Shloka 3
The Rise of Soma-vaṁśa: Budha’s Birth and Purūravā–Urvaśī; The Origin of Karma-kāṇḍa in Tretā-yuga
तस्य दृग्भ्योऽभवत् पुत्र: सोमोऽमृतमय: किल । विप्रौषध्युडुगणानां ब्रह्मणा कल्पित: पति: ॥ ३ ॥
tasya dṛgbhyo ’bhavat putraḥ somo ’mṛtamayaḥ kila viprauṣadhy-uḍu-gaṇānāṁ brahmaṇā kalpitaḥ patiḥ
Daripada air mata kegembiraan Atri lahirlah putera bernama Soma, sang bulan, penuh sinar sejuk laksana amṛta. Brahmā melantiknya sebagai penguasa para brāhmaṇa, tumbuhan ubat, dan gugusan bintang.
According to the Vedic description, Soma, the moon-god, was born from the mind of the Supreme Personality of Godhead ( candramā manaso jātaḥ ). But here we find that Soma was born from the tears in the eyes of Atri. This appears contradictory to the Vedic information, but actually it is not, for this birth of the moon is understood to have taken place in another millennium. When tears appear in the eyes because of jubilation, the tears are soothing. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says, dṛgbhya ānandāśrubhya ata evāmṛtamayaḥ: “Here the word dṛgbhyaḥ means ‘from tears of jubilation.’ Therefore the moon-god is called amṛtamayaḥ, ‘full of soothing rays.’” In the Fourth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (4.1.15) we find this verse:
FAQs
This verse states that Soma was born from his father's eyes and is described as amṛtamaya—nectar-like in nature.
The verse explains that by Brahmā’s arrangement, Soma was appointed as the presiding lord connected with brāhmaṇas (ritual and sacred order), medicinal herbs (plant vitality), and the luminaries (astral order).
The shloka highlights that divine gifts and brilliance are meant to be aligned with responsibility and service within a larger sacred order, not merely enjoyed privately.