Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 18.3

18.3.1

pro tv eva āśvinasya vibhūtir iti diśyate /

Moreover, the extensive abundance of the Āśvina [recitation] is proclaimed.

18.3.2

eṣa āgneyaḥ kratuḥ /

This is the section to Agni;

18.3.3

āgneyād eva ṛtor na niścyaveta / (soma: aAśvina śastra)

he should not depart from the proper season of Agni.

18.3.4

atha yady āgneyam kratum purā kālāt samatīyāt /

Now, if he should finish the section to Agni before the time,

18.3.5

āśvinam anu yat kiṃca dvidevatyam ṛkṣu tad anuvartayet / (soma: aAśvina śastra)

he should pursue in the verses whatever is addressed to dual divinities after the Āśvina;

18.3.6

saurye kratau pāvamānīr yathāc chandasam /

in the section to Sūrya, the Pavamāna verses according to their metre:

18.3.7

gāyatrīr gāyatre triṣṭubhas traiṣṭubhe jagatīr jāgate / (soma: aAśvina śastra)

Gāyatrīs in the Gāyatrī section, Triṣṭubhs in the Triṣṭubh, Jagatīs in the Jagatī;

18.3.8

sarvam sūrya nyaṅgam sauryasya āyatane /

everything having a characteristic mark of Sūrya in the place of the section to Sūrya.

18.3.9

sarvān aindrān pragāthān pragāthasya āyatane / (soma: aAśvina śastra)

[He inserts] all the Pragāthas addressed to Indra in the place of the Pragātha;

18.3.10

sarvam dyāvā pṛthivīyam dyāvā pṛthivīyasya āyatane /

all addressed to Dyāvāpṛthivī in the place of that addressed to Dyāvāpṛthivī;

18.3.11

sarvā dvipadā dvipadāyā āyatane / (soma: aAśvina śastra)

all Dvipadā verses in the place of the Dvipadā;

18.3.12

sarvam bārhaspatyam purastāt paridhānīyāyai /

[and] all addressed to Bṛhaspati before the concluding verse.

18.3.13

etad vai kiṃcid iva ṛcām na pradiśyate /

This indeed is that [recitation], as it were, of which not [a single category] of verses is omitted.

18.3.14

atha vai cakrīvad āśvinam / (soma: aAśvina śastra)

Now, indeed, the Aśvina [recitation] has wheels.

xviii. 4. The Āçvina is like (a wagon) with wheels; the two Ālambanas are the wheels, the aimless verses the axle, (the verse ) ‘Hither your chariot, O Açvins, with the speed of the falcon’ the seat; the four Agastya hymns the yokes. This is the chariot of the gods. With this chariot of the gods he attains in safety the world of heaven. (The Çastra) should include the Suparṇa; the Suparṇa is a bird; like it becoming a winged one, a bird, so he attains in safety the world of heaven. Twice he utters the call for the Āçvina, for the introduction and for the concluding verse; that is as when one, not being covered, makes a covering by an obstruction. Now comes the question of the conclusion. Whenever the sun creeps over on to the front (of the oblation holder), whenever the Hotṛ himself can discern it,

18.3.15

ālambadhe cakre akūdhrīcyo akṣaḥ / (soma: aAśvina śastra)

The two wheels are attached; the axle is straight.

18.3.16

ā vām ratho aśvinā śyenapatvā iti sa uddhiḥ /

'Your chariot, O Aśvins, flying like a falcon'—that is the chariot frame.

18.3.17

atha catvāry āgastyāni yuktāni / (soma: aAśvina śastra)

Then the four verses of Agastya are harnessed.

18.3.18

sa eṣa deva rathaḥ /

This is the chariot of the gods.

18.3.19

sa etena deva rathena svasti svargaṃl lokam samaśnute /

By this chariot of the gods, he safely reaches the heavenly world.

18.3.20

sasuparṇam syāt /

It should have a bird (suparṇa).

18.3.21

vayo vai suparṇaḥ /

A bird, indeed, is the suparṇa.

18.3.22

tad yathā pakṣi vayo bhūtvā evam tat svasti svargaṃl lokam samaśnute /

Thus, just as having become a winged bird, so does he safely reach the heavenly world.

18.3.23

dvir eva āśvināya āhvayete pratipade ca eva paridhānīyāyai ca / (soma: aAśvina śastra)

Twice only do they summon for the Aśvina [recitation]: for the opening verse and for the concluding verse.

18.3.24

tad yathā pratighātena aniveṣṭyamāno dhāvayed evam tat / (soma: aAśvina śastra)

That is just as one might drive without turning back because of an obstacle.