430.] [Footnote 78: p.36.l.15.

_--soma quaffing, fire adoring_.

Soma, the juice of the Asclepias acida, the moon plant.

Drinking the expressed juice of this plant is a holy ceremony, used at the completion of a sacrifice, and sanctifies the drinker.

"He alone is worthy to drink the juice of the moon plant who keep a provision of grain sufficient to supply those whom the law commands him to nourish, for the term of three years or more.