Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 24.8.20

24.8.20

sa virājam abhisampadyate / (soma: svara sāman)

xxiv. 9. The strophes (used) are those of the Vaiçvadeva (litanies) of the first three days of the Pṛṣṭha Ṣaḍaha in conjunct form. The third pressings with the antistrophes are the third pressings of the second three days. The Vaiçvadeva (hymns) there are taken out and other crypto-Vaiçvadevas, without mention (of the deities), connected with Prajāpati, are inserted, ‘This drink to you, O swift to wrath,’ ‘Him of old, aforetime, at all times, now,’ and ‘What vessel here of those that are pious?’ in place of (the hymn) of Nābhānediṣṭha. There should, however, be used the open Vaiçvadevas, ‘Agni, Indra, Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryaman’ on the first day, containing (the word) ‘who’ in ‘Having established (s-ka-bhitvī) the sky’; ‘I hail the gods of great fame for security’ on the second, containing (the word) ‘who’ in ‘Light making (jyotiṣkṛtaḥ).’ ‘Dawn and night (uṣāsā naktā) the great ones, of fair form’ on the third (day), containing (the word) ‘who’ in ‘night’. Prajāpati is ‘Who’; the Svarasāmans are Prajāpati. They are made up as Agniṣṭomas or Ukthyas; ‘As Agniṣṭomas’ (is) Paiṅgya's view; they become possessed of splendour who perform Agniṣṭomas. ‘Let them be Ukthyas,’ Kauṣītaki used to say. The Ukthya is a successful form of sacrifice, for it has fifteen Stotras, fifteen Çastras; they make thirty Stotras and Çastras; it makes up the Virāj; the Virāj is prosperity and proper food; (it serves) for the winning of the Virāj as prosperity and proper food.