Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 6.5

6.5.1

yasya evam vidvān brahmā bhavati /

who has a brahman knowing thus.

6.5.2

tad āhur yad ṛcā hotā hotā bhavati yajuṣā adhvaryur adhvaryuḥ sāmnā udgātā udgātā kena brahmā brahmā bhavati iti / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

On this they say: 'Since by the verse the hotṛ becomes the hotṛ, by the formula the adhvaryu becomes the adhvaryu, [and] by the chant the udgātṛ becomes the udgātṛ, by what does the brahman become the brahman?'

vi. 11. They say ‘Since it is by the Ṛc that the Hotṛ becomes Hotṛ, by the Yajus that the Adhvaryu becomes Adhvaryu, by the Sāman that the Udgātṛ becomes Udgātṛ, by what does the Brahman become Brahman?’ That sap of brilliance which he developed from the threefold lore, by that the Brahman becomes Brahman. They say ‘What should he know and what his metre whom he should choose as Brahman?’ ‘An Adhvaryu’, some say, ‘he knows the places for moving about.’ ‘A Chandoga,’ some say, ‘so are his Haviryajñas performed with the three Vedas.’ ‘A Bahvṛca’ is however the rule, ‘The other two Vedas are attendants of that (the

6.5.3

yam eva amum trayyai vidyāyai tejo rasam prāvṛhati /

That very bright sap which he drew out from the threefold knowledge—

6.5.4

tena brahmā brahmā bhavati / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

by that does the brahman become the brahman.

6.5.5

tad āhuḥ kiṃvidam kim chandasam brāhmaṇam vṛṇīta iti /

On this they say: 'What kind of knower, of what metre, should one choose as the brahman?'

6.5.6

adhvaryum ity eke / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

'An adhvaryu,' say some,

6.5.7

sa parikramāṇām kṣetrajño bhavati iti /

'for he knows the field of movements.'

6.5.8

chandogam ity eke /

'A chanter (chandoga),' say some,

6.5.9

tathā ha asya tribhir vedair havir yajñāḥ saṃskriyanta iti / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

'for in this way his havis-sacrifices are prepared with the three Vedas.'

6.5.10

bahvṛcam iti tv eva sthitam /

'A Ṛgvedin (bahvṛca),' however, is the settled rule.

6.5.11

etat parisaraṇāv itarau vedau /

The other two Vedas revolve around this [one].

6.5.12

atra bhūyiṣṭhā hotrā āyattā bhavanti iti / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

Here the most numerous priestly functions (hotrā) are situated.

6.5.13

ṛgbhir grahā gṛhyante /

With verses the draughts are drawn;

6.5.14

ṛkṣu sāmāni gīyante /

upon verses the chants are sung;

6.5.15

tasmād bahvṛca eva syāt / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

therefore he should indeed be a Ṛgvedin.

6.5.16

tad āhuḥ kiyad brahmā yajñasya saṃskaroti kiyad anya ṛtvija iti /

On this they say: 'How much of the sacrifice does the brahman prepare, [and] how much do the other officiating priests?'

6.5.17

ardham iti brūyāt / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

'Half,' he should say.

6.5.18

dve vai yajñasya vartanī /

Two indeed are the tracks of the sacrifice:

6.5.19

vācā anyā saṃskriyate /

the one is prepared with speech;

6.5.20

manasā anyā / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

the other with the mind.

6.5.21

sā yā vācā saṃskriyate /

That which is prepared with speech,

6.5.22

tām anya ṛtvijaḥ saṃskurvanti /

that the other officiating priests prepare;

6.5.23

atha yā manasā tām brahmā / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

now, that which [is prepared] with the mind, that the brahman [prepares].

6.5.24

tasmād yāvad ṛcā yajuṣā sāmnā kuryuḥ /

Therefore, as long as they act with verse, formula, [or] chant,

6.5.25

tūṣṇīm tāvad brahmā āsīta / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

so long should the brahman sit silent;

6.5.26

ardham hi tad yajñasya saṃskaroti /

for thus he prepares half of the sacrifice.

6.5.27

atha yatra enam brūyuḥ /

Then, when they say to him:

6.5.28

brahman pracariṣyāmo brahman praṇeṣyāmo brahman prasthāsyāmo brahmant stoṣyāma iti vā / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

'Brahman, we shall proceed,' 'Brahman, we shall lead forward,' 'Brahman, we shall set out,' or 'Brahman, we shall praise,'

6.5.29

om ity etāvatā prasuyāt /

he should give the impulse with just this much: 'Om.'

6.5.30

etadd ha vā ekam akṣaram trayīm vidyām prati prati / (Zūlagava: brahmatva)

For this one syllable is equivalent to the entire threefold knowledge;