Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 25.8.22

25.8.22

uprād ity asyās tam ayād etad ahaḥ saṃsthāpayiṣeyuḥ / (soma: viṣuvat)

xxv. 10. Before the setting of the sun should they seek to complete (the rite of) this day; the day has its morning litany, to be recited by day. They should seek to complete with this day including its morning litany and the offerings to the wives (with the gods) before the setting of the sun. ‘Agni, I deem father, Agni friend’, with this (verse) the Hotṛ begins the morning litany on this day, with the symbol of the ‘rich waters’ verse in ‘friend (āpim)’. It contains (the word) ‘sun’ in ‘In the sky the bright, worthy of sacrifice, of the sun’; this is a symbol of this day. As to this Kauṣītaki used to say, ‘The morning litany is Prajāpati, and is not connected with the darkness; verily in due order should he commence it; that is its prosperity; so in due order are offered the Upāṅçu and the Antaryāma (cups); that is their prosperity.’ The Āprī hymn is by Vasiṣṭha, containing (the word) ‘sun’ in ‘Overspread thyself with the rays of the sun’; this is a symbol of this day. ‘The Hotṛ for this day should be white, with red eyes’ some say; with this day they seek to obtain him who yonder gives heat; this is as if one should approach a superior with a gift. But the rule is ‘Just as it may happen to be’. With the Çastra alone should he seek to produce the symbol of this day. A victim to the sun should be offered (in addition) to the usual victim for the pressing. It is offered inaudibly; if a man should utter aloud (the recitation) for it, then if one were to say of him, ‘He will become afflicted with skin disease, a leper’ it would be so. Four victims only are offered inaudibly; that to the sun, that to Savitṛ, that to Prajāpati, and that whose divinity is speech; the others are offered aloud. Then they perform three Svarasāman (days) reversed; the explanation of these has been given.