Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 2.2

2.2.1

catur unnayet /

He should ladle out four times.

2.2.2

catuṣṭayam vā idam sarvam /

Fourfold is all this;

2.2.3

asya eva sarvasya āptyai /

[it is] to obtain this whole [world].

2.2.4

pañca kṛtva unnayet / (agnihotra)

[Or] he should ladle out five times.

2.2.5

pāṅkto vai yajño yajñasya eva āptyai /

Fivefold is the sacrifice, [it is] to obtain the sacrifice.

2.2.6

upasado agnihotre veditavyāḥ /

The Upasads are to be understood in the Agnihotra.

ii. 2. The settings down in the Agnihotra must be explained. Having ladled out he sets down to the north of the Gārhapatya; thus he obtains this world. In the Āhavanīya (he sets down) for the second time when about to offer; thus he obtains the world of the atmosphere. After offering (he sets down) for the third time; thus he obtains yonder world. He puts on a kindling stick of *Butea frondosa*; the *Butea frondosa* is Soma; this is the first Soma libation. It is a span in measure, for these breaths are a span over the body. Making two finger breadths of the kindling stick jut over and making a knot as it were, he offers over it; in two finger breadths of the mouth here food is placed. When it smokes, in it should he offer for one who desires a village; when it flames, for one who desires radiance; in the embers, for one who desires cattle. But the established practice is after putting it on, for then (they say) all these desires are obtained. Having offered the two libations, he mutters 'May the blessing of the sacrifice as successful be successful for me.' The blessing of the sacrifice as successful belongs to the sacrificer. He should offer the libations over one another; verily thus he obtains the worlds of heaven over one another. He touches the embers with the base of the offering ladle; verily thus he places the sacrificer in the world of heaven. Twice he holds out the offering ladle to the north; verily thus having pleased Rudra in his own quarter he lets (him) go. Therefore one should not stand to the north of the offering as it is made, lest he be in the vicinity of this dread god. In the evening he rubs it on the north side as it points west; thus he makes the sun to set. In the morning (he rubs it) on the south side as it points upwards; thus he leads upwards the sun. That which he rubs the first time he smears on the mat; thereby he delights the plants; in that

2.2.7

unnīya uttareṇa gārhapatyam upasādayati / (agnihotra)

Having ladled out, he sets it down to the north of the Gārhapatya;

2.2.8

tad imaṃl lokam āpnoti /

thereby he obtains this world.

2.2.9

āhavanīye hoṣyan dvitīyam /

When about to offer in the Āhavanīya, [he sets it down] a second time;

2.2.13

pālāśīm samidham abhyādadhāti / (agnihotra)

he places a kindling-stick of Palāśa [on the fire].

2.2.14

somo vai palāśaḥ /

The Palāśa is Soma.

2.2.15

sā prathamā soma āhutiḥ /

That is the first Soma offering.

2.2.16

prādeśa mātrī bhavati / (agnihotra)

It is a span in length.

2.2.17

prādeśa mātram hi ima ātmano adhi prāṇāḥ /

For these vital breaths above the body are a span in length.

2.2.18

dvy aṅgulam samidho atihṛtya anudṛbhann iva abhijuhoti / (agnihotra)

Carrying [the ladle] two finger-breadths beyond the kindling-stick, he pours the offering, as if not breaking [the stream].

2.2.19

dvy aṅgule vā idam mukhasya annam dhīyate /

For within two finger-breadths food is placed into the mouth.

2.2.20

dhūmāyantyām grāma kāmasya juhuyāt / (agnihotra)

He should offer into the smoke for one who desires a village;

2.2.21

jvalantyām brahma varcasa kāmasya /

into the blazing fire for one who desires spiritual lustre;

2.2.22

aṅgāreṣu paśu kāmasya /

into the embers for one who desires cattle.

2.2.23

abhyādhāya iti tv eva sthitam / (agnihotra)

The established rule, however, is: having placed [the stick] upon [the fire].

2.2.24

atra hy eva ete sarve kāmā upāpyanta iti /

For in that case all these desires are obtained.

2.2.25

ubhe āhutī hutvā japati /

Having offered both oblations, he whispers:

2.2.26

yā yajñasya samṛddhasya āśīḥ sā me samṛdhyatām iti / (agnihotra)

"Whatever blessing belongs to the accomplished sacrifice, may that be accomplished for me."

2.2.27

yā vai yajñasya samṛddhasya āśīḥ sā yajamānasya bhavati /

For whatever blessing belongs to the accomplished sacrifice belongs to the sacrificer.

2.2.28

uttarāv avatīra āhutīr.(.uttara avatīra āhutīr).juhuyāt / (agnihotra)

He should offer oblations that go ever downward [or progressively deeper].

2.2.29

uttara uttariṇa eva tat svargāṃl lokān āpnoti /

Thereby he attains higher and higher heavenly worlds.

2.2.30

sruco budhnena aṅgārān upaspṛśati /

With the bottom of the ladle he touches the embers.

2.2.31

svarga eva tal loke yajamānam dadhāti / (agnihotra)

He thereby places the sacrificer in the heavenly world.