Vedic Mythology c5.s3.t4.8

c5.s3.t4.8

After passing the filter, Soma flows into jars (*kalaśa*, 9, 60³ &c.) or vats (*droṇa*)¹⁴. The streams of Soma rush to the forest of the vats like buffaloes (9, 33¹. 92⁶); the god flies like a bird to settle in the vats (9, 3¹); like a bird sitting on a tree, the tawny one settles in the bowls (*camū*: 9, 72⁵). Soma is mixed with water in the vat. United with the wave, the stalk roars (9, 74⁵). Like a bull on the herd, he rushes on the vat, into the lap of the waters, a roaring bull; clothing himself in waters, Indu rushes around the vat, impelled by the singers (9, 76⁵. 107²⁶). The wise milk him into the waters with their hands (9, 79⁴). Having passed over the wool and playing in the wood, he is cleansed by the ten maidens (9, 6⁵). Several other passages refer to the admixture of water with Soma (9, 30⁵. 53⁴. 868.25). The Soma drops are said to spread brightness in the streams (9, 76¹). Besides the verb *mṛj*, 'to cleanse', which is commonly used to express the admixture of water (e. g. 9, 63¹⁷), *ā-dhāv*, 'to wash', is also employed (8, 1¹⁷). In the preparation of Soma, the pressing (√su) comes first, then the mixing with water (7, 32⁶; 8, 1¹⁷. 31⁵; AV. 6, 2¹), just as in the later ritual the *savana*, 'pressure', precedes the *ādhāvana*, 'washing'. In the bowls Soma is mixed with milk (9, 8⁶ &c.)¹⁵, which is said to sweeten it (8,2³)¹⁶. In several passages the addition of both water and milk is mentioned. Thus it is said that Soma clothes himself in waters, that streams of water flow after him, when he desires to clothe himself in cows (i. e. milk: 9, 23.4). They press him with stones, they wash him in water, clothing him as it were in cow-garments, men milk him out of the stalks (8, 1¹⁷; cp. 2, 36¹; 6, 40²; 9, 86²⁴⁻⁵. 96¹⁹).