The one and the same divine Soma plant nr,ay be classified into twenty- four species

according to the difference of their habitats, structures, epithets and potencies.

They are as follows:
—

Ams'umdn,
Munjavdn,
Chandramdh,
Rajataprabha^
DurvaSoma,
Kaniyan,
S'vetaksha^
Kanaka-prahha
Pratanavan^
Tala vrinta^
Karavira,
Ams'avan,
Svayam-prahha
Maha-soma,
Garudahrita,
Gayatrya^
Traishtubha,
Pamkta^
jagata,
Sa'mkara,
Agnishtoma,
Raivata,
Yathokta
Udupati,

Ams'umdn, Munjavdn, Chandramdh,

Rajataprabha^ DuiudSoma, Kaniydn, S'vetdksha^
Kanaka prahha.Pratdnavdn^ Tdla vrinta^ Karavira, Ants'avdn,
Svayam-prahha^ Mahd-soma, Garuddhrita, Gdya
trya^ Traishtuhha, Pdmkta^ fdgata, S'dmkara, Agnishtonia,
Raivata, Yathokta and Udupati,

All these kinds of Soma secure for the user a mastery of the Gyatri (and hence in the vedas),
and are known by the above auspicious names mentioned in the Vedas \* These are
decrepitude, death, hunger, thirst, sleep, etc. Here death may mean, according to some
authorities, the death of tissues as well. X The whole of the hymns in the 9th Book of the
Rig-veda, besides a few in other places, are dedicated to the honour of Somaj but these
twenty four names do not occur there. The plant is there represented as a god,
and his worship must at one time have altered a remarkable popularity.
The extraordinary properties of the exhilarating juice of the Soma are frequently mentioned
in the Rig-veda and the language throughout in which it is be hymned could not be more
eulogistic.