Vedic Mythology c5.s3.t4.25

c5.s3.t4.25

Being so intimately connected with Indra in the conflict with Vṛtra, Soma comes to be spoken of independently as a great fighter. He is a victor, unconquered in fight, born for battle (1, 91²¹). He is the most heroic of heroes, the fiercest of the terrible, ever victorious (9, 66¹⁶⁻⁷). He conquers for his worshippers cows, chariots, horses, gold, heaven, water, a thousand boons (9, 78⁴), and everything (8, 68¹). Without reference to his warlike character, he is constantly said to bestow all the wealth of heaven and earth, food, cattle, horses, and so forth (9, 45³. 49⁴. 52¹ &c.). Soma himself is occasionally called a treasure (*rayi*: 9, 48³) or the wealth of the gods (ŚB. 1, 6, 4⁵). Soma can also afford protection from foes (10, 25⁷). He drives away goblins (9, 49⁵) and, like some other deities but more frequently, receives the epithet of goblin-slayer (*rakṣohan*). Soma is the only god who is called a slayer of the wicked (9, 28⁶ &c.). In the later Vedic literature the statement occurs that Brāhmans who drink Soma are able to slay at a glance (MS. 4, 8²)⁴¹.