Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 12.3

12.3.1

anūktaḥ prātar anuvāka āsīt /

The morning recitation had been recited;

12.3.2

aprāptāny ukthāny āsan /

the recitations had not yet been reached.

12.3.3

tān etasmint saṃdhāv asurā upāyan /

At this junction the asuras approached them.

12.3.4

te devāḥ pratibudhya bibhyata etam trihsamṛddham vajram apaśyan / (soma: apOṇApUṭṛIYA)

The gods, becoming aware and being afraid, saw this threefold complete thunderbolt.

12.3.5

āpa iti tat prathamam vajra rūpam /

'Waters'—that is the first form of the thunderbolt.

12.3.6

sarasvatī iti tad dvitīyam vajra rūpam / (soma: apOṇApUṭṛIYA)

'Sarasvatī'—that is the second form of the thunderbolt.

12.3.7

pañcadaśarcam bhavati /

It consists of fifteen verses;

12.3.8

tat tṛtīyam vajra rūpam /

that is the third form of the thunderbolt.

12.3.9

etena vai devās triḥ samṛddhena vajreṇa ebhyo lokebhyo asurān anudanta / (soma: apOṇApUṭṛIYA)

By this threefold complete thunderbolt the gods drove away the asuras from these worlds.

12.3.10

tatho eva etad yajamāna etena eva triḥ samṛddhena vajreṇa ebhyo lokebhyo dviṣato bhrātṛvyān nudate / (soma: apOṇApUṭṛIYA)

In this very way the sacrificer drives away his hostile rivals from these worlds by this threefold complete thunderbolt.

12.3.11

mādhyamāḥ sarasvatyām satram āsata /

The middle [seers] sat for a sacrificial session on the Sarasvatī.

xii. 3. The Mādhyamas performed a session on the Sarasvatī. Then Kavaṣa sat down in the midst, they said to him, 'Thou art the son of a female slave; we will not eat with you.' He rushing on in anger praised the Sarasvatī with this hymn; she followed after him; thereupon they felt themselves free from passion ; they went after him and said 'O seer, homage be to thee; harm us not; thou art of us the best, seeing that she follows after thee.' Thus they informed him; they removed his anger. This is the greatness of Kavaṣa and the founder of the hymn (is he). In that they go with their wives, (it is because) the Gandharvas as commissioners in the waters guard the Soma of Indra. They love women, and they turn their minds towards them; so it is as if one might take the sacrifice of careless persons. The sacrifice condescends to him who knows thus. He recites twenty (verses); they make up the Virāj; the waters are connected with the Virāj, the Virāj is food, the waters are food; thus by food he causes proper food to abound. (He recites) the first thrice, and the last thrice; they make up twenty-four; the Gāyatrī has twenty-four syllables; the Gāyatrī supports the morning pressing; thus the waters contain the symbol of the morning pressing. So much for the Aponaptriya.

12.3.12

tadd ha api kavaṣo madhye niṣasāda / (soma: apOṇApUṭṛIYA)

Kavaṣa also sat down in their midst.

12.3.13

tam ha ima upoduḥ /

They reproached him:

12.3.14

dāsyā vai tvam putro asi na vayam tvayā saha bhakṣayiṣyāma iti / (soma: apOṇApUṭṛIYA)

'You are the son of a maidservant; we will not consume [the Soma] with you.'

12.3.15

sa ha kruddhaḥ pradravant sarasvatīm etena sūktena tuṣṭāva /

He, enraged, running forth, praised Sarasvatī with this hymn.

12.3.16

tam ha iyam anviyāya / (soma: apOṇApUṭṛIYA)

She followed after him.

12.3.17

tata u ha ime nirāgā iva menire /

Then they considered themselves as if sin-laden.

12.3.18

tam ha anvādrutya ūcuḥ /

Running after him, they said:

12.3.19

ṛce namas te astu mā no hāsīḥ / (soma: apOṇApUṭṛIYA)

'O seer, homage be to you! Do not forsake us!

12.3.20

tvam vai naḥ śreṣṭho asi /

You are indeed our best,

12.3.21

yam tvā iyam anveti iti /

whom she follows after.'

12.3.22

tam ha jñapayām cakruḥ / (soma: apOṇApUṭṛIYA)

They appeased him;

12.3.23

tasya ha krodham vininyuḥ /

they dispelled his anger.

12.3.24

sa eṣa kavaṣasya eva mahimā sūktasya ca anuveditā / (soma: apOṇApUṭṛIYA)

This is the greatness of Kavaṣa, and he is the discoverer of the hymn.