Vedic Mythology c5.s3.t4.19

c5.s3.t4.19

Its mysteriously exhilerating and invigorating action, surpassing that of ordinary food or drink and prompting to deeds beyond the natural powers, led to Soma being regarded as a divine drink which bestows immortal life. Hence it is mythologically called *amṛta*, the draught of immortality. It is an immortal stimulant (1, 84⁴), which the gods love (9, 85²) and of which, when pressed by men and mixed with milk, all the gods drink (9, 109¹⁵); for they hasten to exhileration (8, 2¹⁸) and become exhilerated (8, 58¹¹). Soma is immortal (1, 43⁹; 8, 48¹²; 9, 3¹ &c.); and the gods drank him for immortality (9, 106⁸). He confers immortality on the gods (1, 91⁶; 9, 108³) and on men (1, 91¹; 8, 48³). He places his worshipper in the everlasting and imperishable world where there is eternal light and glory, and makes him immortal where king Vaivasvata lives (9, 113⁷·⁸)³².