Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 10.4

10.4.1

tam āhur anupraharet /

Regarding it, they say: 'He should throw it after [into the fire];

10.4.2

yajamāno vā eṣa yad yūpaḥ /

for the sacrificer indeed is that post;

10.4.3

svarlo loka āhavanīyaḥ / (paśu: yūpa saṃskāra)

the Āhavanīya fire is the heavenly world;

10.4.4

tad eva enam svargaṃl lokam gamayati /

thereby he causes him to go to the heavenly world;

10.4.5

tat svargyam iti /

that leads to heaven.'

10.4.6

tad u vā āhus tiṣṭhed eva / (paśu: yūpa saṃskāra)

Concerning that, however, they say: 'It should rather remain standing;

10.4.7

yad idam āsthānam svarostata īśvarā yadi na asura rakṣasāny anvavapātoḥ / (paśu: yūpa saṃskāra)

for from that place where the chip stands, the Asuras and Rakṣases would be capable of breaking in [if it were removed].

10.4.8

tasmād eṣa vajra udyato yajña vāstau tiṣṭhed eva asura rakṣasāny apaghnann apabādhamāno yajñam caiva yajamānam ca abhigopāyann iti / (paśu: yūpa saṃskāra)

Therefore, as a raised thunderbolt, it should indeed remain standing on the sacrificial site, smiting and warding off the Asuras and Rakṣases, guarding both the sacrifice and the sacrificer.'

10.4.9

atha yūpya keo dravya eko gatya ekaḥ /

Now, one [tree] is fit for a post, one for running/materials, one for a pit.

10.4.10

yo avācīna vakalaḥ sa gartyaḥ / (paśu: yūpa saṃskāra)

That which has downward-turned bark is of the pit;

10.4.11

tasya āśām na iyāt /

he should not turn his desire toward it.

10.4.12

atha ya ūrdhva vakalo dravyaḥ sa mānuṣaḥ / (paśu: yūpa saṃskāra)

Then that which has upward-turned bark is for running/materials; it belongs to men;

is that connected with man; he may use it if he desires; the tree, whose rind grows from left to right in accord with the course of the sun, is that suited for the post and is heavenly. (The tree), which stands alone, unrivalled, or is covered up to the root with shoots, is not bare; it is connected with cattle; it one desiring cattle should use.

10.4.13

kāmam tasya api kurvīta /

he may make [it into a post] at will.

is that connected with man; he may use it if he desires; the tree, whose rind grows from left to right in accord with the course of the sun, is that suited for the post and is heavenly. (The tree), which stands alone, unrivalled, or is covered up to the root with shoots, is not bare; it is connected with cattle; it one desiring cattle should use.

10.4.14

atha yasya prasavy ādityasya āvṛtam anvāvṛttā vakalāḥ / (paśu: yūpa saṃskāra)

now, in the case of one whose bark strips turn counter-clockwise, following the course of the sun;

is that connected with man; he may use it if he desires; the tree, whose rind grows from left to right in accord with the course of the sun, is that suited for the post and is heavenly. (The tree), which stands alone, unrivalled, or is covered up to the root with shoots, is not bare; it is connected with cattle; it one desiring cattle should use.

10.4.15

sa yūpyaḥ sa svargyam ekastho bhrātṛvyaḥ /

is fit for a post; it leads to heaven; his rival is set aside.

is that connected with man; he may use it if he desires; the tree, whose rind grows from left to right in accord with the course of the sun, is that suited for the post and is heavenly. (The tree), which stands alone, unrivalled, or is covered up to the root with shoots, is not bare; it is connected with cattle; it one desiring cattle should use.

10.4.16

yo vā anuvṛtaḥ palāśair āmūlāt syāt /

or which is wrapped with Palāśa twigs from the root up;

is that connected with man; he may use it if he desires; the tree, whose rind grows from left to right in accord with the course of the sun, is that suited for the post and is heavenly. (The tree), which stands alone, unrivalled, or is covered up to the root with shoots, is not bare; it is connected with cattle; it one desiring cattle should use.

10.4.17

so anagnaḥ sa paśavyaḥ /

that is unclothed, that brings cattle;

is that connected with man; he may use it if he desires; the tree, whose rind grows from left to right in accord with the course of the sun, is that suited for the post and is heavenly. (The tree), which stands alone, unrivalled, or is covered up to the root with shoots, is not bare; it is connected with cattle; it one desiring cattle should use.

10.4.18

tam paśu kāmaḥ kurvīta / (paśu: yūpa saṃskāra)

one desirous of cattle should make it [into the post].

is that connected with man; he may use it if he desires; the tree, whose rind grows from left to right in accord with the course of the sun, is that suited for the post and is heavenly. (The tree), which stands alone, unrivalled, or is covered up to the root with shoots, is not bare; it is connected with cattle; it one desiring cattle should use.