176 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 9, Ch. 14
PURPORT
According to the Vedic description, Soma, the moon-god, was born
from the mind of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (candrama
manaso jdtah). 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. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
says, drgbhya dananddsrubhya ata evamrtamayah: “Here the word
drgbhyah means ‘from tears of jubilation.” Therefore the moon-god is
called amrtamayah, ‘full of soothing rays.’” In the Fourth Canto of
Srimad-Bhagavatam (4.1.15) we find this verse:
atreh patny anasiiya trin
Jajfie suyasasah sutan
dattam durvésasam somam
atmesa-brahma-sambhavan
This verse describes that Anasiiya, the wife of Atri Rsi, bore three
sons—Soma, Durvasa and Dattatreya. It is said that at the time of con-
ception Anasiiya was impregnated by the tears of Atri.
TEXT 4
ISOMERIC COCMCIC OME COEEL i
ne Ls 2
Gat FETA AE ATATETE TST UI 2 I
so ’yajad rdjasiiyena
vijitya bhuvana-trayam
patnirn brhaspater darpat
taram namaharad balat
sah—he, Soma; ayajat—performed; rdjasiyena—the sacrifice known
as Rajasiiya; vijitya—after conquering; bhuvana-trayam—the three
worlds (Svarga, Martya and Patala); patnim—the wife; brhaspateh—of
Brhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods; darpdt—out of pride;
taram—Tara; nama—by name; aharat—took away; balat—by force.
