Rig Veda · 805 of 1027
Mandala 9: HYMN LXXXII. Soma Pavamana.
1.EVEN as a King hath Soma, red and tawny Bull, been pressed: the Wondrous One hath bellowed to the kine. While purified he passes through the filtering fleece to seat him hawk-like on the place that drops with oil.
2.To glory goest thou, Sage with disposing skill, like a groomed steed thou rusbest forward to the prize. O Soma, be thou gracious, driving off distress: thou goest, clothed in butter, to a robe of state.
3.Parjanya is the Father of the Mighty Bird: on mountains, in earth’s centre hath he made his home. The waters too have flowed, the Sisters, to the kine: he meets the pressing-stones at the beloved rite.
4.Thou givest pleasure as a wife delights her lord. Listen, O Child of Pajri, for to thee I speak. Amid the holy songs go on that we may live: in time of trouble, Soma, watch thou free from blame.
5.As to the men of old thou camest, Indu unharmed, to strengthen, winning hundreds, thousands, So now for new felicity flow onward: the waters follow as thy law ordaineth.
Asked of Guide
Why is Soma compared to a groomed steed and a tawny bull in this hymn?
The hymn portrays Soma as a living, exalted presence: “red and tawny Bull” evokes strength and vitality while the groomed steed image signals readiness and excellence as he “rushest forward to the prize.” Those animal metaphors celebrate Soma’s power to invigorate the worshippers and to carry sacrificial blessing into the ritual sphere.
The ritual detail grounds those images — Soma is pressed and purified, “passes through the filtering fleece” and is anointed “clothed in butter,” which makes the metaphors concrete: vigor becomes offering, speed becomes ordained movement toward divine favor. This aligns with other Vedic hymns where Soma’s drinking and pressing (see other hymns in Mandala 9) translate cosmic force into communal benefit.
Guide is the guide inside the Gnosis app, where every book on these shelves is free to read. Guide is the part you pay for — your guide has read all of them, and answers about the passage you’re actually on. Ask your guide your own question.