History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.t2.900

v4.c63.t2.900

*Soma* beverage was to be drunk only by brāhmaṇas. The soma plant had to be purchased and there was a symbolic haggling for it. The vendor of soma in ancient¹⁸⁴⁷ times was, acc. to Kāt. Śr. VII. 6. 2-4 and Āp. Śr. X. 20. 12, either a brāhmaṇa of Kutsa gotra or any brāhmaṇa or a śūdra.¹⁸⁴⁷ In later times, though Manu XI. 7 (= Śānti. 165. 7) and Nār. (dattāpradānika 7)¹⁸⁴⁸ allow a brāhmaṇa who has wealth sufficient for the maintenance of himself and his dependents for three years or more to perform a soma sacrifice, yet Manu III. 158, Yāj. I. 165 and Vas. 14. 3 hold that a brāhmaṇa who sells the soma plant is unfit to be invited at a śrāddha and that one should not partake of food at his house. Manu X. 88 forbids a brāhmaṇa to sell water, arms, poison, soma &c. Vide H. of Dh. vol. II. pp. 1141-1143 for purchase of soma and the dramatic haggling for it.