéva edhi naḥ ǁ
Here the tone shifts from majestic awe to deep intimacy. Soma is no distant monarch; he is a dear friend, a guest who enters the heart as cows return to their pasture at dusk. The Ṛṣi asks Soma to settle comfortably within the human vessel, bringing wealth, health, and poetic inspiration. The imagery of cows in a pasture and a young man in his own home evokes a profound sense of spiritual belonging and psychological integration. When the divine delight enters the inner sanctuary of the heart, all inner poverty and disease are dispelled.
Verse 9: O Soma, whatever welfare-bringing boons belong to thee for the giver of offerings, may you be our protector with them.
Verse 10: Delighting in this sacrifice and in this hymn of ours, approach us; O Soma, be thou here for our increase.
Verse 11: O Soma, knowing the sacred word, we magnify thee with our hymns; enter into us with your sweet grace.
Verse 13: O Soma, settle down within our heart like cows in rich pastures, like a young man in his own home.
Verse 14: Whichever mortal, O Deva Soma, finds joy in friendship with thee, that wise and inspired one is embraced by skill.
Verse 15: Guard us from malicious slander, O Soma, and protect us from distress; be a most blissful friend to us.
The psychological depth here is remarkable. Sāyaṇa focuses on ritual protection, but the metaphors of the heart as a pasture and home clearly point to the inward settling of divine peace and joy during deep meditation.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| मयोजभुवः | mayobhuvaḥ | bringing joy or healing |
| दाशुषे | dāśuṣe | to the giver / sacrificer |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| जुजुषाणः | jujuṣāṇaḥ | rejoicing / taking pleasure in |
| वृधे | vṛdhe | for growth / flourishing |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| गीर्भिः | gīrbhiḥ | with songs / hymns of praise |
| सुमळीकः | sumṛḷīkaḥ | very gracious / merciful |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| गयस्फानः | gayasphānaḥ | expanding the household or family |
| अमीवहा | amīvahā | slayer of disease |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ररन्धि | rarandhi | bestow, surrender, or abide happily |
| हृदि | hṛdi | in the heart |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| सख्ये | sakhye | in friendship |
| कविः | kaviḥ | seer or wise poet |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| उरुष्य | uruṣya | deliver / rescue us |
| सुशेवः | suśevaḥ | most tender / full of grace |
Visualize a tired traveler returning to a warm, fire-lit home where cherished friends wait with open arms—this is Soma entering the human heart.
Verses 16, 17, 18, 19
आ प्या॑यस्व॒ समे॑तु ते वि॒श्वतः॑ सोम॒ वृष्ण्यं॑ । भवा॒ वाज॑स्य संग॒थे ॥
ā́ pyāyasva sámetu te viśvátaḥ soma vṛ́ṣṇyam ǀ bhávā vā́jasya saṃgathé ǁ
आ प्या॑यस्व मदिंतम॒ सोम॒ विश्वे॑भिरं॒शुभिः॑ । भवा॑ नः सु॒श्रव॑स्तमः॒ सखा॑ वृ॒धे ॥
ā́ pyāyasva madintama sóma víśvebhiraṃśúbhiḥ ǀ bhávā naḥ suśrávastamaḥ sákhā vṛdhé ǁ
सं ते॒ पयां॑सि॒ समु॑ यंतु॒ वाजाः॒ सं वृष्ण्या॑न्यभिमाति॒षाहः॑ । आ॒प्याय॑मानो अ॒मृता॑य सोम दि॒वि श्रवां॑स्युत्त॒मानि॑ धिष्व ॥
sám te páyāṃsi sámu yantu vā́jāḥ sám vṛ́ṣṇyānyabhimātiṣā́haḥ ǀ āpyā́yamāno amṛ́tāya soma diví śrávāṃsyuttamā́ni dhiṣva ǁ
या ते॒ धामा॑नि ह॒विषा॒ यजं॑ति॒ ता ते॒ विश्वा॑ परि॒भूर॑स्तु य॒ज्ञं । ग॒य॒स्फानः॑ प्र॒तर॑णः सु॒वीरोऽवी॑रहा॒ प्र च॑रा सोम॒ दुर्या॑न् ॥
yā́ te dhā́māni havíṣā yájanti tā́ te víśvā paribhū́rastu yajñám ǀ gayasphā́naḥ pratáraṇaḥ suvī́ró’vīrahā prá carā soma dúryān ǁ
These verses capture the dynamic process of Soma swelling, waxing, and filling with divine potency. The ritual action of water being poured over the plant mirrors the celestial waxing of the moon, which the Vedic seers identified as the celestial reservoir of Soma. The poetry vibrates with terms of fullness (pyāyasva) and surging energy (vājān). The Ṛṣi invokes the descent of immortal light and glory, establishing a direct link between the physical pressing of the plant, the phases of the moon, and the eternal attainment of immortality (amṛtatva).
Verse 16: Swell with fullness, let thy divine power gather from all sides, O Soma; be present at the gathering of dynamic force.
Verse 17: Swell with fullness, O most exhilarating Soma, through all thy shoots; be our most celebrated friend for our growth.
Verse 18: Let streams of sap flow together for thee, let vigor and conquering hero-might unite. Waxing full for immortality, O Soma, fix supreme glories in heaven.
Verse 19: Whatever abodes of thine are worshipped with offerings, may all of them encompass our sacrifice. Expanding our household, carrying us across, rich in heroes, destroyer of no hero, go forth into our homes, O Soma.
Traditional commentators link these verses directly to the *Āpyāyana* rites, where the priest ritually swells the Soma juice with water. Esoterically, it symbolizes the gradual purification and expansion of the lower consciousness until it overflows with divine delight.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| प्यायस्व | pyāyasva | swell up / overflow with sap |
| वृष्ण्यम् | vṛṣṇyam | virility / divine potency |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| मदिन्तम | madintama | most intoxicating / exhilarating |
| अंशुभिः | aṃśubhiḥ | by the stalks / shoots |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| पयांसि | payāṃsi | waters / milk / life-juices |
| अमृताय | amṛtāya | for immortality |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| परिभूः | paribhūḥ | surrounding / encompassing |
| प्रतरणः | prataraṇaḥ | carrying across / saving |
Picture the crescent moon drinking in the rays of the sun and growing larger and brighter night by night until it is full—that is Soma swelling with immortal power.
Verses 20, 21, 22, 23
सोमो॑ धे॒नुं सोमो॒ अर्वं॑तमा॒शुं सोमो॑ वी॒रं क॑र्म॒ण्यं॑ ददाति । सा॒द॒न्यं॑ विद॒थ्यं॑ स॒भेयं॑ पितृ॒श्रव॑णं॒ यो ददा॑शदस्मै ॥
sómo dhenúm sómo árvantamāśúm sómo vīrám karmaṇyám dadāti ǀ sādanyám vidathyám sabhéyam pitṛśrávaṇam yó dádāśadasmai ǁ
अषा॑ळ्हं यु॒त्सु पृत॑नासु॒ पप्रिं॑ स्व॒र्षाम॒प्सां वृ॒जन॑स्य गो॒पां । भ॒रे॒षु॒जां सु॑क्षि॒तिं सु॒श्रव॑सं॒ जयं॑तं॒ त्वामनु॑ मदेम सोम ॥
áṣāḷham yutsú pṛ́tanāsu páprim svarṣā́mapsā́m vṛjánasya gopā́m ǀ bhareṣujā́m sukṣitím suśrávasam jáyantam tvā́mánu madema soma ǁ
त्वमि॒मा ओष॑धीः सोम॒ विश्वा॒स्त्वम॒पो अ॑जनय॒स्त्वं गाः । त्वमा त॑तंथो॒र्वं१॒॑तरि॑क्षं॒ त्वं ज्योति॑षा॒ वि तमो॑ ववर्थ ॥
tvámimā́ óṣadhīḥ soma víśvāstvámapó ajanayastvám gā́ḥ ǀ tvámā́ tatanthorvántárikṣam tvám jyótiṣā ví támo vavartha ǁ
दे॒वेन॑ नो॒ मन॑सा देव सोम रा॒यो भा॒गं स॑हसावन्न॒भि यु॑ध्य । मा त्वा त॑न॒दीशि॑षे वी॒र्य॑स्यो॒भये॑भ्यः॒ प्र चि॑कित्सा॒ गवि॑ष्टौ ॥
devéna no mánasā deva soma rāyó bhāgám sahasāvannabhí yudhya ǀ mā́ tvā́ tanadī́śiṣe vīryásyobháyebhyaḥ prá cikitsā gáviṣṭau ǁ
In the grand finale of the Sūkta, Soma is revealed as the ultimate benefactor who grants cows, swift horses, capable heroes, and high social standing to the devoted worshipper. The blessings span material prosperity, domestic harmony, and eloquence in public assemblies (sabheyam). The Ṛṣi then widens the lens to cosmic proportions: Soma created the plants, the waters, the kine, and the vast expanse of the atmosphere, piercing the darkness with divine light. The Sūkta closes with a humble yet powerful prayer for divine partnership in the daily battle for spiritual and material light.
Verse 20: Soma bestows the milk-cow, the swift horse, and the capable hero who excels in work—a master of assemblies, eloquent in council, honored by his fathers—to the mortal who dedicates himself to him.
Verse 21: Unconquered in battles and clashes, victorious, winning heaven and the waters, guardian of the realm, born in encounters, of good dwelling and good fame, victorious—may we rejoice in thee, O Soma.
Verse 22: Thou, O Soma, hast generated all these plants, the waters, and the kine; thou hast stretched out the wide midair, and with light hast thou rolled away the darkness.
Verse 23: With a divine mind, O Deva Soma, fight on our side for our share of bounty. Let no mortal overpower thy hero-might; wisely guide us through the quest for light.
While ritualists see verse 22 as attributing supreme creator status to Soma (akin to Indra or Viśvakarman), spiritual commentators note how the physical plant is used as a poetic symbol for the supreme Divine Consciousness that creates and illuminates the entire universe.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| धेनुम् | dhenum | milch cow |
| कर्मण्यम् | karmaṇyam | competent for action |
| सभेयम् | sabheyam | worthy of the assembly |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| अषाळ्हम् | aṣāḷham | unconquered / invincible |
| स्वर्षाम् | svarṣām | winning the sun / heaven |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| अजनयः | ajanayaḥ | thou hast brought forth / generated |
| अन्तरिक्षम् | antarikṣam | atmosphere / mid-region |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| सहसावन् | sahasāvan | O possessor of mighty power |
| गोइष्टौ | goiṣṭau | in the quest for cows / light / illumination |
Picture a magnificent king standing on a mountain peak at sunrise, holding a glowing scepter that sweeps away all shadows across the earth—this is Soma as creator and protector.