Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 15.2

15.2.1

atha ṣaḍvidham marutvatīyam śaṃsati /

Then he recites the sixfold Marutvatīya [śastra].

xv. 2. Then he recites the sixfold Marutvatīya; the year has six seasons; verily (it serves) to obtain the year. He recites the six metres, Anuṣṭubh, Gāyatrī, Bṛhatī, Uṣṇih, Triṣṭubh, and Jagatī. Therefore is it sixfold. With an Anuṣṭubh , 'Thee like a car for aid', he begins the Marutvatīya. The Marutvatīya is the hymn of the Pavamāna; the metre of Soma is the Anuṣṭubh. The explanation of the transposition of the Padas has been given. He recites Gāyatrī verses; Gāyatrī verses are breath; verily thus he places breath in himself. 'This drink, O bright one, is pressed' is the antistrophe , containing the words 'pressed' and 'drink', for it is the hymn of the Pavamāna. 'O Indra, come nearer' is a Pragātha inviting Indra. 'Nearer let us approach', the Maruts said to him encouraging him; he said 'Having conquered and slain Vṛtra, this is my Soma drinking along with you.' This is his Soma drinking along with them. 'Forward now, Brahmaṇaspati' is (a Pragātha) addressed to Brahmaṇaspati and contains (the word) 'Forward'. 'Smite', Brahman said to him, encouraging him; he said, 'Having conquered and slain Vṛtra, this is my Soma drinking along with you.' This is the Soma drinking of Brahman. 'In it give the gods a share', Kauṣītaki used to say. 'In which Indra, Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryaman, the gods, made their homes', in this are the gods given a share. They say 'In that in there is no strophe nor antistrophe, but an invitation to Indra and (a triplet) addressed to Brahmaṇaspati, then why are they recited repeating them and making them into Kakubh (verses)?' The Sāman singers sing with repetition in the Pavamāna; verily thus is a symbol of it produced. 'Agni, like Bhaga, is leader of the folk' and 'Thou with insight art keen of

15.2.2

ṣaḍ vā ṛtavaḥ saṃvatsaraḥ / (mādhyaṃdina savana)

The six seasons are the year.

15.2.3

saṃvatsarasya eva āptyai /

[It is] for the attainment of the year.

15.2.4

anuṣṭubham gāyatrīm bṛhatīm uṣṇiham triṣṭubham jagatīm iti ṣaṭ chandāṃsi śaṃsati / (soma: mādhyaṃdina savana)

He recites six metres: Anuṣṭubh, Gāyatrī, Bṛhatī, Uṣṇih, Triṣṭubh, and Jagatī.

15.2.5

tasmāt ṣaḍvidham bhavati /

Therefore it becomes sixfold.

15.2.6

ā tvā ratham yathā ūtaya ity anuṣṭubhā marutvatīyam pratipadyate / (soma: mādhyaṃdina savana)

With an Anuṣṭubh verse, "Hither to you the chariot as if for help," he begins the Marutvatīya.

15.2.7

pavamāna uktham vā etad yan marutvatīyam /

For this Marutvatīya is the Pavamāna recitation.

15.2.8

anuṣṭup somasya chandaḥ / (soma: mādhyaṃdina savana)

The Anuṣṭubh is the metre of Soma.

15.2.9

uktam pada vigrahaṇasya brāhmaṇam /

The explanation of the division of pādas has been stated.

15.2.10

gāyatrīḥ śaṃsati /

He recites Gāyatrī verses.

15.2.11

prāṇo vai gāyatryaḥ / (soma: mādhyaṃdina savana)

The Gāyatrī verses are breath.

15.2.12

prāṇam eva tad ātman dhatte /

He thereby places breath in himself.

15.2.13

idam vaso sutam andha ity anucaraḥ sutavān pītavān / (soma: mādhyaṃdina savana)

"This pressed food, O Vasu," is the concluding strophe, containing the words "pressed" and "drunk".

15.2.14

pavamāna uktham hy etat /

For this is the Pavamāna recitation.

15.2.15

indra nedīya ed ihi iti indra nihavaḥ pragātha / (soma: mādhyaṃdina savana)

"O Indra, come right nearer," is the pragātha of the invocation of Indra.

15.2.16

nedīya upaniṣkrāma iti ha enam maruta ūcuḥ pradharṣayantaḥ / (soma: mādhyaṃdina savana)

"Step forth nearer!" the Maruts said to him, emboldening him.

15.2.17

so abravīdd hatvā vṛtram vijitya yuṣmābhir me ayam saha soma pītha iti / (soma: mādhyaṃdina savana)

He said: "Having slain Vṛtra, having conquered, this drinking of Soma of mine shall be together with you."

15.2.18

tair eva asya eṣa saha soma pīthaḥ /

This drinking of Soma of his is together with them.

15.2.19

pra nūnam brahmaṇaspatir iti brāhmaṇaspatyaḥ pragāthaḥ / (soma: mādhyaṃdina savana)

"Forward now, O Brahmaṇaspati," is the pragātha to Brahmaṇaspati.

15.2.20

prahara it ha enam brahmā uvāca pradharṣayan /

"Strike!" Brahmā said to him, emboldening him.

15.2.21

so abravīdd hatvā vṛtram vijitya tvayā me ayam saha soma pītha iti / (soma: mādhyaṃdina savana)

He said: "Having slain Vṛtra, having conquered, this drinking of Soma of mine shall be together with you."

15.2.22

sa eṣa brahmaṇa eva soma pīthaḥ /

This is the drinking of Soma belonging to Brahman.

15.2.23

tasmin devatā anvābhajata iti ha sma āha kauṣītakiḥ / (soma: mādhyaṃdina savana)

"Therein he gave the deities a share," Kauṣītaki used to say,

15.2.24

yasminn indro varuṇo mitro aruyamā devā okāṃsi cakrira iti /

"in which Indra, Varuṇa, Mitra, and Aryaman, the gods, have made their dwellings."

15.2.25

atra devatā anvābhaktāḥ / (soma: mādhyaṃdina savana)

Here the deities are given a share.