Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 24.1

24.1.1

abhijit /

The Abhijit.

The Abhijit.

24.1.2

abhijitā vai devā abhyajayann imāṃs trīṃl lokān /

By means of the Abhijit, the gods conquered these three worlds.

xxiv. 1. The Abhijit (is explained). By the Abhijit the gods conquered these three worlds; therefore has it three turns and four endings. With

24.1.3

tasmāt sa tryāvṛc catur udayo bhavati / (soma: abhijit)

Therefore it has three turns and four conclusions.

xxiv. 1. The Abhijit (is explained). By the Abhijit the gods conquered these three worlds; therefore has it three turns and four endings. With

24.1.4

viśvajitā ajayann imāś catasro diśaḥ /

By means of the Viśvajit, they conquered these four directions.

the Viçvajit they conquered these four quarters; therefore it has four turns and three endings. The Abhijit (is explained). By the Abhijit the gods conquered; what was left unconquered clung on as it were; that they conquered by the Viçvajit; the Viçvajit is so called (because they said) ‘All have we conquered.’ The Abhijit and the Viçvajit are these two, Indra and Agni; the Abhijit is Agni, for Agni conquered all this (universe); the Viçvajit is Indra, for Indra conquered all this wholly. The Abhijit has both Sāmans and all the Stomas; therefore both sets of hymns, those connected with the Bṛhat and the Rathantara, are recited. The two hymns, ‘Forward to the god, Agni’ and ‘What is best, that to Agni’ are its Ājya; ‘Forward’ is a symbol of the Rathantara; ‘aloud’ in ‘Sing aloud, O thou of wide radiance’ is (a symbol) of the Bṛhat. The two Praügas of Madhuchandas and Gṛtsamada should he interweave; having recited the Puroruc to Vāyu, then (he should insert) two triplets to Vāyu; then, having recited the Puroruc to Indra and Vāyu, two triplets to Indra and Vāyu; the Puroruc, then the two triplets, the Puroruc and then the two triplets; thus should he interweave. This he should not regard; he makes the triplets of Madhuchandas first, those of Gṛtsamada second. As to this they say ‘Why should he interweave the two (Praügas)? This he should not regard; the Praüga being that of Madhuchandas only, he should put on (the triplet) to the All-gods of Gṛtsamada above (the triplet) to the All-gods of Madhuchandas; there is one (hymn) with the Bṛhat character expressed.

24.1.5

tasmāt sa catur āvṛt try udayo bhavati / (soma: abhijit)

Therefore it has four turns and three conclusions.

24.1.6

abhijid abhijitā vai devā abhyajayan /

The Abhijit: by the Abhijit the gods conquered.

24.1.7

tad u ha anv iva eva ṣaṣañja /

And that adhered closely, as it were;

24.1.8

yad ajitam paryaśiṣyata tad viśvajitā ajayan / (soma: abhijit)

what was left unconquered, that they conquered by the Viśvajit.

24.1.9

viśvam ajaiṣma iti vā u viśvajit /

"We have conquered all!"—hence [it is called] Viśvajit.

24.1.10

tau vā etāv indrāgnī eva yad abhijid viśvajitau /

These two indeed are Indra and Agni: the Abhijit and Viśvajit.

24.1.11

agnir eva abhijit /

Agni is the Abhijit;

24.1.12

agnir hi idam sarvam abhyajayat /

for Agni conquered all this.

24.1.13

indro viśvajit /

Indra is the Viśvajit;

24.1.14

indro hi idam sarvam viśvam ajayat /

for Indra conquered all this entirely.

24.1.15

sa vā abhijid ubhaya sāmā sarva stomo bhavati / (soma: abhijit)

That Abhijit has both sāmans and all the stomas.

24.1.16

rathantaram eva asya pratyakṣam ṣaṣṭham bhavati /

The Rathantara is visibly its sixth [day sāman];

24.1.17

ārbhave pavamāne bṛhat /

in the Ārbhava Pavamāna [is] the Bṛhat.

24.1.18

tasmād ubhayāni sūktāni śasyante bārhata rāthantarāṇi / (soma: abhijit)

Therefore hymns belonging to both Bṛhat and Rathantara are recited.

24.1.19

tasya pra vo devāya agnaye yad vāhiṣṭham tad agnaya ity ete ubhe tad ājyam / (soma: abhijit)

Its [verses], "Forth to your god Agni..." [and] "What is most conveyance for Agni...", these both are that ājya [śastra].

24.1.20

pra va iti tad rāthantaram rūpam /

"Forth to your..." is that Rathantara characteristic.

24.1.21

bṛhad arca vibhāvaso iti bṛhad bārhatim /

"Sing out greatly, O radiant one..." is the great, Bṛhat-related [characteristic].

24.1.22

ubhau mādhucchandasa gārtsamadau praugau sampravayet / (soma: abhijit)

He should interweave the two Praugas, the Mādhucchandasa and the Gārtsamada: