ifficulty under which labors the _soma_-exegete than IX. 15, from
which Hillebrandt takes the fourth verse as conclusive evidence that
by _soma_ only the moon is meant. In that case, as will be seen from
the 'pails,' it must be supposed that the poet leaps from Soma to
_soma_ without warning. Hillebrandt does not include the mention of
the pails in his citation; but in this, as in other doubtful cases, it
seems to us better to give a whole passage than to argue on one or two
verses torn from their proper position:

HYMN TO SOMA (IX. 15).

QUERY: Is the hymn addressed to the plant as it is pressed
out into the pails, or to the moon?

1. This one, by means of prayer (or intelligence), comes
through the fine (sieve), the hero, with swift car, going to
the meeting with Indra.

2. This one thinks much for the sublime assembly of gods,
where sit immortals.

3. This one is despatched and led upon a shining path, when
the active ones urge (him).[20]

4. This one, shaking his horns, sharpens (them), the bull of
the herd, doing heroic deeds forcibly.

5. This one hastens, the strong steed, with bright golden
beams, becoming of streams the lord.

6. This one, pressing surely through the knotty (sieve?) to
good things, comes down into the vessels.

7. This one, fit to be prepared, the active ones prepare in
the pails, as he creates great food.

8. Him, this one, who has good weapons, who is most
intoxicating, ten fingers and seven (or many) prayers
prepare.

Here, as in IX. 70, Hillebrandt assumes that the poet turns suddenly
from the moon to the plant. Against this might be urged the use of the
same pronoun throughout the hymn. It must be confessed that at first
sight it is almost as difficult to have the plant, undoubtedly meant
in verses 7 and 8, represented by the moon in the preceding verses, as
it is not to see the moon in the expression 'shaking his horns.' This
phrase occurs in another hymn, where Hillebrandt, with the same
certainty as he does here, claims it for the moon, though the first
part of this hymn as plainly refers to the plant, IX. 70. 1, 4. Here
the plant is a steer roaring like the noise of the Maruts (5-6), and
then (as above, after the term steer is applied to the plant), it is
said that he 'sharpens his horns,' and is 'sightly,' and further, 'he
sits down in the fair place ... on the wooly