--- In
cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "P&G" <petegray@...> wrote:
> > Soma is not ephedra juice. Soma is eaten by deva.
> > At RV 1:179:5 it appears to be semen.
I do not understand how Pete reads this meaning in the r.ca.
hr.tsu pi_tam means 'drunk mentally'.
Let us read the translation based on the bha_s.ya provided by
Sa_yan.a for the entire su_kta:
1.179.01 (Lopa_mudra_): Many years have I been serving you
diligently, both day and night, and through mornings, bringing on
old age; decay now impairs the beauty of my limbs; what, therefore,
is now (to be done); let husbands approach their wives.
1.179.02 The ancient sages, disseminators of truth, who, verily,
conversed of tuths with the gods, begot (progeny), nor thereby
violated (their vow of continence), therefore should wives be
approached by their husbands.
1.179.03 (Agastya): Penance has not been practised in vain; since
the gods protect us, we may indulge all our desires; in this world
we may triumph in many conflicts, if we exert ourselves mutually
together.
1.179.04 Desire, either from this cause or from that, has come upon
me whilst engaged in prayer and suppressing (passion); let
Lopa_mudra_ approach her husband; the unsteady female beguiles the
firm and resolute man. [Either from this cause or that: itoamutah
kutas'cit, from some cause, from this, or from that; from your
society or from the influence of the season, as spring and the like;
or from the suggestions of this world or of the next].
1.179.05 (Pupil): I beseech the Soma, which has been drunk in my
heart, that it may fully expiate the sin we have committed; man is
subject to many desires. [What has been drunk in my heart: antito
hr.tsu pi_tam, drunk mentally, not actually; the sin we have
committed: the sin of listening ot the conversation of their guru
with his wife].
1.179.06 Agastya, a venerable sage, working with (fit) implements,
desiring progeny, offspring, and strength, practised both classes
(of obligations), and received true benedictions from the gods.
[Working with fit implements: khanama_nah khanitraih = lit., digging
with diggin gtools; i.e. effecting his objects by appropriate means,
earning his reward by sacrifice and hymns; desring progeny: praja_m
apatyam balam icchama_nah: praja_ implies repeated successions,
descendants, and apatya signifies more immediate descent, sons,
grandsons; both classes of obligations: ka_ma and tapas, desire and
devotion; the duties of domestic as well as ascetic life].