Soma, the radiant and purified one, emerges before the eyes of men, resplendent as the king of both gods and mortals. He rises to lordship over riches, bestowing the immortal, the well-nourished, and the beautiful Soma upon all. Swift as a spirited horse, Soma races forth for fame and accomplishment, journeying along the paths of Indra and Vayu. He is invoked to grant a thousand mighty treasures, to be the generous giver of wealth. The divine Somās, poured out in sacred ritual, are called upon to bring enduring strength and prosperity. Worthy of every sacrifice, they are likened to heavenly priests, most delightful, whose favor is sought for universal blessing. Purifying himself for the gods, Soma prepares for the great offering, fit for divine enjoyment. He stands as an ally to the worshippers in the cosmic contest, purifying both worlds in the most exalted place. Soma is likened to a spirited horse, a yoked bull, a fierce lion—swifter than the mind itself. He is called to flow along the closest paths, bringing joy to those who revere him. From him, a hundred streams, born of the gods, have flowed; the sages, with a thousand powers, cleanse Soma, urging him to flow from heaven as the leader and forerunner of great wealth. This wise king, like the streams of heaven, never diminishes his friend. Like a son guided by his father’s deeds, Soma is invoked to flow for the victory of the clan. His sweet, pure streams surge forth, surpassing all obstacles. Soma purifies himself, becomes the home of cows, creates the sun, and fills it with hymns. Resounding with power, he follows the path of immortality, shining forth the abode of the undying. Flowing for Indra, Soma is full of delight, stirring the speech and thoughts of sages. Like a splendid bird, Soma looks down from above, filling the streams with deeds in service of the gods. He enters the vessel, the abode of Soma, resounding as he approaches the sun’s ray. Three voices the fire sends forth: the inspiration of truth, the wisdom of the priest. The cows go to their lord, inquiring; the thoughts of the wise reach out to Soma, eager for his presence. The milch cows, full of longing, approach Soma; the sages, with their thoughts, inquire of him. Pressed and purified, Soma is clarified anew, and in him the hymns, the Trishtubh verses, are renewed. Thus, Soma, poured out for the worshippers, flows purified, bringing well-being. He strengthens Indra with his great sound, generates speech, and creates abundance. Awakened and purified, Soma sits among the assemblies, inspired by the thoughts of the wise. The priests, skillful and dexterous, press him eagerly; the twin stones crush him with zeal. Purified, Soma approaches the sun’s abode, filling both heaven and earth. Even those dear to him, aided with loving help, receive wealth from him, the generous giver. Soma, the increaser and nourisher, blesses all with light. By his power, the ancient fathers, knowing the path and the light, approached the stones and broke through. In the beginning, the unconquered one of the sea—Soma—established order, generating offspring as the king of the world. The mighty bull, Soma, grew great on the pure slope, the pressed drop swelling in the filter. As the buffalo, Soma performed a mighty deed when, as the embryo of the waters, he chose the gods. He placed strength in Indra, and the drop generated light in the Sun. All are called to delight: Vāyu in what is desired and in wealth, Mitra and Varuṇa as Soma is purified, the host of Maruts, all the gods, heaven and earth—all delight in the divine Soma. Soma is invoked to flow straight, destroying crookedness, repelling hostility and disease. Pouring forth milk in abundance for the cows, he is Indra’s, and the worshippers are his friends. He is asked to flow as the sweet drink, the fountain of wealth, the hero, and as Bhaga; to gladden Indra and bring riches from the ocean. Soma, pressed, flows like a racing horse, never straying from his course, swift as a steed to the lowlands. Purified, the drop settles in its proper place, flowing with cows and companions. For Indra, this Soma is being purified—wise, strong, eager, with shining vision, a charioteer of true might, like a desire sent forth by those who worship the gods. Purified with ancient vigor, clothed in triple shelter, covering the forms of the daughter, he moves in the waters like a priest, resounding in the gatherings. Charioteer and divine Soma, he flows around the worshippers, purified in the vessels, sweetest in the waters, honeyed, true to the law, like the god Savitar of true thought. Flowing forth, praised, Soma approaches Vāyu, Mitra, and Varuṇa; he approaches the wise, the chariot-loving, and mighty Indra, who wields the thunderbolt. He approaches the well-clad garments, the well-yielding cows, the shining golden ones for lordship, and the horses, chariot-bearers, as the divine Soma. He brings divine riches, purified, approaching all earthly things, so that the worshippers may attain wealth, as Jamadagni did before. He is urged to flow by this path to these riches, never running dry in the lake. Even the white one, driven by the wind, would give a man to the generous, O wise one. Again, Soma is called to flow by this path to the renowned place of fame; like shaking a ripe tree for battle, he is asked to shake out sixty thousand treasures. Great is Soma’s name, even in drought; the drop must not be cut off in the lake or cleft. He puts the hidden ones to sleep, makes the hostile friendly, and drives away the senseless. Purified, he passes through the three extended filters, running as one; he is Bhaga, the giver of gifts, Maghavan for the generous. This wise Soma, knower of all, is purified, king of the world; the drops, stirring in the assemblies, go together, reaching the unfailing shelter. The mighty, unerring ones press the drop, roaring at the step like poets, not like vultures; the wise urge him with ten fingers, adorning his form with the essence of the waters. With Soma, the purified one, the worshippers seek always to discern what is accomplished in the offering; they pray that Mitra, Varuṇa, Aditi, Sindhu, Earth, and Heaven do not harm them. Indu, the pressed Soma, is invoked to attain for the worshippers the most prize-bringing wealth—abundant, splendid, and unconquerable. Flowing forth, pressed, unaging like armor stretched on a chariot, Indu descends into the vessel, protecting with his streams. Overflowing with exhilaration, the pressed Soma shines forth in the ritual, seeking the cows. For Soma, the god, is always asked to grant wealth to the mortal who serves; he bestows a thousandfold treasure, with a hundred forms. The worshippers, calling upon the slayer of Vṛtra, wish to be nearest to his manifold, much-desired wealth, seeking the closest abundance of his favor.