Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 8.2

8.2.1

etayā nv atra ca cāturmāsyeṣu ca /

With this [verse] now here, and in the Cāturmāsyas.

viii. 2. With this (verse he concludes) here and in the four-monthly sacrifices; when an animal is offered, after reciting this first he concludes with a Triṣṭubh, 'By the sacrifice the gods sacrificed the sacrifice'; cattle are connected with the Triṣṭubh; verily (it serves) to obtain cattle. (He recites) the first thrice, the last thrice; they make up seventeen; Prajāpati is seventeenfold; that rite is beneficial which is commensurate with Prajāpati. He recites seventeen kindling verses; Prajāpati is seventeenfold; that rite is beneficial which is commensurate with Prajāpati. The two butter portions contain references to the slaying of Vṛtra; verily (they serve) for the slaying of evil; moreover he does not depart from the model of the full moon sacrifice. Some make them contain the word 'guest'; but the rule is that they should contain references to the slaying of Vṛtra. Some say 'They should have Ṛc verses as the offering verses,' stating 'These deities have Ṛc verses as the offering verses in the Upasads.' But the rule is that they should have offering verses with the word 'delighting'. To him that is Soma he sacrifices as Viṣṇu; in that being bought he enters this (universe) as it were, that is his form as Viṣṇu. In that, further, he offers sacrifice to him that is Soma as Viṣṇu, here what in this name is Viṣṇu is to be eaten in yonder name of Soma. Therefore they offer saying 'Soma'; so do they eat. The invitatory and offering verses of the oblation are Triṣṭubh verses; the Triṣṭubh is might and strength; verily thus he confers might and strength upon the sacrificer. The invitatory and offering verses (of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering) are Triṣṭubh verses, addressed to Agni, containing (the words) 'guest' and 'chariot', 'The Hotṛ of the sacrifice, of brilliant

8.2.2

triḥ prathamayā trir uttamayā ṣoḍaśa sampadyante / (soma: agni manthana)

With the first [recited] thrice, [and] with the last thrice, they amount to sixteen.

8.2.3

ṣoḍala kalam vā idam sarvam /

This whole [world] indeed consists of sixteen parts.

8.2.4

asya eva sarvasya āptyai /

[It is] for the attainment of this whole [world].

8.2.5

atha yatra paśur ālabhyate / (soma: agni manthana)

Now, where an animal is seized,

8.2.6

tad etām parācīm anūcya yajñena yajñam ayajanta devā iti triṣṭubhā paridadhāti / (soma: agni manthana)

there, having recited this [verse] without stopping, he concludes with a Triṣṭubh verse: 'With the sacrifice the gods sacrificed to the sacrifice...'

8.2.7

traiṣṭubhāḥ paśavaḥ paśūnām eva āptyai /

Cattle are connected with the Triṣṭubh; [it is] indeed for the attainment of cattle.

8.2.8

triḥ prathamayā trir uttamayā saptadaśa sampadyante / (soma: agni manthana)

With the first [recited] thrice, [and] with the last thrice, they amount to seventeen.

8.2.9

saptadaśo vai prajāpatiḥ /

Prajāpati is indeed seventeenfold.

8.2.10

etad vā ārdhnukam dharma yat prajāpati sammitam / (soma: agni manthana)

That rite is indeed prosperous which is commensurate with Prajāpati.

8.2.12

saptadaśa sāmidhenīr anvāha /
saptadaśo vai prajāpatiḥ /

He recites seventeen kindling verses.
Prajāpati is indeed seventeenfold.

8.2.13

etad vā ārdhnukam karma yat prajāpati sammitam / (soma: aAtithya iṣṭi)

That rite is indeed prosperous which is commensurate with Prajāpati.

8.2.14

vārtraghnāv ājya bhāgau bhavataḥ pāpmana eva vadhāya /

The two butter portions contain the slayer of Vṛtra, indeed for the slaying of evil.

8.2.15

atho ha asya paurṇamāsāt tantrād anitam bhavati / (soma: aAtithya iṣṭi)

And also his [sacrifice] does not deviate from the paradigm of the Full Moon.

8.2.16

atithimantau ha eke kurvanti /

Some indeed make [the two butter portions] containing the word 'guest'.

8.2.17

vārtraghnau tv eva sthitau /

However, they are established as containing the slayer of Vṛtra.

8.2.18

ṛg yājyau syātām iti ha eka āhuḥ / (soma: aAtithya iṣṭi)

Some indeed say: 'The two offering verses should be verses from the Ṛgveda,'

8.2.19

ṛg yājyā vā etā devatā upasatsu bhavanti iti vadantaḥ /

saying: 'These deities in the Upasads have offering verses from the Ṛgveda.'

8.2.20

juṣāṇa yājyau tv eva sthitau / (soma: aAtithya iṣṭi)

However, they are established as having offering verses containing the word juṣāṇa.

8.2.21

somam santam viṣṇur iti yajati /

Being Soma, he sacrifices to him as Viṣṇu.

8.2.22

tad yad eva idam krīto viśati iva /

Because having been purchased, he enters, as it were;

8.2.23

tad u ha eva asya vaiṣṇavam rūpam /

that indeed is his Vaiṣṇava form.

8.2.24

yad v eva somam santam viṣṇur iti yajati / (soma: aAtithya iṣṭi)

And since, being Soma, he sacrifices to him as Viṣṇu,

8.2.25

attā eva etena nāmnā yad viṣṇur iti /

by that name, as 'Viṣṇu', he is the eater;

8.2.26

ādyo amunā yat soma iti / (soma: aAtithya iṣṭi)

by that [name], as 'Soma', he is the food.

8.2.27

tasmāt soma iti vadanto juhvaty evam bhakṣayanti /

Therefore, saying 'Soma', they offer and consume thus.

8.2.28

triṣṭubhau haviṣo yājyā puronuvākye /

The offering verse and the invitatory verse of the oblation are Triṣṭubh verses.

8.2.29

balam vai vīryam triṣṭup /

The Triṣṭubh is indeed strength and manly power.

8.2.30

balam eva tad vīryam yajamāne dadhāti / (soma: aAtithya iṣṭi)

He thereby places strength and manly power in the sacrificer.