Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 25.13.18

25.13.18

vatsac chavīn paridadhīta /

xxv. 15. He should put round a calfskin; bare as it were becomes the body of him who gives all. (He puts round thinking) 'Cattle desire a calf; let cattle again desire me.' He should dwell in an Udumbara wood; the Udumbara is strength and proper food; (verily it serves) to obtain strength and proper food. He should dwell with a Naiṣāda; the Naiṣāda is the minimum of proper food; (verily it serves) to obtain the minimum of proper food. He should dwell with a Vaiçya; the Vaiçya prospers; (verily it serves) to obtain the proper food which is with a Vaiçya. He should dwell with a Kṣatriya; the Kṣatriya is the maximum of proper food; (verily it serves) to obtain the maximum of proper food. He should dwell with a Brahman of the same family, to obtain the proper food which is with a Brahman of the same family. For a year should he wander, lying on the ground, accepting only uncultivated (fruits), not asking for food, clothed in what is given. With that he clothes himself. 'Having done this for twelve nights he may devote himself to another desire,' Kauṣītaki used to say, 'the year has twelve months, this is an image of the year.' The Ājya (Çastras) of the Hotrakas are addressed to Prajāpati, as having no deity mentioned. The strophes of this day (of these priests) are 'Do ye two aid us to terrestrial,' 'They yoke the tawny ruddy one,' and 'Them they ever praise' or 'Praise him who with his light.' The strophes of the sixth day they should make the antistrophes; the sixth day is connected with Prajāpati; the other five are Prajāpati as the Viçvajit the litanies they conclude with the ending sets of verses; the ending verses are a support; verily (they serve) for support.