Yajur Sama Atharvan Vedas

THE YAJUR VEDA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Ours be light, darkness be on the Soma seller', he says; verily he places light in the sacrificer, and
bestows darkness on the Soma-seller. If he were to strike (the Soma-seller) without inter twining (the
flock of wool), then the serpents would bite during that year. 'Thus do I intertwine the necks of the
biting serpents', he says; the serpents do not bite that year, he pierces the Soma-seller with darkness.
'O Svana [4], Bhraja', he says; they indeed in yonder world guarded the Soma; from them they
grasped the Soma; if he were not to indicate to them those that serve as the price of Soma, he would
not have purchased the Soma, and they would not guard the Sonia for him in yonder world. In that he
indicates to them those that serve as the price of Soma, he really purchases the Soma, and they guard
the Soma for him in yonder world.
vi. 1. 11.
The Soma when bought and tied up is connected with Varuna. Come as a friend to us, creating firm
friendships', he says, for atonement. Enter the right thigh of Indra', he says; the gods placed the Soma
which they purchased in the right thigh of Indra; now the sacrificer is Indra; therefore he says thus.
'With life, with fair life', he says; verily seizing the gods [1] he rises up. 'Fare along the wide
atmosphere', he says; for Soma has the atmosphere for its deity. 'Thou art the seat of Aditi. Sit on the
seat of Aditi', he says; that is according to the text. He severs it indeed when he makes what is
connected with Varuna connected with Mitra; he sets it down with a verse addressed to Varuna;
verily he unites it with its own deity. He covers it round with a garment, the garment is connected
with all the gods; verily with all [2] the gods he unites it, and thus (it serves) for the smiting away of
the Raksases. 'He hath stretched the atmosphere within the woods', he says; for within the woods he
stretched the atmosphere. 'Strength in horses', he says; for (he placed) strength in horses. 'Milk in
kine', he says; for (he placed) milk in kine. 'Skill in the heart', he says; for (he placed) skill in the
heart. 'Varuna, Agni in dwellings', he says; for Varuna (placed) Agni in dwellings. 'The sun in the
sky' [3], he says; for (he placed) the sun in the sky. 'The Soma in the hill', he says; the hills are the
pressing-stones; he places the Soma in them, who sacrifices; therefore he says thus. 'Thee, allknowing
god' with this verse addressed to Surya he fastens the black antelope skin, to smite away the
Raksases. 'Come hither, O ye oxen, strong to bear the yoke', he says; that is according to the text.
'Move forward, O lord of the world', he says; for he is the lord of creatures [4]; 'to all thy stations', be
says; for he moves forward to all his stations. 'Let no opponent find thee', he says; since the
Gandharva Viçvavasu stole the Soma when it was being carried below, he says that, to prevent its
being stolen. 'Thou art the good luck of the sacrificer', he says; verily thus the sacrificer grasps the
sacrifice, that it be not interrupted. The Soma when bought and tied up indeed approaches the
sacrificer in the shape of Varuna [5]. 'Honour to the radiance of Mitra and Varuna', he says, for
atonement. They bring forward this Soma, it rests with Agni, they in uniting overpower the sacrificer.
Now the consecrated person has for long been holding himself ready for the sacrifice. In that he
offers an animal to Agni and Soma, that is a buying-off of himself; therefore of it he should not eat;
for as it were it is a buying-off of a man. Or rather they say, 'By Agni and Soma Indra slew Vrtra'. In
that he offers an animal to Agni and Soma, it slays hostile things for him; therefore he should eat of
it. He honours it with a verse addressed to Varuna; verily he honours it with its own deity.
PRAPATHAKA II
The Exposition of the Soma Sacrifice (continued)
309