Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 13.3

13.3.1

havir agre vīhi ity anusavanam puroḍāśa sviṣṭakṛto yajati /

With 'Enjoy the oblation, O Agni,' he sacrifices for the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the sacrificial cake at each pressing.

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’

13.3.2

avatsāroha prāśravaṇo devānām hotā āsa / (soma: haviṣ paṅkti yāga)

Avatsāra Prāśravaṇa was the hotṛ of the gods.

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’

13.3.3

tam etasmin dyumne mṛtyuḥ pratyālilye /

Death lay in ambush against him at this splendour.

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’

13.3.4

agnir vai mṛtyuḥ /

Death is indeed Agni.

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’

13.3.5

sa havir agne vīhi iti haviṣā agnim prītvā atha atimumuce / (soma: haviṣ paṅkti yāga)

Having pleased Agni with the oblation, saying, 'Enjoy the oblation, O Agni,' he then escaped.

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’

13.3.6

tatho eva evam vidvān hotā havir agne vīhi ity eva haviṣā agnim prītvā atha atimucyate / (soma: haviṣ paṅkti yāga)

In the very same way, the hotṛ who knows thus, having pleased Agni with the oblation, saying, 'Enjoy the oblation, O Agni,' then escapes.

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’

13.3.7

etair ha vā antar ākāśair devāḥ svargaṃl lokam jagmuḥ /

By these intermediate spaces the gods went to the heavenly world.

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’

13.3.8

tān etasmin dyumne mṛtyuḥ pratyālilye / (soma: haviṣ paṅkti yāga)

Death lay in ambush against them at this splendour.

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’

13.3.9

agnir vai mṛtyuḥ /

Death is indeed Agni.

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’

13.3.10

te havir agne vīhi iti haviṣā agnim prītvā atha atimumucire / (soma: haviṣ paṅkti yāga)

Having pleased Agni with the oblation, saying, 'Enjoy the oblation, O Agni,' they then escaped.

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’

13.3.11

tatho eva evam vidvān hotā havir agne vīhi ity eva haviṣā agnim prītvā atha atimucyate / (soma: haviṣ paṅkti yāga)

In the very same way, the hotṛ who knows thus, having pleased Agni with the oblation, saying, 'Enjoy the oblation, O Agni,' then escapes.

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’

13.3.12

tāni vā etāni ṣaḍ akṣarāṇi havir agne vīhi iti /

These six syllables indeed are: 'havir agne vīhi' ('Enjoy the oblation, O Agni').

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’

13.3.13

ṣaḍ aṅgo ayam ātmā ṣaḍvidhaḥ / (soma: haviṣ paṅkti yāga)

This self has six parts and is sixfold.

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’

13.3.14

tad ātmanā eva ātmānam niṣkrīya anṛṇo bhūtvā atha yajate / (soma: haviṣ paṅkti yāga)

Having thus redeemed the self by the self, becoming free from debt, he then sacrifices.

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’

13.3.15

sa eṣo avatsārasya prāśravaṇasya mantraḥ /

That is this mantra of Avatsāra Prāśravaṇa.

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’

13.3.16

sa na manyeta kena vā nu kena vā yajāmi iti /

He should not think: 'With what now, with what indeed do I sacrifice?'

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’

13.3.17

ṛṣi kṛtena mantreṇa ṛcā yajāmi ity eva vidyāt / (soma: haviṣ paṅkti yāga)

'I sacrifice with a mantra composed by a seer, with a verse'—thus indeed should he know.

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’

13.3.18

atha soma iti vai paśum avocāma /

Now, we have said that Soma is the animal,

xiii. 4. Now we have called the victim Soma; and so the cakes. Ten are they, shoots of Soma; the old shoot, which they press here; the glad shoot, the waters; the sap shoot, rice; the male shoot, barley; the bright shoot, milk; the living shoot, the victim; the immortal shoot, gold; the Ṛc shoot; the Yajus shoot; the Sāman shoot; these are the ten Soma shoots; when all these unite, then is there Soma, then the pressed (Soma).

13.3.19

evam puroḍāśān / (soma: haviṣ paṅkti yāga)(ttt)

and so too the sacrificial cakes.