Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 27.1

27.1.1

yad divy upari tad daśamam ahar iti ha sma āha kauṣītakiḥ /

"What is above heaven, that is the tenth day," Kauṣītaki used to say.

xxvii. 1. 'The tenth day is that which is above in the sky' Kauṣītaki used to say; therefore it is what is not to be explained, for no one knows this clearly. 'Let me not explain ignorantly' (he thinks). The tenth day is a limited divine rite; it is the Anuṣṭubh; he who explains it makes a surplus; stumbling is liable to befall him who explains. As to this they say 'Let him explain; the sacrifice rejoices at the approach of a wise man, "What is to become successful in me, that will he cause to be successful."' If any person inadvertently makes an error, then he who observes it should aside repeat the passage as a self study, or the householder or one of the priests should creep up, and he aside should recite the passage as a self study. If he does not think this proper, he should at once explain. The Anuṣṭubh is released on the tenth day; the Anuṣṭubh is speech; now speech having borne the burden becomes as it were the bearer of a dread thing.

27.1.2

tasmāt tad avivākyam bhavati /

Therefore it is [the day of] non-disputation.

27.1.3

na hi tad addhā veda kaścana / (soma: daśamam ahah)

For no one truly knows it.

27.1.4

na id avidvān vibravāṇi iti /

[One thinks:] "Lest I, not knowing, dispute."

27.1.5

mitam etad deva karma yad daśamam ahar anuṣṭub eva / (soma: daśamam ahah)

Measured is this divine rite which is the tenth day; it is just the Anuṣṭubh.

27.1.6

sa yo vyāha /

He who speaks out,

27.1.7

so atirecayati /

he makes an excess.

27.1.8

īśvaro vivaktāram bhreṣo avnetoḥ / (soma: daśamam ahah)

A misfortune is likely to ruin the disputer.

27.1.9

tad u vā āhur vy eva brūyāt /

Concerning this they also say: "One should indeed speak out."

27.1.10

nandati ha vai yajño viduṣā āgacchatā / (soma: daśamam ahah)

The sacrifice rejoices when a knowledgeable person arrives,

27.1.11

yan me asamṛddham bhaviṣyaty ayam me tat samardhayiṣyati iti / (soma: daśamam ahah)

[thinking:] "Whatever will be unaccomplished in me, this one will accomplish it for me."

27.1.12

yadi kaścit pramatta upahanyāt /

If someone through negligence should make an error,

27.1.13

yas tad adhīyāt /

the one who knows it,

27.1.14

yas tam tatra brūyāt / (soma: daśamam ahah)

he who would speak to him there,

27.1.15

sa tam deśam pārśvataḥ svādhyāyam adhīyīta /

he should study that portion at the side as personal study.

27.1.16

api vā gṛhapatir vā ṛtvijām vā ekaḥ paryavasarpet /

Or else the householder or one of the officiating priests should slip near;

27.1.17

sa tam deśam pārśvataḥ svādhyāyam śaṃset / (soma: daśamam ahah)

he should recite that portion at the side as personal study.