Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 5.6

5.6.1

aindro vā eṣa yajña kratur yat sākamedhāḥ /

This sacrificial rite, namely the Sākamedha, belongs to Indra.

v. 5. The Sākamedhas are a sacrificial rite for Indra. Just as a great king placing in front the advance guard of his army, pursues his way in safety, verily so does he sacrifice in front to the gods. Just as there is that Mahāvrata in the Soma sacrifice, even so is this a Mahāvrata in the Iṣṭi sacrifice. In that he offers to Agni of the front first of the deities, and Agni is the beginning of the gods, thus at the beginning he delights the gods. In that at midday he sacrifices to the Maruts, the heaters, (it is because) it is hot at midday; therefore at the midday he sacrifices to the Maruts, the heaters. Moreover, the Maruts are Indra's, the midday is Indra's; therefore at the midday he sacrifices to the Maruts, heaters. In that in the evening they proceed with the householder's sacrifice and the householder's sacrifice is a rite for prosperity, and prosperity is in the evening, therefore he offers the butter portions with the word 'prosperity'; verily thus he makes the sacrificer to prosper. In that in the morning they proceed with a full ladle, verily thus he unites the ceremony in the morning with the ceremony on the previous day. In that he sacrifices to the Maruts, the playful, and the Maruts, the playful, are Indra's, therefore he sacrifices to them in conjunction with Indra. In that they bring forward the fire, that it is kindled, the explanation of that has been given. In that there are seventeen kindling verses, the butter portions contain the word 'being', and the invitatory and offering verses (of the Sviṣṭakṛt) are Virāj verses, the explanation of that has been given. In that there are nine fore-offerings, nine after-offerings, eight oblations and the Sviṣṭakṛt as ninth, thus he obtains the brilliance of the Nakṣatras. The six accompanying oblations ending with that to Indra and Agni are the same, the explanation of them

5.6.2

tad yathā mahā rājaḥ purastāt senānīkāni pratyūhya abhayam panthānam anviyāt / (Cāturmāsya)

Just as a great king, having deployed arrays of his army in front, would follow a path free of danger,

5.6.3

evam eva etat purastād devatā yajati /

even so he sacrifices to the deities beforehand.

5.6.4

tad yathā adaḥ somasya mahā vratam / (Cāturmāsya)

Just as the Mahāvrata is [the chief rite] of the Soma [sacrifice],

5.6.5

evam eva etad iṣṭi mahā vratam /

even so this is the Mahāvrata of the iṣṭis.

5.6.6

atha yad agnim anīkavantam prathamam devatānām yajati / (Cāturmāsya)

Now, as to why he sacrifices to Agni Anīkavant first among the deities:

5.6.7

agnir vai devānām mukham /

Agni is the mouth of the gods.

5.6.8

mukhata eva tad devān prīṇāti /

He thereby gratifies the gods from the mouth [first].

5.6.9

atha yan madhyaṃdine marutaḥ sāṃtapanāt yajati / (Cāturmāsya)

Now, in that he sacrifices at midday to the Maruts Sāṃtapana,

5.6.10

madhyaṃdine vai saṃtapati /

indeed, at midday it burns intensely.

5.6.11

tasmān madhyaṃdine marutaḥ sāṃtapanān yajati / (Cāturmāsya)

Therefore he sacrifices at midday to the Maruts Sāṃtapana.

5.6.12

atho indrasya vai marutaḥ /

Moreover, the Maruts belong to Indra.

5.6.13

aindro madhyaṃdinaḥ /

Midday belongs to Indra.

5.6.14

tasmān madhyaṃdine marutaḥ sāṃtapanān yajati / (Cāturmāsya)

Therefore he sacrifices at midday to the Maruts Sāṃtapana.

5.6.15

atha yat sāyam gṛha medhīyena caranti /

Now, in that they perform the Gṛhamedhīya in the evening:

5.6.16

puṣṭi karma vā etad yad gṛha medhīyaḥ / (Cāturmāsya)

This Gṛhamedhīya is an act of nourishment.

5.6.17

sāyam poṣaḥ /

Evening is nourishment.

5.6.18

tasmāt poṣavantāv ājya bhāgau bhavataḥ /

Therefore the two butter portions contain [words denoting] nourishment.

5.6.19

yajamānam eva tat poṣayati / (Cāturmāsya)

Thereby he causes the sacrificer to prosper.

5.6.20

atha yat prātaḥ pūrṇa darveṇa caranti /

Now, in that they perform with a full ladle in the morning,

5.6.21

pūrve dyuḥ karmaṇā eva etat prātaḥ karma upasaṃtanoti / (Cāturmāsya)

he thereby connects the morning rite with the rite of the previous day.