Original Sanskrit Texts on the Origin and History of the People of India, their Religion and Institutions v5.c49.25

v5.c49.25

In other passages a Gandharva is connected with the soma-plant, the sphere (*pada*) of which he is said to protect, and all the forms of which he is said to manifest, ix. 83, 4; ix. 85, 12³⁹⁶ (*gandharvaḥ itthā padam asya rakshati | ūrdhvo gandharvo adhi nāke asthād viśvā rūpāṇi pratichakshāṇo asya*). The Aitareya Brāhmaṇa has the following story regarding the mode in which the gods obtained soma from the Gandharvas, i. 27. *Somo vai rājā gandharveshv āsīt | taṁ devāś cha ṛishayaś cha abhyadhyāyan “katham ayam asmān somo rājā āgachhed” iti | sā Vāg abravīt “strīkāmāḥ vai gandharvāḥ | mayā eva striyā bhūtayā paṇayadhvam” iti “Na” iti devāḥ abruvan “kathaṁ vayaṁ tvad ṛite syāma” iti | sā ’bravīt “krīṇīta eva ; yarhi vāva vo mayā artho bhavitā tarhy eva vo ’ham punar āgantāsmi” iti | “tathā” iti | tayā mahānagnyā bhūtayā Somam rājānam akrīṇan*³⁹⁷ “King Soma was among the Gandharvas. The gods and rishis desired him, and said ‘How shall we get him to come to us?’ Vāch said, ‘The Gandharvas are fond of females; buy him in exchange for me turned into a female.’ They answered, ‘No: how can we live without thee?’ She rejoined, ‘Buy him, and whenever you have occasion for me I shall return to you.’ They agreed, and bought king Soma with Vāch turned into a female, quite naked [*i.e.* unchaste].” See Professor Haug’s translation of this Brāhmaṇa, p. 59, and compare pp. 201 ff.; 294; and 400.