:

I
II

read as krunggangiraso

The divine knowledge of Vedas will make us wise enough to identify truth & untru
th
like a swan that differentiate and drink only milk from a mixtrure of water & mi
lk.
It improves the power of indriyas & protects soma.
Thus it sweetens lives & leads the way to Immortality
Soma is the power of Delight & Immortality with in you.
In Vedas however, in most places, Soma refers to God or Ishwar focusing on those
qualities of Ishwar that provides us with peace, bliss, satisfaction and global
vision. In few places esp in Atharvaveda, it has come to mean certain medicines
. But nowhere can it be termed to mean a mundane intoxicant.
Thus, Rigveda 1.91.22 states that:
O Soma, You alone create the medicines that heal us. You alone create the water t
hat quenches our thirst. You alone create all moving objects, sense organs and l
iving beings and also give us this life. You have provided expanse to this unive
rse and you alone enlighten the world to eradicate darkness.
Now only a fool would claim that Soma refers to any intoxicant or alcohol when S
oma is said to be creator of universe, stars, life, objects etc. Very clearly So
ma refers to the Supreme Lord the Ishwar or God.
And hence, Soma intoxication implies entrenching oneself completely in devotion
to that Supreme Lord. To see Him everywhere and guide oneself solely by His insp
iration is Soma intoxication. To follow only the inner voice that communicates w
ith us every moment and rejecting all worldly and sensory pressures is Soma into
xication. To rise completely above the old habits, past tendencies and false ego
is Soma intoxication. To surrender totally to Him is Soma intoxication.
A rough analogy would be with Superconductivity. Once a material is taken below
a certain threshold temperature, suddenly resistance becomes zero. Similarly whe
n we have practiced following our inner voice sufficiently, suddenly the world s
eems to different so enlightening, so refreshing, so blissful and so blessed by
Him everywhere. This stage of heightened association with Ishwar is the stage of
Soma intoixcation that Vedas describe in detail.
And yes,
irations
e Rishis
ed Rishi
cation.

it is only when Rishis have reached this stage that they get Vedic insp
and are able to comprehend meaning of Vedic mantras. It is then that th
see the Vedic mantras through the eyes of intellect. In fact, one is call
only after she or he has reached this enlightening stage of Soma intoxi

Ayurveda very clearly defines what an intoxicant is:

Sharngadhar 4.21: A substance that destroys intellect is called an intoxicant.
To understand Soma better and see why it cannot refer to any material/mundane ch
emical even closely related to alcohol, intoxication or narcotics, let us review
a few more mantras on Soma.
Rigveda 9.24.7:

Soma is not only pure in itself but also purifies everything else. Some is extre
mely sweet and promotes noble qualities. It destroys sinful tendencies.
Even a dumb person that understand that Soma refers to something intellectual an
d spiritual and not something as disgusting as alcohol or narcotics
Rigveda 9.37.36:
O Soma, purify us from everywhere. Enter us with excitement and strengthen our s
peech. Inculcate a sharp intellect within us.
Thus while alcohol or narcotics is taking to dumb the mind, Rishis yearn for Som
a because it sharpens the mind and gears them into noble actions.
Rigveda 9.108.3:
O Soma, You purify everything. You are the best source of enlightenment. You lea
d us towards immortality.
Should we say more!
Atharvaveda 14.1.3:
Ordinary people consider that as Soma which is used as medicine. But the enlight
ened ones seek the Soma of intellect which materialistic minds cannot even compr
ehend!
If we review the Pavamana Parva of Samaveda Purvarchika, we can get a wider glim
pse of the Vedic Soma.
It is described as something that brings enthusiasm, tolerance and valor.
1.2: O Soma, purify me.
1.3: O Soma, you are source of vitality and bliss.
1.4: O Soma, your intoxication is worth imbibing.
6.5: O Soma, you give birth to our intellect.
6.8: Use Soma to produce intellect.
9.2: Soma provides us with intelligence.
7.12: Intelligence seeks Soma.
9.6: Soma enhances intellect.
Thus while Soma produces intoxication, this intoxication actually strengthens ou
r intellect and reduces dumbness.
2.5 of Pavamana Parva describes Soma as Chetan or living. Thus Soma is not somet
hing inert. It is a living force that enhances intellect. It is the Supreme Lord
!
How can thus a sensible person relate it with a mundane narcotic?
This Parva of Samaveda provides some more adjectives of Soma:
3.2: One who sees everything actively (Vicharshani)

5.9: Extremely intelligent (Vipra)

5.9: Best of the scholars (Angirastamah)
9.1: Expert (Vichakshanah)
8.4: Knows self (Swarvidah)
2.10: Sees everything clearly (Kavi)
3.6: Knows his duties perfectly (Kratuvit)
11.1: An intoxication that inspires us to perform duties perfectly (Kratuvittamo
Madah)
8.4: One who knows the path clearly (Gatuvittamah)
1.7: Adept (Daksha)
1.8: Source of adeptness (Dakshasadhana)
4.2: Adeptness that provides happiness (Daksham Mayobhuvam)
5.11: Provides strength (Vajasatam)
6.7: Protector of world (Bhuvanasya Gopaa)
If this be not enough, the Parva also states Soma to be:
5.1: One seated on the home of immortality
6.3: One who inspires noble minds towards fundamental truth (Rita)
6.2: Speaks to us (Inner voice)
2.3: Destroys hatred
4.12: Inspires towards friendship and solidarity
4.14: Destroys meanness and violence
10.11: Destroys corrupt mindset
8.4: Devoid of sins
6.6: Provides whatever is worth obtaining
6.1: Greatest donor
7.4: Carrier of life force
4.3: Desired by non-violent minds
This is merely a small sampler from the copious references from Vedas that very
clearly establish Soma as the pure blissful Ishwar and its intoxication as compl
ete surrender to the Supreme Lord.