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1. LAID like
an arrow on the bow the hymn hath been loosed like a young calf to the udder of
its dam.
As one who cometh first with
full stream she is milked the Soma is impelled to this man's holy rites.
2 The thought
is deeply fixed; the savoury juice is shed; the tongue with joyous sound is
stirring in the mouth;
And Pavamana, like the shout of
combatants, the drop rising in sweet juice, is flowing through the fleece.
3 He flows
about the sheep-skin, longing for a bride: he looses Aditi's Daughters for the
worshipper.
The sacred drink hath come,
gold-tinted, well-restrained: like a strong Bull he shines, whetting his manly
might.
4 The Bull is bellowing;
the Cows are coming nigh: the Goddesses approach the God's own resting-place.
Onward hath Soma passed through
the sheep's fair bright fleece, and hath, as 'twere, endued a garment newly
washed.
5 The
golden-hued, Immortal, newly bathed, puts on a brightly shining vesture that is
never harmed.
He made the ridge of heaven to
be his radiant robe, by sprinkling of the bowls from moisture of the sky.
6 Even as the
beams of Surya, urging men to speed, that cheer and send to sleep, together
rush they forth,
These swift outpourings in long
course of holy rites: no form save only Indra shows itself so pure.
7 As down the
steep slope of a river to the vale, drawn from the Steer the swift strong
draughts have found a way.
Well be it with the men and
cattle in our home. May powers, O Soma, may the people stay with us.
8 Pour out
upon us wealth in goods, in gold, in steeds, in cattle and in corn, and great
heroic strength.
Ye, Soma, are my Fathers,
lifted up on high as heads of heaven and makers of the strength of life.
9 These
Pavamanas here, these drops of Soma, to Indra have sped forth like cars to
booty.
Effused, they pass the
cleansing fleece, while, gold-hued, they cast their covering off to pour the
rain down.
10 O Indu,
flow thou on for lofty Indra, flow blameless, very gracious, foe-destroyer.
Bring splendid treasures to the
man who lauds thee. O Heaven and Earth, with all the Gods protect. us.
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