Aitareyabrahmana 8.26

8.26

tad apy etad ṛṣiṇoktaṃ
sa id rājā pratijanyāni viśvā śuṣmeṇa tasthāv abhi vīryeṇeti
sapatnā vai dviṣanto, bhrātṛvyā janyāni,
tān eva tac chuṣmeṇa vīryeṇādhitiṣṭhati
Bṛhaspatiṃ yaḥ subhṛtam bibhartīti.
Bṛthaspatir ha vai devānām purohitas,
tam anv anye manuṣyarājñām purohitā.
Bṛhaspatiṃ yaḥ subhṛtam bibhartīti yad āha,
purohitaṃ yaḥ subhṛtaṃ bibhartīty eva tad āha
valgūyati vandate pūrvabhājam ity,
apacitim evāsmā etad āha
sa it kṣeti sudhita okasi sva iti.
gṛhā vā okaḥ, sveṣv eva tad gṛheṣu suhito vasati
tasmā iḷā pinvate viśvadānīm ity.
annaṃ vā iḷānnam evāsmā etad ūrjasvac chaśvad bhavati
tasmai viśaḥ svayam evā namanta iti.
rāṣṭrāṇi vai viśo,
rāṣṭrāṇy evainaṃ tat svayam upanamanti
yasmin brahmā rājani pūrva etīti.
purohitam evaitad āhā/pratīto
jayati saṃ dhanānīti.
rāṣṭrāṇi vai dhanāni, tāny apratīto jayati
pratijanyāny uta yā sajanyeti.
sapatnā vai dviṣanto bhrātṛvyā janyāni,
tān apratīto jayaty
avasyave yo varivaḥ kṛṇotīti yad āhāvasīyase
yo vasīyaḥ karotīty eva tad āha
brahmaṇe rājā tam avanti devā iti,
purohitam evaitad abhivadati

viii. 26 (xl. 3). This is also declared by a seer

‘The king all hostilities
With his onset, his might, doth overcome’,

Hostilities are the rivals who vie with and hate him; verily thus he overcomes them with his onset and his might.

‘Who supporteth Bṛhaspati in comfort’,

Bṛhaspati is the Purohita of the gods; analogues of him are the other Purohitas of human kings. In that he says ‘Who supporteth Bṛhaspati in comfort’, verily he says in effect ‘Who supporteth a Purohita in comfort’.

‘Who treateth him kindly, and maketh welcome the first sharer’,

(he says); verily thus he mentions honour for him.

‘He dwelleth in ease in his own abode’

(he says); the abode is the house; verily thus he dwells at ease in his own house.

‘For him fare is ever plentiful’

(he says); fare is food; verily thus for him food is ever full of strength.

‘To him the peoples of themselves pay homage’

(he says); the peoples are the kingdoms; verily thus spontaneously the kingdoms pay him homage.

‘In whose reign the Brahman goeth first’,

(he says); verily thus he refers to the Purohita.

‘Unsurpassed he winneth wealths’

Wealths are kingdoms; them he wins unsurpassed. ‘Of his foe as of his kin’ (he says); the foe are the rivals that vie with and hate him; them he conquers unsurpassed. In that he says ‘Who maketh wide room for him that seeketh aid,’ verily he says in effect ‘Who maketh riches for the poor.’ ‘The king for the Brahman, him the gods aid’, (he says); verily thus he refers to the Purohita.