The immortal god Soma, radiant and ever-renewed, is set in motion like a leafy branch swaying in the wind. He enters the vessels, his presence filling them with divine essence. Once clarified and purified, Soma rushes beyond all narrow confines, his self-purifying nature making him immune to deception. With the wise and those who live by truth, this tawny god is cleansed, gaining strength for the journey ahead. Soma, the hero, seeks all treasures, as if accompanied by his companions. He rides in his chariot, the purifier, bringing delight and revealing his voice in song. Praised by the inspired, Soma flows forth through the waters, bestowing treasures upon those who worship him. He rushes across the sky, his stream soaring beyond the spaces, roaring as the great purifier. Untouched, he spreads through the heavens, performing his own sacred rites. Born from ancient origins, Soma is pressed anew for the gods, his tawny form flowing through the filter. With manifold vows, the newly born Soma generates lights, and as he is pressed, his stream purifies him further. Devotees call upon him: “O Soma, ever victorious, purifier, grant us great renown and share your bounty with us. O Soma, ever shining and radiant, grant us all good fortunes, and let us partake in your abundance. O Soma, ever wise and skillful, drive away our foes and let us share in your gifts. Purifiers, cleanse Soma for Indra to drink, so that we may share in his bounty. As you grant to the Sun, so grant to us by your power and your aids. By your strength, may we always behold the Sun, and partake in your bounty.” They urge Soma to flow forth with his own weapons, bringing wealth that is doubly strong. Flow forth, unconquered, bringing wealth that prevails in battles. Strengthened by sacrifices in the ritual, the purifier, Soma, is ready to share his bounty. They call for wondrous, all-sustaining wealth, bright as the Ashvins, from Indu, so they may share in his abundance. Kindled, Soma, the lord of all, shines forth—the purifier radiates, the roaring bull brings delight. Protector of the body, Soma sharpens his horns and flows onward, shining in the midspace. His desirable, purifying stream glows as wealth, radiant with light, bearing the essence of honey and its flowing streams. With power, the golden one spreads the sacred grass to the east, purifying and advancing among the gods as one of them. The wide, lofty doors, divine and golden, swing open; praised by the purifier, they are set apart. With skill in creation, vast and great, Soma bellows forth, appearing as Night and Dawn. The worshippers call upon both divine Hotṛs, seers among gods, and the purifying Indra, the mighty bull. They invite Bhārati, Sarasvatī, and Ilā—the three adorned goddesses—to their sacrifice. They call upon Tvaṣṭṛ, the ancient protector of cattle, the leader at the front; Indu, Indra, the bull, the golden one, the purifier, lord of creatures. “O purifier,” they pray, “unite with the tree-lord, with honey and stream—the thousand-branched, green, shining, golden one.” All the gods, with the call of ‘svāhā,’ come to the purifier: Vāyu, Bṛhaspati, Sūrya, Agni, Indra, gathered together in harmony. With delightful stream, Soma purifies himself for the gods, unblemished among the coverings, eager for the worshippers. Flow toward that intoxicating delight, O drops, as Indra; toward the swift steeds and horses. Flow, pressed out, toward that ancient exhilaration through the filter; toward strength and fame. Like waters down a slope, the drops of Soma, O Indu, have flowed forth, purified and reaching Indra. Ten maidens cleanse him, like a swift racer playing in the wood, unmatched in their task. They release the bull, the sap with cows, for exhilaration and the favor of the gods, the pressed one for offering. The god, pressed, is purified for Indra, swelling as his milk combines with him. The soul of the sacrifice, delightful and pressed, is purified, pouring out ancient wisdom. Thus purified, O Indu, bring the most exhilarating delight for the feast; even in secret, you have placed the songs. This is the story of Soma—the ever-purifying, ever-giving, radiant god—whose journey through purification, invocation, and offering brings wisdom, strength, and delight to gods and mortals alike.