Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 10.6

10.6.1

tam āhur dvirūpaḥ syāt śuklam ca kṛṣṇam ca aho rātrayo rūpeṇa iti /

Regarding it, they say: 'It should be of two colours, white and black, according to the form of day and night.'

10.6.2

śuklam vā ca lohitam c agnīṣomayo rūpeṇa iti / (paśu: paśau prayāja anuyājāh)

Or white and red, according to the form of Agni and Soma.

10.6.3

tasya ekādaśa prayājā ekādaśa anuyājā ekādaśa upayajaḥ.(upayājah?) / (paśu: paśau prayāja anuyājāh)

It has eleven fore-offerings, eleven after-offerings, eleven supplementary offerings.

10.6.4

tāni trayas triṃśat /

They are thirty-three.

10.6.5

trayas triṃśad vai sarve devāḥ /

All the gods are indeed thirty-three,

10.6.6

sarveṣām eva devānām prītyai / (paśu: paśau prayāja anuyājāh)

verily for the gratification of all the gods.

10.6.7

prāṇā vai prayājā apānā anuyājāḥ /

The fore-offerings are the out-breathings, the after-offerings the in-breathings.

10.6.8

tasmāt samā bhavanti /

Therefore they are equal,

10.6.9

samānā hi ime prāṇa apānāḥ / (paśu: paśau prayāja anuyājāh)

for these out-breathings and in-breathings are equal.

10.6.10

tad āhuḥ kasmād ṛcā prayājeṣu yajati pratīkair anuyājeṣv iti /

On this they say: 'Why does he sacrifice with a verse at the fore-offerings, [but] with opening phrases at the after-offerings?'

10.6.11

retaḥ siktir vai prayājāḥ / (paśu: paśau prayāja anuyājāh)

The fore-offerings are the emission of semen;

10.6.12

retodheyam anuyājāḥ /

the after-offerings are the placement of semen.

10.6.13

tasmād ṛcā prayājeṣu yajati pratīkair anuyājeṣv iti / (paśu: paśau prayāja anuyājāh)

Therefore he sacrifices with a verse at the fore-offerings, [and] with opening phrases at the after-offerings.

10.6.14

atha yat sarvam uttamam āha /

Now, as to his reciting the last verse in full,

10.6.15

svarga eva tal loke yajamānam dadhāti / (paśu: paśau prayāja anuyājāh)

he thereby places the sacrificer in the heavenly world.

10.6.16

āprībhir āprīṇāti /

He gladdens with the Āprī verses.

10.6.17

sarveṇa ha vā eṣa ātmanā sarveṇa manasā yajñam sambharate yo yajate / (paśu: paśau prayāja anuyājāh)

Whoever sacrifices gathers the sacrifice with his whole self, with his whole mind;

10.6.18

tasya riricāna iva ātmā bhavati /

his self becomes, as it were, emptied.

10.6.19

tam asya etābhir āprībhir āprīṇāti / (paśu: paśau prayāja anuyājāh)

He gladdens it with these Āprī verses.

10.6.20

tad yad āprīṇāti /

Because he gladdens [āprīṇāti],

10.6.21

tasmād āpryo nāma / (paśu: paśau prayāja anuyājāh)

therefore are they called Āprī verses.

called Āprīs (fillers). He surrounds the animal with fire, to smite away the Rakṣases; Agni is the smiter away of the Rakṣases; he carries the fire round thrice from left to right; that is as if Agni were to put three forts. Therefore, ‘Go round again’ he should say to the Agnīdh, if he desire of a man, ‘May he not fall away.’