Hymn to Soma
Rigveda VIII.98 is a sūkta (hymn of praise) from Maṇḍala 8 of the Rigveda, one of the 1,028 hymns organized within the ten books of the oldest Veda. The Rigveda was composed approximately 1700–1100 BCE in Vedic Sanskrit and preserved through oral transmission across millennia.
This is a Good Works Translation produced by the New Tianmu Anglican Church from the Sanskrit of the Śākala recension.
Thou art the friend of all who seek Thee with a true and righteous heart. O Indra, never hath Thy favor been denied unto those who make the sacrifice and raise the hymn of praise.
We come before Thee now with offering of soma, pressed and purified through mortal hands. Accept this gift as token of our faith and hope, our prayer that Thou wilt grant us all good things.
The friendship that Thou offerest is beyond all measure; it doth bestow a peace that passes understanding. To dwell within Thy favor is to dwell in safety, in abundance, and in joy complete.
Thou art the ally who doth never fail; the one upon whose strength we always can rely. When enemies do gather and the darkness threatens, we do call upon Thy name with full assurance that Thou hearest and that Thou wilt come.
The soma feast is made ready; the cups are set upon the altar and the sacred fire doth burn. The invitation hath been sent to Thee, O mighty one; come and accept this offering that we do make.
The priests do gather, robed in white, their voices raised in song most ancient and most pure. The Hotars cry aloud the call; the Udgatars sing the sacred chants. All is prepared for Thy arrival, mighty King of gods.
The cattle low in pastures rich; the fields do golden with the grain. All of creation waiteth for Thy blessing and Thy care. Those who are faithful unto Thee do prosper in all things.
The aged singer doth recall the victories of Thy mighty arm; the warrior doth speak of Thee with reverence and awe. All generations sing of Thee; all peoples know Thy name and honor it.
What could be sweeter than to dwell beneath Thy watchful gaze? What could be more precious than to feel Thy favor resting upon us like the warmth of summer sun? To be Thy friend is to be blessed beyond all measure.
The invitation hath been sent; the soma floweth like a river. Come, O mighty Lord, and drink of it and let Thy strength increase. Let Thy joy be full as Thou dost see the faith and love of those who call upon Thee.
Thou hast said to us in ancient days, "Those who do honor me shall find in me a friend most true." And true to Thy word Thou art, O Lord. Thou keepest all Thy promises and surpassest them in generous measure.
The feast is laid; the table groans with plenty. The singers are prepared; their voices are attuned. The priests are ready; their hands are clean. All waiteth for Thy coming, O mighty Indra, friend of all.
Grant us to live in Thy friendship all our days; to know the meaning of Thy truth and to embody it in all we do. Let us be servants of the right; let us be champions of the good. Through Thee we shall prevail.
Thou art the strength within the strong; the courage burning in the brave one's heart. When we do call upon Thy name, we feel within us rising up a power that doth surpass all obstacles.
So come, O friend, O ally true and ever faithful. Drink of the soma, accept our praise, and grant unto us all the blessings that Thy hand doth give to those whom Thou dost love.
Colophon
This hymn is drawn from the Śākala recension of the Rigveda, composed approximately 1700–1100 BCE. This is a Good Works Translation produced by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, translated independently from the Sanskrit. Reference translations consulted during original translation are to be documented during audit.
Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
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Source Text: ṛgveda VIII.98
Sanskrit source text from the Aufrecht edition (1877) via GRETIL (Van Nooten & Holland input). Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.
indrāya sāma gāyata viprāya bṛhate bṛhat |
dharmakṛte vipaścite panasyave || 1 ||
tvam indrābhibhūr asi tvaṁ sūryam arocayaḥ |
viśvakarmā viśvadevo mahām̐ asi || 2 ||
vibhrājañ jyotiṣā sva1r agaccho rocanaṁ divaḥ |
devās ta indra sakhyāya yemire || 3 ||
endra no gadhi priyaḥ satrājid agohyaḥ |
girir na viśvatas pṛthuḥ patir divaḥ || 4 ||
abhi hi satya somapā ubhe babhūtha rodasī |
indrāsi sunvato vṛdhaḥ patir divaḥ || 5 ||
tvaṁ hi śaśvatīnām indra dartā purām asi |
hantā dasyor manor vṛdhaḥ patir divaḥ || 6 ||
adhā hīndra girvaṇa upa tvā kāmān mahaḥ sasṛjmahe |
udeva yanta udabhiḥ || 7 ||
vār ṇa tvā yavyābhir vardhanti śūra brahmāṇi |
vāvṛdhvāṁsaṁ cid adrivo dive-dive || 8 ||
yuñjanti harī iṣirasya gāthayorau ratha uruyuge |
indravāhā vacoyujā || 9 ||
tvaṁ na indrā bharam̐ ojo nṛmṇaṁ śatakrato vicarṣaṇe |
ā vīram pṛtanāṣaham || 10 ||
tvaṁ hi naḥ pitā vaso tvam mātā śatakrato babhūvitha |
adhā te sumnam īmahe || 11 ||
tvāṁ śuṣmin puruhūta vājayantam upa bruve śatakrato |
sa no rāsva suvīryam || 12 ||
Source Colophon
Sanskrit text of the Rigveda, Śākala recension. The standard scholarly edition is the Bombay Oriental (Vishva Bandhu, 5 vols., 1963–66). IAST transliteration available from GRETIL (Göttingen Register of Electronic Texts in Indian Languages) and Vedaweb (University of Cologne). Both sources are open access. IAST transliteration from the Aufrecht edition (1877) via GRETIL (Van Nooten & Holland input, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).
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