Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 1.1

1.1.1

asmin vai loka ubhaye deva manuṣyā āsuḥ /

In this world both gods and men were [together].

i. 1. In this world both the gods and men were. The gods going to the world of heaven said to Agni ‘Be thou for us the overseer of this world.’ To them replied Agni ‘But, since I am he among you whose contact is most dangerous, and men do not pay honour (to me), how will that become yours which is among men?’ The gods said ‘The dread forms of thee as such we will deposit apart, and then wilt thou be here for man with that form of thine which is auspicious, helpful, and worthy of sacrifice.’ Then in the waters they placed (his form as) blowing, in the wind (his form as) purifying, in the sun (his form as) bright. Then with his auspicious, helpful, and sacrificial form he burned here for men. These indeed are the forms of Agni. In that he offers to these deities, then Agni becomes delighted with his limbs and with his forms. These are three; three indeed are these worlds; verily thus he obtains these worlds. The full-moon offering is the model of the first (sacrifice), the new-moon offering of the second; thereby does he commence the newand full-moon (offerings). The invitatory and offering verses of the first contain (the words) ‘praise’ and ‘bearer of the oblation’; that is the form of the invitatory and invoking verses. Those of the second have (the word) ‘Agni’ twice, for he offers to two Agnis. The third has seventeen Sāmidhenī verses; the Iṣṭi and

1.1.2

te devāḥ svargaṃl lokam yanto agnim acuḥ /

The gods, going to the heavenly world, said to Agni:

1.1.3

tvam no asya lokasya adhyakṣa edhi iti / (agnyādhāna)

"Be you our overseer of this world."

1.1.4

tān agir uvāca /

Agni said to them:

1.1.5

atha yad vo aham ghora saṃsparśatamo asmi /

"Now, since I am terrifying to you, most fierce to touch,

1.1.6

anapacāyitāro manuṣyāḥ / (agnyādhāna)

and men are disrespectful,

1.1.7

katham vas tad bhaviṣyati yan manuṣyeṣv iti /

how will that be for you, that which is among men?"

1.1.8

te devā ūcuḥ /

The gods said:

1.1.9

tasya vai te vayam ghorās tanūr vinidhāsyāmaḥ / (agnyādhāna)

"We shall indeed lay away your fierce bodies.

1.1.10

atha yā eva te śivā śagmā yajñiyā tanūḥ /

Now, which body of yours is auspicious, benevolent, fit for sacrifice,

1.1.11

tayā iha manuṣyebhyo bhaviṣyasi iti / (agnyādhāna)

with that you shall be here for men."

1.1.12

tasya apsu pavamānām adadhuḥ /

His Pavamāna [body] they placed in the waters,

1.1.13

vāyau pāvakām /

the Pāvaka [body] in the wind,

1.1.14

āditye śucim / (agnyādhāna)

the Śuci [body] in the sun.

1.1.15

atha yā eva asya śivā śagmā yajñiyā tanūr āsīt /

Now that body of his which was auspicious, benevolent, fit for sacrifice,

1.1.16

tayā iha manuṣyebhyo atapat / (agnyādhāna)

with that he shone here for men.

1.1.17

etā vā agnes tanvaḥ /

These indeed are the bodies of Agni.

1.1.18

tad yad etā devatā yajati /

Now that he sacrifices to these deities,

1.1.19

atra agniḥ sāṅgaḥ satanūḥ prīto bhavati / (agnyādhāna)

here Agni, complete with his limbs, complete with his bodies, becomes propitiated.

1.1.20

tā vai tisro bhavanti /

They are indeed three.

1.1.21

trayo vā ime lokāḥ /

Three, indeed, are these worlds;

1.1.22

imān eva tal lokān āpnoti / (agnyādhāna)

thus he obtains these worlds.