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Rig Veda · 688 of 1027
Mandala 8: HYMN LXVIII. Soma.
1.THIS here is Soma, ne’er restrained, active, all-conquering bursting forth, Ṛṣi and Sage by sapience,
2.All that is bare he covers o’er, all that is sick he medicines; The blind man sees, the cripple walks.
3.Thou, Soma, givest wide defence against the hate of alien men, Hatreds that waste and weaken us.
4.Thou by thine insight and thy skill, Impetuous One, from heaven and earth Drivest the sinner’s enmity.
5.When to their task they come with zeal, may they obtain the Giver’s grace, And satisfy his wish who thirsts.
6.So may he find what erst was lost, so may be speed the pious man, And lengthen his remaining life.
7.Gracious, displaying tender love, unconquered, gentle in thy thoughts, Be sweet, O Soma, to our heart.
8.O Soma, terrify us not; strike us not with alarm, O King: Wound not our heart with dazzling flame.
9.When in my dwelling-place I see the wicked enemies of Gods, King, chase their hatred far away, thou Bounteous One, dispel our foes.
Asked of Guide
Why does the hymn call Soma a healer who makes 'The blind man sees, the cripple walks'?
The hymn portrays Soma as a life‑giving, restorative force whose action “medicines” the sick and covers the bare; the line “The blind man sees, the cripple walks” names the visible consequences of that restoration. The poet treats Soma like a divine physician whose sapience and strength remove weakness, restore what was lost, and lengthen life.
Beyond physical healing, the hymn links Soma’s cure to social and spiritual defense: his gifts repel “the hate of alien men” and drive away enmity, so recovery includes safety and prosperity. This emphasis on communal protection and regained fortune echoes themes in the Bhagavad Gita where divine grace restores order and purpose.
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