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Avoidance of Intoxicants and Non-Possess ion
205
already mentioned. Another intoxicating drink is sură, which was more ordinarily used in those days. “The knowledge of it goes back to a much more remote period for its name like that of soma's haoma is found in Avestā literature in the name of 'hura'."1 When Soma became difficult to procure, its substitutes had to be found out; Surā might have been its. substitute, which became even more popular. It was distilled from some kind of grain, like the liquor made from rice in modern India. But the important difference in the Rgvedic soma and Rgvedic surā lies in the fact that the latter was always condemned whereas the former was always appreciated. Surā was always condemned as an intoxicant for it was connected with the mundane desire of being intoxicated. The Rgveda ranks drinking of surā in the vices like anger, dice and gambling, etc.2 and surā-drinking is considered as the root of all these vices.8 At one place it is said that surā made men arrogant and revile gods. At another place in Rgveda mention is also made of a disease called 'surām' which is caused by the excessive drinking of surā. And even Indra is said to have once become a victim of this disorder, 4 Drinking, of surā is thus condemned in the Rgveda.
In the Brāhmaṇas instances of surā drinking are frequ. ently available. It was more popular among the Kşatriyas. than the Brāhmaṇas. The Sūtramani sacrifice is commended as an expiation for over-indulgence in intoxicants.
In the Satapatha Brāhmaṇa surā is condemned and compared to untruth and darkness. In spite of the condemnation of surā. 1. History of Sanskrit Literature--A.A. Macdonell,
p. 166. 2. Ibid. 3. Thryfaf##tsfart: 1 --Rgveda, 7.86.6. 4. Vedic Index-Macdonnel and Keith. 5. Ibid. सुरा अनृतं पाप्मा तमः सुरा।
-Śatapatha, 5.1.2.10.
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