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# Aitareyabrahmana 2.8

Aitareyabrāhmaṇa 2.8

- **Language:** Sanskrit

### [2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.brahmana.aitreya.2.8)

puruṣaṃ vai devāḥ paśum ālabhanta. tasmād ālabdhān medha udakrāmat,  
so 'śvam prāviśat, tasmād aśvo medhyo 'bhavad.  
athainam utkrāntamedham atyārjanta, sa kimpuruṣo 'bhavat  
te 'śvam ālabhanta. so 'śvād ālabdhād udakrāmat, sa gām prāviśat,  
tasmād gaur medhyo 'bhavaḍ athainam utkrāntamedham atyārjanta,  
sa gauramṛgo 'bhavat  
te gām ālabhanta. sa gor ālabdhād udakrāmat, so 'vim prāviśat,  
tasmād avir medhyo 'bhavad. athainam utkrāntamedham atyārjanta,  
sa gavayo 'bhavat. te 'vim ālabhanta. so 'ver ālabdhād udakrāmat,  
so 'jam prāviśat, tasmād ajo medhyo 'bhavad.  
athainam utkrāntamedham atyārjanta, sa uṣṭro 'bhavat  
so 'je jyoktamām ivāramata,  
tasmād eṣa eteṣām paśūnām prayuktatamo yad ajas  
te 'jam ālabhauta. so 'jād ālabdhād udakrāmat, sa imām prāviśat,  
tasmād iyam medhyābhavad. athainam utkrāntamedham atyārjanta,  
sa śarabho 'bhavat  
ta eta utkrāntamedhā amedhyāḥ paśavas, tasmād eteṣāṃ nāśnīyāt  
tam asyām anvagachan, so 'nugato vrīhir abhavat.  
tad yat paśau puroḷāśam anunirvapanti: samedhena naḥ paśuneṣṭam asat,  
kevalena naḥ paśuneṣṭam asad iti  
samedhena hāsya paśuneṣṭam bhavati,  
kevalena hāsya paśuneṣṭam bhavati ya evaṃ veda

> ii. 8 (vi. 8). The gods slew man as the victim. When he had been slain his sap went out; it entered the horse; therefore the horse became fit for the sacrifice, and him whose sap had departed they dismissed; he became a monkey. They slew the horse; it went away from the horse when slain; it entered the ox; therefore the ox became fit for sacrifice, and it whose sap had departed they dismissed; it became a Gauramṛga. They slew the ox; it departed from the ox when slain; it entered the sheep; therefore the sheep became fit for sacrifice, and it whose sap had departed they dismissed; it became the Gayal. They slew the sheep; it departed from the sheep when slain; it entered the goat; therefore the goat became fit for sacrifice, and it whose sap had departed they dismissed; it became the camel. It dwelt for the longest time in the goat; therefore the goat is of these animals the most often employed. They slew the goat; it departed from the goat when slain; it entered this (earth); therefore this (earth) became fit for sacrifice, and it whose sap had departed they dismissed; it became a Çarabha. These animals whose  
> — Arthur Berriedale Keith 1920, Rigveda Brahmanas: The Aitareya and Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇas of the Rigveda (HOS 25)

> sap is departed are unfit for sacrifice; therefore one should not eat of them. It they followed in this (earth); it, followed, became rice; in that they offer also a cake in the animal sacrifice (it is because they think) ‘Let our sacrifice be with a victim with sap, let our sacrifice be with a victim whole.’ His sacrifice is performed with a victim with sap, his sacrifice is performed with a victim whole who knows thus.  
> — Arthur Berriedale Keith 1920, Rigveda Brahmanas: The Aitareya and Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇas of the Rigveda (HOS 25)

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## Translations (2)

- [Rigveda Brahmanas: The Aitareya and Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇas of the Rigveda (HOS 25)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.brahmana.aitreya~en-keith.2.1.p15) — Arthur Berriedale Keith 1920, English
- [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.brahmana.aitreya~en-mt.2.8) — English, machine translation

## Commentaries (1)

- [Aitareyabrāhmaṇabhāṣya (Vedārthaprakāśa)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.brahmana.aitreya!sayana.6.p75) — Sāyaṇa, Sanskrit

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Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.brahmana.aitreya.2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.brahmana.aitreya.2.8) · Pramāṇa
