Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 6.1

6.1.1

prajāpatiḥ prajāti kāmas tapo atapyata /

Prajāpati, desiring offspring, performed austerity.

vi. 1. Prajāpati, being desirous of propagation, underwent penance; from him when heated were born five, Agni, Vāyu, Āditya, Candramas, and Uṣas as fifth. He said to them, ‘Do ye also practise fervour.’ They consecrated themselves; then when they had consecrated themselves and had acquired fervour, Uṣas, offspring of Prajāpati, taking the form of an Apsaras, came out in front of them; to her their minds inclined; they poured out seed; they went to Prajāpati, their father, and said, ‘We have poured out seed; let it not remain here ’. Prajāpati made a golden bowl, an arrow breadth in height and similar in breadth; in it he poured the seed; then arose he of a thousand eyes, of a thousand feet, with a thousand fitted (arrows).

6.1.2

tasmāt taptāt pañca ajāyanta / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

From him, heated [with austerity], five were born:

vi. 1. Prajāpati, being desirous of propagation, underwent penance; from him when heated were born five, Agni, Vāyu, Āditya, Candramas, and Uṣas as fifth. He said to them, ‘Do ye also practise fervour.’ They consecrated themselves; then when they had consecrated themselves and had acquired fervour, Uṣas, offspring of Prajāpati, taking the form of an Apsaras, came out in front of them; to her their minds inclined; they poured out seed; they went to Prajāpati, their father, and said, ‘We have poured out seed; let it not remain here ’. Prajāpati made a golden bowl, an arrow breadth in height and similar in breadth; in it he poured the seed; then arose he of a thousand eyes, of a thousand feet, with a thousand fitted (arrows).

6.1.3

aghir vāyur ādityaś candramā uṣāḥ pañcamī /

Agni, Vāyu, Āditya, Candramas, and Uṣas as the fifth.

vi. 1. Prajāpati, being desirous of propagation, underwent penance; from him when heated were born five, Agni, Vāyu, Āditya, Candramas, and Uṣas as fifth. He said to them, ‘Do ye also practise fervour.’ They consecrated themselves; then when they had consecrated themselves and had acquired fervour, Uṣas, offspring of Prajāpati, taking the form of an Apsaras, came out in front of them; to her their minds inclined; they poured out seed; they went to Prajāpati, their father, and said, ‘We have poured out seed; let it not remain here ’. Prajāpati made a golden bowl, an arrow breadth in height and similar in breadth; in it he poured the seed; then arose he of a thousand eyes, of a thousand feet, with a thousand fitted (arrows).

6.1.4

tān abravīd yūyam api tapyadhvam iti /

He said to them: "Do you also perform austerity."

vi. 1. Prajāpati, being desirous of propagation, underwent penance; from him when heated were born five, Agni, Vāyu, Āditya, Candramas, and Uṣas as fifth. He said to them, ‘Do ye also practise fervour.’ They consecrated themselves; then when they had consecrated themselves and had acquired fervour, Uṣas, offspring of Prajāpati, taking the form of an Apsaras, came out in front of them; to her their minds inclined; they poured out seed; they went to Prajāpati, their father, and said, ‘We have poured out seed; let it not remain here ’. Prajāpati made a golden bowl, an arrow breadth in height and similar in breadth; in it he poured the seed; then arose he of a thousand eyes, of a thousand feet, with a thousand fitted (arrows).

6.1.5

te adīkṣanta / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

They consecrated themselves.

vi. 1. Prajāpati, being desirous of propagation, underwent penance; from him when heated were born five, Agni, Vāyu, Āditya, Candramas, and Uṣas as fifth. He said to them, ‘Do ye also practise fervour.’ They consecrated themselves; then when they had consecrated themselves and had acquired fervour, Uṣas, offspring of Prajāpati, taking the form of an Apsaras, came out in front of them; to her their minds inclined; they poured out seed; they went to Prajāpati, their father, and said, ‘We have poured out seed; let it not remain here ’. Prajāpati made a golden bowl, an arrow breadth in height and similar in breadth; in it he poured the seed; then arose he of a thousand eyes, of a thousand feet, with a thousand fitted (arrows).

6.1.6

tān dīkṣitāṃs tepānān uṣāḥ prājāpatya apsaro rupam kṛtvā purastāt pratyudait / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

To them, consecrated and practicing austerity, Uṣas, daughter of Prajāpati, having assumed the form of an Apsaras, came forward in front.

vi. 1. Prajāpati, being desirous of propagation, underwent penance; from him when heated were born five, Agni, Vāyu, Āditya, Candramas, and Uṣas as fifth. He said to them, ‘Do ye also practise fervour.’ They consecrated themselves; then when they had consecrated themselves and had acquired fervour, Uṣas, offspring of Prajāpati, taking the form of an Apsaras, came out in front of them; to her their minds inclined; they poured out seed; they went to Prajāpati, their father, and said, ‘We have poured out seed; let it not remain here ’. Prajāpati made a golden bowl, an arrow breadth in height and similar in breadth; in it he poured the seed; then arose he of a thousand eyes, of a thousand feet, with a thousand fitted (arrows).

6.1.7

tasyām eṣām manaḥ samapatat /

Their mind fell upon her.

vi. 1. Prajāpati, being desirous of propagation, underwent penance; from him when heated were born five, Agni, Vāyu, Āditya, Candramas, and Uṣas as fifth. He said to them, ‘Do ye also practise fervour.’ They consecrated themselves; then when they had consecrated themselves and had acquired fervour, Uṣas, offspring of Prajāpati, taking the form of an Apsaras, came out in front of them; to her their minds inclined; they poured out seed; they went to Prajāpati, their father, and said, ‘We have poured out seed; let it not remain here ’. Prajāpati made a golden bowl, an arrow breadth in height and similar in breadth; in it he poured the seed; then arose he of a thousand eyes, of a thousand feet, with a thousand fitted (arrows).

6.1.8

te reto asiñcanta /

They shed semen.

vi. 1. Prajāpati, being desirous of propagation, underwent penance; from him when heated were born five, Agni, Vāyu, Āditya, Candramas, and Uṣas as fifth. He said to them, ‘Do ye also practise fervour.’ They consecrated themselves; then when they had consecrated themselves and had acquired fervour, Uṣas, offspring of Prajāpati, taking the form of an Apsaras, came out in front of them; to her their minds inclined; they poured out seed; they went to Prajāpati, their father, and said, ‘We have poured out seed; let it not remain here ’. Prajāpati made a golden bowl, an arrow breadth in height and similar in breadth; in it he poured the seed; then arose he of a thousand eyes, of a thousand feet, with a thousand fitted (arrows).

6.1.9

te prajāpatim pitaram ity abruvan / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

They went to Prajāpati their father and said:

vi. 1. Prajāpati, being desirous of propagation, underwent penance; from him when heated were born five, Agni, Vāyu, Āditya, Candramas, and Uṣas as fifth. He said to them, ‘Do ye also practise fervour.’ They consecrated themselves; then when they had consecrated themselves and had acquired fervour, Uṣas, offspring of Prajāpati, taking the form of an Apsaras, came out in front of them; to her their minds inclined; they poured out seed; they went to Prajāpati, their father, and said, ‘We have poured out seed; let it not remain here ’. Prajāpati made a golden bowl, an arrow breadth in height and similar in breadth; in it he poured the seed; then arose he of a thousand eyes, of a thousand feet, with a thousand fitted (arrows).

6.1.10

reto vā asicāmahai tan no māmuyā bhūd iti /

"We have shed semen; let this not be lost to us!"

vi. 1. Prajāpati, being desirous of propagation, underwent penance; from him when heated were born five, Agni, Vāyu, Āditya, Candramas, and Uṣas as fifth. He said to them, ‘Do ye also practise fervour.’ They consecrated themselves; then when they had consecrated themselves and had acquired fervour, Uṣas, offspring of Prajāpati, taking the form of an Apsaras, came out in front of them; to her their minds inclined; they poured out seed; they went to Prajāpati, their father, and said, ‘We have poured out seed; let it not remain here ’. Prajāpati made a golden bowl, an arrow breadth in height and similar in breadth; in it he poured the seed; then arose he of a thousand eyes, of a thousand feet, with a thousand fitted (arrows).

6.1.11

sa prajāpatir hiraṇmayam camasam akarod iṣu mātram ūrdhvam evam tiryañcam / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

Prajāpati made a golden bowl, an arrow's length high and the same across.

vi. 1. Prajāpati, being desirous of propagation, underwent penance; from him when heated were born five, Agni, Vāyu, Āditya, Candramas, and Uṣas as fifth. He said to them, ‘Do ye also practise fervour.’ They consecrated themselves; then when they had consecrated themselves and had acquired fervour, Uṣas, offspring of Prajāpati, taking the form of an Apsaras, came out in front of them; to her their minds inclined; they poured out seed; they went to Prajāpati, their father, and said, ‘We have poured out seed; let it not remain here ’. Prajāpati made a golden bowl, an arrow breadth in height and similar in breadth; in it he poured the seed; then arose he of a thousand eyes, of a thousand feet, with a thousand fitted (arrows).

6.1.12

tasminn enat samasiñcat /

In it he poured it together.

vi. 1. Prajāpati, being desirous of propagation, underwent penance; from him when heated were born five, Agni, Vāyu, Āditya, Candramas, and Uṣas as fifth. He said to them, ‘Do ye also practise fervour.’ They consecrated themselves; then when they had consecrated themselves and had acquired fervour, Uṣas, offspring of Prajāpati, taking the form of an Apsaras, came out in front of them; to her their minds inclined; they poured out seed; they went to Prajāpati, their father, and said, ‘We have poured out seed; let it not remain here ’. Prajāpati made a golden bowl, an arrow breadth in height and similar in breadth; in it he poured the seed; then arose he of a thousand eyes, of a thousand feet, with a thousand fitted (arrows).

6.1.13

tata udatiṣṭhat sahasra akṣaḥ sahasra pāt / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

From it arose [a being] with a thousand eyes and a thousand feet,

vi. 1. Prajāpati, being desirous of propagation, underwent penance; from him when heated were born five, Agni, Vāyu, Āditya, Candramas, and Uṣas as fifth. He said to them, ‘Do ye also practise fervour.’ They consecrated themselves; then when they had consecrated themselves and had acquired fervour, Uṣas, offspring of Prajāpati, taking the form of an Apsaras, came out in front of them; to her their minds inclined; they poured out seed; they went to Prajāpati, their father, and said, ‘We have poured out seed; let it not remain here ’. Prajāpati made a golden bowl, an arrow breadth in height and similar in breadth; in it he poured the seed; then arose he of a thousand eyes, of a thousand feet, with a thousand fitted (arrows).

6.1.14

sahasreṇa pratihitābhiḥ /

with a thousand [arrows] fitted [to his bow].

vi. 1. Prajāpati, being desirous of propagation, underwent penance; from him when heated were born five, Agni, Vāyu, Āditya, Candramas, and Uṣas as fifth. He said to them, ‘Do ye also practise fervour.’ They consecrated themselves; then when they had consecrated themselves and had acquired fervour, Uṣas, offspring of Prajāpati, taking the form of an Apsaras, came out in front of them; to her their minds inclined; they poured out seed; they went to Prajāpati, their father, and said, ‘We have poured out seed; let it not remain here ’. Prajāpati made a golden bowl, an arrow breadth in height and similar in breadth; in it he poured the seed; then arose he of a thousand eyes, of a thousand feet, with a thousand fitted (arrows).

6.1.15

sa prajāpatim pitaram abhyāyacchat /

He directed himself toward Prajāpati his father.

vi. 2. He grasped his father Prajāpati; he said to him, ‘Why dost thou grasp me?’ He replied, ‘Give me a name, for without a name assigned I shall not eat food here.’ He answered, ‘Thou art Bhava.’ Since the waters are Bhava, thereby Bhava harms him not, nor his offspring, nor his cattle, nor any one claiming to be his. He who hates him becomes worse, not he who knows thus; his vow is ‘A wet garment should one wear.’

6.1.16

tam abravīt kathā mā abhyāyacchasi iti / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

He said to him: "Why do you direct yourself toward me?"

6.1.17

nāma me kurv ity abravīt /

"Give me a name!" he said.

6.1.18

na vā idam avihitena nāmnā annam atsyāmi iti / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

"For indeed, without a name assigned, I will not eat food here."