From the Rig Veda
Wisely have I enjoyed the savory drink, with religious thoughts, best to find out treasure.
The food to which all Deities and mortals, calling it sustance, gather themselves together.
You will be called Aditi as you have entered within appeaser of celestial anger.
Indu, enjoying Indra's friendship, bring us--as a swift steed the chariot--forward to riches.
We have drunk Soma and become immortal; we have attained the light, the Gods discovered.
Now what harm may a foe's malice do to us? What, O Immortal, mortal man's deception?
Absorbed into the heart, be sweet, O Indu, as a kind father to his son, O Soma,
As a wise Friend to a friend: O Soma, wide-ruler, lengthen out our days for living.
These glorious drops that gave me freedom have I drunk.
Closely they knit my joins as straps secure a chariot.
Let them protect my foot from slipping on the way: yea, let the drops I drink preserve me from disease.
Make me shine bright like fire produced by friction: give us a clearer sight and make us better.
For in carouse I think of thee, O Soma, Shall I, as a rich man, attain to comfort?
May we enjoy with an enlivened spirit the juice thou givest, like ancestral riches.
O Soma, King, prolong our existence as Surya makes the shining days grow longer.
King Soma, favor us and make us prosper: we are thy devotees; of this be mindful.
Spirit and power are fresh in us, O Indu: give us not up to our foe's pleasure.
For you have settled in each join, O Soma, aim of men's eyes and guaridan of our bodies.
When we offend against thine holy statutes, as a kind Friend, God, best of all, be gracious.
May I be with the Friend whose heart is tender, who, Lord of Bays, when quaffed will never harm me--
This Soma now deposited within me. For this, I pray for longer life to Indra.
Our maladies have lost their strength and vanished: they feared, and passed away into the darkness.
Soma has risen in us, exceedingly mighty, and we are come where men prolong existence.
Fathers, that Indu which our hearts have drunk, Immortal in himself, has entered mortals.
So let us serve this Soma with oblation, and rest securely in his grace and favor.
O Soma, associate with the Fathers you have spread yourself abroad through earth and heaven.
So with oblation let us serve you, O Indu, and so let us become the lords of riches,
Give us your blessing, O Gods, preservers. never may sleep or idle talk control us.
But evermore may we, as friends of Soma, speak to the congregation with brave sons around us.
On all sides, Soma, you are our life-giver: aim of all eyes, light-finder, come within us.
Indu, one of accord with your protections both from behind and from before preserve us.
|
This prayer was published in
Weave a Garment of
Brightness, A Gathering of Prayers from Around the World,
by Wayne Lee Jones.
Learn more about the history of Soma in this book: Green Gold the Tree of Life: Marijuana in Magic & Religion, by Chris Bennet. Amazon customer review: "A very valueable resource for anyone interested in the scholarly side of psychedelic history and the anthropological effects." |
|
index
