Suta said:
1. O Brahamaņas, the progenitor of the Moon-god was Atri, the holy sage. He surpassed all the worlds by means of his brilliance. He was a holy lord.
2-3. He always performed only holy rites physically, men tally and verbally. We have heard that formerly, for a period of three thousand years, he performed a penance that was indeed very difficult to be performed in the worlds, wherein with his arms upraised he stood firm (unmoved) like (a piece of) wood, a wall or a piece of rock.
4. The highly intelligent Brāhmaṇa had sublimated his sexual urge. He stood without even winking his eyes. His body attained the status of Soma.
5. The sage of sanctified soul in the state of Soma rose up (to the sky). The Soma juice exuded from his eyes illuminating all the quarters.
6. On being ordered by Vidhi (Brahma), the ten Devis (i.e. the quarters) gathered together there and received it in their womb collectively, but could not do so (for long).
7-8. When those goddesses (ladies) were unable to hold the foetus in their wombs, the foetus endowed with lustre, illuminated the worlds like the Moon (now) blessing everyone; it emerged from the quarters (womb of the ladies) and fell on the ground (assuming the form of) the Moon along with them (the goddesses).
9. On seeing Soma falling, Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, placed him in a chariot, with a desire for the welfare of the worlds.
10. O Brahmanas, indeed he (the Moon) was a Deva (god) himself, a seeker of righteousness and truthful to the promise. We have heard that the chariot) was (fitted with) yoked to a thousand white horses.
11. When that great soul, the son of Atri, had fallen, Devas and the seven famous mental sons of Brahma eulogised (him).
12. There itself, the sons of Angiras and Bhrugu eulogised by means of Ruks, Yajur mantras and many Atharva Angirasa mantras.
13. The brilliance of the shining Moon who was being eulogised, developed further and it purified all the three worlds.
14. In that prominent chariot, he circumambulated the earth extending up to the ocean twenty-one times.
15. His splendour that reached the earth became medicinal herbs. They sparkle by means of his brilliance.
16. O excellent Brāhamaņs! He sustains subjects of four types and the universe with them (herbs). Lord Soma is indeed the nourisher of the universe.
17. Having acquired splendour through the penance of Atri), the eulogy (of Devas and sages) and his own religious activities, the blessed one (Soma) performed penance for ten times ten Padma years. (one Padma= a thousand billion).
18. Soma who is famous by his own Karmans will be the pervader of those (ten) gold-complexioned goddesses (viz. quarters) who sustain the whole world.
19. Thereafter, Brahma the foremost among the knowers of Brahman, entrusted him with the kingdom of seeds, herbs, Brāhmaṇas and waters.
20. Being naturally the foremost among those who shine brilliantly and, thereafter, being crowned over a big kingdom, (Soma) of great splendour became the king of kings and purified the worlds and developed them.
21. Daksha, the son of Prachetas, gave twenty-seven Dākṣhāyanis (daughters of Dakşha) of great holy rites to Indu (the Moon). They (people know them as Nakşhatras (constellations).
22. Having attained that great kingdom, Soma the lord of possessors of Soma (i.e. Brahmanas) performed the Rājasūya sacrifice, wherein the Dakşhiņā amounted to hundred thousand.
23-24. In that sacrifice, Hiranyagarbha was the Udgātru (the presiding priest who recites mantras); Brahma occupied the seat of Brahma and lord Narayana Hari was the Sadasya (member of the witnessing assembly). He was surrounded by Sanatkumāra and other leading original Brahmaruşhis. O Brähmaņas, we have heard that Soma gave the three worlds as Dakşhiņā (sacrificial fee) to those important Brahmaņa sages who were the members of the Assembly.
25. Nine Devis, viz. Sini, Kuhū1, Vapus, Puşhti, Prabhã. Vasu, Kirti, Dhruti and Lakşhmi served him.
1. Sini and Kuhū are deities presiding over (I) the day preceding the new moon day on which the moon rises with scarcely visible crescent and (ii) the new moon day when the moon is invisible, respectively.
26. After finishing his concluding ablutions (of the sacrifice), he became free from worries. He had been revered by all Devas and sages. That supreme emperor of emperors shone over the ten quarters.
27. After having attained such a rare glory praised even by the sages, O Brāhmaṇas, his mind became confounded. His humility was suppressed by his immodesty and impertinence.
28. Slighting all the sons of Angiras, all of a sudden, he abducted Tårå of great fame, the wife of Bruhaspati.
29. Though implored by Devas and celestial sages, he did not give up Tärā to Angiras (Bruhaspati).
30. O Brahmaņas, Uśhanas, one of the Angiras (?) took his side. Indeed, he had been the highly brilliant disciple of Bruhaspati’s father.
31. Thanks to that affection, lord Rudra took up his bow Ajagava and sided Bruhaspati.
32. The great miraculous weapon was discharged by that noble soul aiming at the chief Brāhmaṇa sage and Devas whereby their fame was destroyed.
33. There ensued a great battle directly (between Devas and Asuras). It was called Tärakāmaya2 (concerning Tārā?). It caused great destruction of Devas, Dänavas and all the worlds.
2. Out of the twelve wars between Devas and Asuras this was the fifth one.
34. Only three Devas survived. They are remembered by the name Tuşhitas. They sought shelter in Brahma, the primordial lord, the grandfather of the worlds.
35. Then Pitamaha (Brahma) himself prevented Uśhanas and Rudra, the eldest (deity) Shankara, (from fighting) and handed over Tärā to Argiras (Bruhaspati).
36. On seeing that Tärā, the lady with a moon-like face, was pregnant, the Brahmana Bruhaspati said: “Don’t you cast off the foetus?
37. In (your) body belonging to me another foetus shall by no means be held in the womb.” Still she did not cast off the child Dasyu-hantama’ (the slayer of robbers).
38. Like the fire that blazes after catching the Işhikä grass, the son surpassed the beautiful bodies of Devas at the very instant he was born.
39. Their suspicion having been aroused, Suras spoke to Tārā: “Tell us the truth, whose son is he, Soma’s or Bruhaspati’s?”
40. When she, out of bashfulness, did not tell Devas, ‘yes’ or ‘no’, the boy Dasyuhantama was about to curse her.
41. Preventing him, Brahmä said to Tārā, “(We have) suspicion that it is Chandra’s (Moon’s), O Táră; therefore, speak the truth. Whose son is this?”.
42. With palms joined in reverence, she said this to lord Brahma, the granter of boons, that the noble-souled boy Dasyuhantama was Soma’s.
43. Thereafter, sniffing at the head of his son, Lord Soma, the Prajāpati, named his intelligent son as Budha.
44. (Defective verse) While rising up to go towards the east*, Budha begot a son of the princess (Ila).
*The reading Bd. P. v. 2.3.66-44: Pratighasram... budhah, ‘Buddha rises in the east everyday.’
45. Purūravas, his son of great brilliance, was born of Ilā. In Urvashi, six sons of great prowess were born (to Purūravas).
46. Then, being violently attacked by pulmonary consumption Soma became exhausted and helpless. Overwhelmed by consumption, the Moon’s disc became pale and weak. He, therefore, sought refuge in his own father Atri.
47. Atri, of great fame, quelled his sin (disease). He was cured of the pulmonary consumption and so he shone with brilliance all round.
48. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, thus the origin of Soma has been recounted by me. Listen to and understand his race that is being recounted to you, O excellent Brāhmaṇas.
49. It is conducive to wealth, health and longevity. It is holy and destructive of sins. Only by listening to the origin of Soma, one is relieved of all sins.