yajvan
30 March 2009, 01:28 PM
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
Namasté
On another post the notion of soma came up. The entire 9th maṇḍala of the ṛg veda is dedicated to this soma, hence its level of importance in the veda.
On the surface many view this as some kind of elixir/libation made from the soma plant. This could be yet I have not seen a soma plant or have I found anyone that has harvested this creeper ( that has been actively looking).
As it goes with the ṛṣi-s of the veda, they speak on multiple levels. So when it comes to this soma there is another view on this matter - one of adhyātma jñāna (or knowledge of the Supreme or spirit).
Let me offer the following discussion and an attempt at one translation I think is compelling - any errors are attributable to me.
ṛg veda (some write ṛk veda) 10.85.3, ṛṣi sūrya, anuṣṭubh chandas or meter ( I may stand corrected on the ṛṣi )
somaṃ manyate papivan yat sampiṃṣantyoṣadhim |
somaṃ yambrahmāṇo vidurna tasyāśnāti kaścana ||
soma (somaṃ) the drinkers (papivan) prepare (yat) placed together/near
~crushed~ (sam-piṣanti) imagine (manyate) the creeper/herb (ośadhiṁ) |
soma (somaṃ) the wise (vidurna) brāhmins (brahmāṇo) support (yam) or
satisfied with (kaścana) that not (na) ~nobody~ ever (tasa) eats (aśnati) ||
The creeper soma, the drinkers prepare ~crush~, imagine they are drinking soma elixir, (yet) that soma which the brāhmins (enlightened) know (viduḥ), is something nobody ever eats.
That is, this soma juice that is prepared is a symbol, a hint (saṃketa) representing something much more profound then an elixir or libation.
Another view of this same śloka is offered by R.L. Kasyap, from the Śrī Aurobindo Kapāli Śāstri Institute of Vedic Culture (Bangalore), he translates it thus:
The ritualists may regard soma as a creeper to be crushed for its juice, used in the ritual but to the wise (brāhmaṇaḥ), soma is not something to be drunk.
Another from Ralph T.H. Griffith, a westerner, who has translated most of the Vedas some years back suggests the following translation:
One thinks, when they have brayed the plant, that he hath drunk the Soma's juice; Of him whom Brahmans truly know as soma no one ever tastes.
Another consideration from a jyotiṣ POV from the HDF Post on amāvāsya¹ :
We also know 'sat' as Supreme, Brahman. And Umā is Śrī Devī, Pārvatī. Now when sa(t) comes together (amā + vāsya¹) with Umā what is created Soma. That is when a+u are joined in sanskrit we get o. Hence s(a+u)ma = soma.
What do we call the moon? Soma . When Śiva and Pārvatī are joined together we get Soma. Hence for amāvāsya, the new moon, Śiva and Pārvatī come together, are enveloped, become Soma.That is, the wise know it's other then a fluid or juice. We are helped with this understanding by soma's other name as vanaspati - the lord (pati) of vana. This 'vana' is both a plant and is defined as a ray of light, of plenty and abundance. And looking at 'vanas' , it is loveliness.
For me, reviewing and reading about soma, it is the notion of 'delight'. It is more then a drink, juice or libation. It comes into existence via being 'pressed between the stones' of existence - that of actions that are performed. Within actions, there is delight and this squeezing (suta - pressed out , extracted ) brings out the delight or 'vanas' , it is loveliness of being, of existing.
It is the natural part of Brahman, ānanda ( joy) that resides in creation. It is experienced via the 'pressing of existence' of actions, that one gains joy. And for the realized being (jñānin) this joy/soma is present in their lives in waves.
The wise know it is not just a liquid that is poured into the mouth.
praṇām
words/references
somaṃ manyate papivan yat sampiṃṣantyoṣadhim |
somaṃ yambrahmāṇo vidurna tasyāśnāti kaścana ||
yat यत्- to exert one's self , take pains, to prepare
ośadhiṁ is ośadhi ओष a herb , plant , simple , esp. any medicinal herb ; a remedy in general
sam - 'placing together'
piṣanti piṣ पिश्- to form or fashion, make ready + anti अन्ति in the presence of , near
manyate or manya मन्य - thinking one's self to be , passing for , appearing as ~imagine~
somaṃ or soma सोम - from su meaning juice , extract; The traditional view is the soma plant , a creeper, its stalks (aṃśu) were to be pressed between stones (adri) by the priests , then sprinkled with water , and purified in a strainer (pavitra) ; mixed with clarified butter , flour , made to ferment , and then offered in libations to the gods or was drunk by the Brahmans. Yet we find in this mantra , that soma is more then a juice or libation.
papivan - papi पपि - to drink ( also m. Moon) + van वन् to prepare , make ready for
yam यम् to sustain , hold , hold up , support ; to hold or keep in , hold back , restrain
vidurna or vidura विदुर wise , intelligent also viduḥ विदु - intelligent, wise
na न- not, nor , that not
kaschan - kas कस् to go move, approach + can चन् - be satisfied with
tasa or tas तस्- to throw down, throwing
aśnati or aśnat अश्नत्- eat or consuming
amā + vāsya is reviewed in this HDF post - http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=3354 (http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=3354)
adhyātma अध्यात्म spirit, Supreme + jñāna or knowledge/wisdom
~~~~~~
Namasté
On another post the notion of soma came up. The entire 9th maṇḍala of the ṛg veda is dedicated to this soma, hence its level of importance in the veda.
On the surface many view this as some kind of elixir/libation made from the soma plant. This could be yet I have not seen a soma plant or have I found anyone that has harvested this creeper ( that has been actively looking).
As it goes with the ṛṣi-s of the veda, they speak on multiple levels. So when it comes to this soma there is another view on this matter - one of adhyātma jñāna (or knowledge of the Supreme or spirit).
Let me offer the following discussion and an attempt at one translation I think is compelling - any errors are attributable to me.
ṛg veda (some write ṛk veda) 10.85.3, ṛṣi sūrya, anuṣṭubh chandas or meter ( I may stand corrected on the ṛṣi )
somaṃ manyate papivan yat sampiṃṣantyoṣadhim |
somaṃ yambrahmāṇo vidurna tasyāśnāti kaścana ||
soma (somaṃ) the drinkers (papivan) prepare (yat) placed together/near
~crushed~ (sam-piṣanti) imagine (manyate) the creeper/herb (ośadhiṁ) |
soma (somaṃ) the wise (vidurna) brāhmins (brahmāṇo) support (yam) or
satisfied with (kaścana) that not (na) ~nobody~ ever (tasa) eats (aśnati) ||
The creeper soma, the drinkers prepare ~crush~, imagine they are drinking soma elixir, (yet) that soma which the brāhmins (enlightened) know (viduḥ), is something nobody ever eats.
That is, this soma juice that is prepared is a symbol, a hint (saṃketa) representing something much more profound then an elixir or libation.
Another view of this same śloka is offered by R.L. Kasyap, from the Śrī Aurobindo Kapāli Śāstri Institute of Vedic Culture (Bangalore), he translates it thus:
The ritualists may regard soma as a creeper to be crushed for its juice, used in the ritual but to the wise (brāhmaṇaḥ), soma is not something to be drunk.
Another from Ralph T.H. Griffith, a westerner, who has translated most of the Vedas some years back suggests the following translation:
One thinks, when they have brayed the plant, that he hath drunk the Soma's juice; Of him whom Brahmans truly know as soma no one ever tastes.
Another consideration from a jyotiṣ POV from the HDF Post on amāvāsya¹ :
We also know 'sat' as Supreme, Brahman. And Umā is Śrī Devī, Pārvatī. Now when sa(t) comes together (amā + vāsya¹) with Umā what is created Soma. That is when a+u are joined in sanskrit we get o. Hence s(a+u)ma = soma.
What do we call the moon? Soma . When Śiva and Pārvatī are joined together we get Soma. Hence for amāvāsya, the new moon, Śiva and Pārvatī come together, are enveloped, become Soma.That is, the wise know it's other then a fluid or juice. We are helped with this understanding by soma's other name as vanaspati - the lord (pati) of vana. This 'vana' is both a plant and is defined as a ray of light, of plenty and abundance. And looking at 'vanas' , it is loveliness.
For me, reviewing and reading about soma, it is the notion of 'delight'. It is more then a drink, juice or libation. It comes into existence via being 'pressed between the stones' of existence - that of actions that are performed. Within actions, there is delight and this squeezing (suta - pressed out , extracted ) brings out the delight or 'vanas' , it is loveliness of being, of existing.
It is the natural part of Brahman, ānanda ( joy) that resides in creation. It is experienced via the 'pressing of existence' of actions, that one gains joy. And for the realized being (jñānin) this joy/soma is present in their lives in waves.
The wise know it is not just a liquid that is poured into the mouth.
praṇām
words/references
somaṃ manyate papivan yat sampiṃṣantyoṣadhim |
somaṃ yambrahmāṇo vidurna tasyāśnāti kaścana ||
yat यत्- to exert one's self , take pains, to prepare
ośadhiṁ is ośadhi ओष a herb , plant , simple , esp. any medicinal herb ; a remedy in general
sam - 'placing together'
piṣanti piṣ पिश्- to form or fashion, make ready + anti अन्ति in the presence of , near
manyate or manya मन्य - thinking one's self to be , passing for , appearing as ~imagine~
somaṃ or soma सोम - from su meaning juice , extract; The traditional view is the soma plant , a creeper, its stalks (aṃśu) were to be pressed between stones (adri) by the priests , then sprinkled with water , and purified in a strainer (pavitra) ; mixed with clarified butter , flour , made to ferment , and then offered in libations to the gods or was drunk by the Brahmans. Yet we find in this mantra , that soma is more then a juice or libation.
papivan - papi पपि - to drink ( also m. Moon) + van वन् to prepare , make ready for
yam यम् to sustain , hold , hold up , support ; to hold or keep in , hold back , restrain
vidurna or vidura विदुर wise , intelligent also viduḥ विदु - intelligent, wise
na न- not, nor , that not
kaschan - kas कस् to go move, approach + can चन् - be satisfied with
tasa or tas तस्- to throw down, throwing
aśnati or aśnat अश्नत्- eat or consuming
amā + vāsya is reviewed in this HDF post - http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=3354 (http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=3354)
adhyātma अध्यात्म spirit, Supreme + jñāna or knowledge/wisdom