The decision in regard to this question of interpretation is not to be reached so easily as one might suppose, considering that a whole book, the ninth, of the Rig Veda is dedicated to Soma, and that in addition to this there are many hymns addressed to him in the other books.  For in the greater number of passages which may be cited for and against this theory the objector may argue that the generally extravagant praise bestowed upon Soma through the Veda is in any one case merely particularized, and that it is not incongruous to say of the divine soma-plant, “he lights the dark nights,” when one reads in general that he creates all things, including the gods.  On the other hand, the advocate of the theory may reply that everything which does not apply to the moon-god Soma may be used metaphorically of him.  Thus, where it is said, “Soma goes through the purifying sieve,” by analogy with the drink of the plant soma passing through the sieve the poet may be supposed to imagine the moon passing through the sieve-like clouds; and even when this sieve is expressly called the ‘sheep’s-tail sieve’ and ‘wool-sieve,’ this may still be, metaphorically, the cloud-sieve (as, without the analogy, one speaks to-day of woolly clouds and the ’mare’s tail’).

So it happens that, with an hundred hymns addressed to Soma, it remains still a matter of discussion whether the soma addressed be the plant or the moon.  Alfred Hillebrandt, to whom is due the problem in its present form, declares that everywhere[19] in the Rig Veda Soma means the moon.  No better hymn can be found to illustrate the difficulty under which labors the soma-exegete than IX. 15, from which Hillebrandt takes the fourth verse as conclusive evidence that by soma only the moon is meant.  In that case, as will be seen from the ‘pails,’ it must be supposed that the poet leaps from Soma to soma without warning.  Hillebrandt does not include the mention of the pails in his citation; but in this, as in other doubtful cases, it seems to us better to give a whole passage than to argue on one or two verses torn from their proper position: 

     HYMN TO SOMA (IX. 15).

     QUERY:  Is the hymn addressed to the plant as it is pressed
     out into the pails, or to the moon?

     1.  This one, by means of prayer (or intelligence), comes
     through the fine (sieve), the hero, with swift car, going to
     the meeting with Indra.

     2.  This one thinks much for the sublime assembly of gods,
     where sit immortals.

     3.  This one is despatched and led upon a shining path, when
     the active ones urge (him).[20]

     4.  This one, shaking his horns, sharpens (them), the bull of
     the herd, doing heroic deeds forcibly.

     5.  This one hastens, the strong steed, with bright golden
     beams, becoming of streams the lord.

     6.  This one, pressing surely through the knotty (sieve?) to
     good things, comes down into the vessels.