Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 8.6

8.6.1

atho yān eva adhvaryuḥ śakalān paricinoti tān pūrvayā anuvadati /

Moreover, whichever chips of wood the adhvaryu heaps around, those he accompanies with the former [verse];

8.6.2

yam uttamam abhi nidadhāti tam uttarayā / (soma: pravargya)

the highest one which he places down upon [them], that [he accompanies] with the latter [verse].

8.6.3

śukram te anyad yajatam te anyad arhan bibharti sāyakāni dhanvā iti pauṣṇīm ca raudrīm ca abhirūpe abhiṣṭauti / (soma: pravargya)

With 'One [form] of yours is bright, one is worthy of sacrifice' [and] 'Worthy, he bears the arrows and the bow', he praises with two appropriate verses, one addressed to Pūṣan and one addressed to Rudra.

8.6.4

pauṣṇam ca eva raudram ca svāhā kāram etābhyām anuvadati /

He accompanies the svāhā-call addressed to Pūṣan and that addressed to Rudra with these two.

8.6.5

atho yāv eva adhvaryuḥ suvarṇa rajatau hiraṇya śakalau karoti tāv eva etābhyām anuvadati / (soma: pravargya)

Moreover, the two gold and silver flakes of gold which the adhvaryu prepares, those two he accompanies with these two [verses].

8.6.6

pataṅgam aktam asurasya māyayā iti /

[With the verses beginning:] 'The bird anointed by the magic of the Asura...'

8.6.7

prāṇo vai pataṅgaḥ /

The bird is breath.

8.6.8

vāyur vai prāṇaḥ /

Vāyu is breath.

8.6.9

vāyavyam eva svāhā kāram etābhir anuvadati / (soma: pravargya)

With these [verses], he echoes the svāhā-call belonging to Vāyu.

8.6.10

apaśyam tvā manasā cekitānam ity etad asya āyatane prajā kāmasya ahiṣṭuyāt /

In place of this [hymn], for one desiring offspring, he should praise with: 'I saw thee with my mind, discerning...'

8.6.11

atho ubhe asampanna kārī / (soma: pravargya)

Moreover, both accomplish the desired end.

8.6.12

srakve drapsasya dhamataḥ samasvarann iti sarvam /

The whole [hymn]: 'At the corner of the drop blowing, they sounded together...'

viii. 5. ‘They of the sounding drop have sounded at the rim’ is a whole (hymn) and ‘The strainer for thee is outspread, O Brahmaṇaspati’ are two verses. ‘What time the Dhiṣaṇās spread out the strainer’ is one

8.6.13

pavitram te vitatam brahmaṇaspata iti dve /

Two [verses]: 'Thy filter is spread out, O Brahmaṇaspati...'

viii. 5. ‘They of the sounding drop have sounded at the rim’ is a whole (hymn) and ‘The strainer for thee is outspread, O Brahmaṇaspati’ are two verses. ‘What time the Dhiṣaṇās spread out the strainer’ is one

8.6.14

vi yat pavitram dhiṣaṇā atanvata ity ekā / (soma: pravargya)

One [verse]: 'When the two Dhiṣaṇās spread out the filter...'

viii. 5. ‘They of the sounding drop have sounded at the rim’ is a whole (hymn) and ‘The strainer for thee is outspread, O Brahmaṇaspati’ are two verses. ‘What time the Dhiṣaṇās spread out the strainer’ is one

8.6.15

tā dvādaśa pāvamānyaḥ /

These are twelve Pavamāna verses.

verse; they make up twelve (verses) for (Soma) the purifying; verily with these he accompanies the call of Hail! for Soma. ‘May Vena impel those born of Pṛṣni’ (he says); Vena is Indra; verily with these verses he accompanies the call of Hail! for Indra. Of this (hymn) one verse, ‘The eagle flying in the vault,’ he omits; this is the radiance of the self; this (verse) he inserts in the later (verses), thereby it is not removed. For one who is spoken ill of on both sides of the Vena (hymn) he should utter in praise (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying; Vena is the self; (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying are a purifier; verily thus he purifies him. He utters in praise verses for Brahmaṇaspati which are appropriate, ‘Thee, lord of hosts, we invoke’; that is the head; Brahmaṇaspati is the holy power; verily by the holy power he perfects the head. When he approaches (the verse ) ‘May we speak aloud in the assembly with good sons,’ he should think of a son for one desiring a son; he obtains a son. ‘What offering will win your favour, O Açvins?’ these are nine aimless verses. The aimless verses are as it were of the Gāyatrī metre; breath is connected with the Gāyatrī; the aimless verses are breath. (He utters) three Anuṣṭubh verses, ‘Hither with all aids’; that is speech. ‘Let Viṣṇu form the womb,’ that (hymn ) should he utter in praise in the house of him who desires offspring. Moreover both (should he utter) when there is something unaccomplished.

8.6.16

saumyam eva svāhā kāram etābhir anuvadati /

With these, he echoes the svāhā-call belonging to Soma.

verse; they make up twelve (verses) for (Soma) the purifying; verily with these he accompanies the call of Hail! for Soma. ‘May Vena impel those born of Pṛṣni’ (he says); Vena is Indra; verily with these verses he accompanies the call of Hail! for Indra. Of this (hymn) one verse, ‘The eagle flying in the vault,’ he omits; this is the radiance of the self; this (verse) he inserts in the later (verses), thereby it is not removed. For one who is spoken ill of on both sides of the Vena (hymn) he should utter in praise (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying; Vena is the self; (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying are a purifier; verily thus he purifies him. He utters in praise verses for Brahmaṇaspati which are appropriate, ‘Thee, lord of hosts, we invoke’; that is the head; Brahmaṇaspati is the holy power; verily by the holy power he perfects the head. When he approaches (the verse ) ‘May we speak aloud in the assembly with good sons,’ he should think of a son for one desiring a son; he obtains a son. ‘What offering will win your favour, O Açvins?’ these are nine aimless verses. The aimless verses are as it were of the Gāyatrī metre; breath is connected with the Gāyatrī; the aimless verses are breath. (He utters) three Anuṣṭubh verses, ‘Hither with all aids’; that is speech. ‘Let Viṣṇu form the womb,’ that (hymn ) should he utter in praise in the house of him who desires offspring. Moreover both (should he utter) when there is something unaccomplished.

8.6.17

ayam venaś codayat pṛśni garbhā iti / (soma: pravargya)

[With the hymn beginning:] 'This Vena stirred those having the spotted cow in their womb...'

verse; they make up twelve (verses) for (Soma) the purifying; verily with these he accompanies the call of Hail! for Soma. ‘May Vena impel those born of Pṛṣni’ (he says); Vena is Indra; verily with these verses he accompanies the call of Hail! for Indra. Of this (hymn) one verse, ‘The eagle flying in the vault,’ he omits; this is the radiance of the self; this (verse) he inserts in the later (verses), thereby it is not removed. For one who is spoken ill of on both sides of the Vena (hymn) he should utter in praise (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying; Vena is the self; (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying are a purifier; verily thus he purifies him. He utters in praise verses for Brahmaṇaspati which are appropriate, ‘Thee, lord of hosts, we invoke’; that is the head; Brahmaṇaspati is the holy power; verily by the holy power he perfects the head. When he approaches (the verse ) ‘May we speak aloud in the assembly with good sons,’ he should think of a son for one desiring a son; he obtains a son. ‘What offering will win your favour, O Açvins?’ these are nine aimless verses. The aimless verses are as it were of the Gāyatrī metre; breath is connected with the Gāyatrī; the aimless verses are breath. (He utters) three Anuṣṭubh verses, ‘Hither with all aids’; that is speech. ‘Let Viṣṇu form the womb,’ that (hymn ) should he utter in praise in the house of him who desires offspring. Moreover both (should he utter) when there is something unaccomplished.

8.6.18

indro vai venaḥ /

Vena is Indra.

verse; they make up twelve (verses) for (Soma) the purifying; verily with these he accompanies the call of Hail! for Soma. ‘May Vena impel those born of Pṛṣni’ (he says); Vena is Indra; verily with these verses he accompanies the call of Hail! for Indra. Of this (hymn) one verse, ‘The eagle flying in the vault,’ he omits; this is the radiance of the self; this (verse) he inserts in the later (verses), thereby it is not removed. For one who is spoken ill of on both sides of the Vena (hymn) he should utter in praise (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying; Vena is the self; (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying are a purifier; verily thus he purifies him. He utters in praise verses for Brahmaṇaspati which are appropriate, ‘Thee, lord of hosts, we invoke’; that is the head; Brahmaṇaspati is the holy power; verily by the holy power he perfects the head. When he approaches (the verse ) ‘May we speak aloud in the assembly with good sons,’ he should think of a son for one desiring a son; he obtains a son. ‘What offering will win your favour, O Açvins?’ these are nine aimless verses. The aimless verses are as it were of the Gāyatrī metre; breath is connected with the Gāyatrī; the aimless verses are breath. (He utters) three Anuṣṭubh verses, ‘Hither with all aids’; that is speech. ‘Let Viṣṇu form the womb,’ that (hymn ) should he utter in praise in the house of him who desires offspring. Moreover both (should he utter) when there is something unaccomplished.

8.6.19

aindram eva svāhā kāram etābhir anuvadati / (soma: pravargya)

With these, he echoes the svāhā-call belonging to Indra.

verse; they make up twelve (verses) for (Soma) the purifying; verily with these he accompanies the call of Hail! for Soma. ‘May Vena impel those born of Pṛṣni’ (he says); Vena is Indra; verily with these verses he accompanies the call of Hail! for Indra. Of this (hymn) one verse, ‘The eagle flying in the vault,’ he omits; this is the radiance of the self; this (verse) he inserts in the later (verses), thereby it is not removed. For one who is spoken ill of on both sides of the Vena (hymn) he should utter in praise (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying; Vena is the self; (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying are a purifier; verily thus he purifies him. He utters in praise verses for Brahmaṇaspati which are appropriate, ‘Thee, lord of hosts, we invoke’; that is the head; Brahmaṇaspati is the holy power; verily by the holy power he perfects the head. When he approaches (the verse ) ‘May we speak aloud in the assembly with good sons,’ he should think of a son for one desiring a son; he obtains a son. ‘What offering will win your favour, O Açvins?’ these are nine aimless verses. The aimless verses are as it were of the Gāyatrī metre; breath is connected with the Gāyatrī; the aimless verses are breath. (He utters) three Anuṣṭubh verses, ‘Hither with all aids’; that is speech. ‘Let Viṣṇu form the womb,’ that (hymn ) should he utter in praise in the house of him who desires offspring. Moreover both (should he utter) when there is something unaccomplished.

8.6.20

tasya ekām utsṛjati nāke suparṇam upa yat patantam iti /

He omits one [verse] of it: 'The fair-winged one flying upon the vault of heaven...'

verse; they make up twelve (verses) for (Soma) the purifying; verily with these he accompanies the call of Hail! for Soma. ‘May Vena impel those born of Pṛṣni’ (he says); Vena is Indra; verily with these verses he accompanies the call of Hail! for Indra. Of this (hymn) one verse, ‘The eagle flying in the vault,’ he omits; this is the radiance of the self; this (verse) he inserts in the later (verses), thereby it is not removed. For one who is spoken ill of on both sides of the Vena (hymn) he should utter in praise (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying; Vena is the self; (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying are a purifier; verily thus he purifies him. He utters in praise verses for Brahmaṇaspati which are appropriate, ‘Thee, lord of hosts, we invoke’; that is the head; Brahmaṇaspati is the holy power; verily by the holy power he perfects the head. When he approaches (the verse ) ‘May we speak aloud in the assembly with good sons,’ he should think of a son for one desiring a son; he obtains a son. ‘What offering will win your favour, O Açvins?’ these are nine aimless verses. The aimless verses are as it were of the Gāyatrī metre; breath is connected with the Gāyatrī; the aimless verses are breath. (He utters) three Anuṣṭubh verses, ‘Hither with all aids’; that is speech. ‘Let Viṣṇu form the womb,’ that (hymn ) should he utter in praise in the house of him who desires offspring. Moreover both (should he utter) when there is something unaccomplished.

8.6.21

so ayam ātmano atīkāśaḥ / (soma: pravargya)

This is an omission of the self.

verse; they make up twelve (verses) for (Soma) the purifying; verily with these he accompanies the call of Hail! for Soma. ‘May Vena impel those born of Pṛṣni’ (he says); Vena is Indra; verily with these verses he accompanies the call of Hail! for Indra. Of this (hymn) one verse, ‘The eagle flying in the vault,’ he omits; this is the radiance of the self; this (verse) he inserts in the later (verses), thereby it is not removed. For one who is spoken ill of on both sides of the Vena (hymn) he should utter in praise (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying; Vena is the self; (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying are a purifier; verily thus he purifies him. He utters in praise verses for Brahmaṇaspati which are appropriate, ‘Thee, lord of hosts, we invoke’; that is the head; Brahmaṇaspati is the holy power; verily by the holy power he perfects the head. When he approaches (the verse ) ‘May we speak aloud in the assembly with good sons,’ he should think of a son for one desiring a son; he obtains a son. ‘What offering will win your favour, O Açvins?’ these are nine aimless verses. The aimless verses are as it were of the Gāyatrī metre; breath is connected with the Gāyatrī; the aimless verses are breath. (He utters) three Anuṣṭubh verses, ‘Hither with all aids’; that is speech. ‘Let Viṣṇu form the womb,’ that (hymn ) should he utter in praise in the house of him who desires offspring. Moreover both (should he utter) when there is something unaccomplished.

8.6.22

tām uttarāsu karoti /

He places it among the later [verses].

verse; they make up twelve (verses) for (Soma) the purifying; verily with these he accompanies the call of Hail! for Soma. ‘May Vena impel those born of Pṛṣni’ (he says); Vena is Indra; verily with these verses he accompanies the call of Hail! for Indra. Of this (hymn) one verse, ‘The eagle flying in the vault,’ he omits; this is the radiance of the self; this (verse) he inserts in the later (verses), thereby it is not removed. For one who is spoken ill of on both sides of the Vena (hymn) he should utter in praise (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying; Vena is the self; (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying are a purifier; verily thus he purifies him. He utters in praise verses for Brahmaṇaspati which are appropriate, ‘Thee, lord of hosts, we invoke’; that is the head; Brahmaṇaspati is the holy power; verily by the holy power he perfects the head. When he approaches (the verse ) ‘May we speak aloud in the assembly with good sons,’ he should think of a son for one desiring a son; he obtains a son. ‘What offering will win your favour, O Açvins?’ these are nine aimless verses. The aimless verses are as it were of the Gāyatrī metre; breath is connected with the Gāyatrī; the aimless verses are breath. (He utters) three Anuṣṭubh verses, ‘Hither with all aids’; that is speech. ‘Let Viṣṇu form the womb,’ that (hymn ) should he utter in praise in the house of him who desires offspring. Moreover both (should he utter) when there is something unaccomplished.

8.6.23

tena u sā ānantaritā bhavati /

Thereby it does not become omitted.

verse; they make up twelve (verses) for (Soma) the purifying; verily with these he accompanies the call of Hail! for Soma. ‘May Vena impel those born of Pṛṣni’ (he says); Vena is Indra; verily with these verses he accompanies the call of Hail! for Indra. Of this (hymn) one verse, ‘The eagle flying in the vault,’ he omits; this is the radiance of the self; this (verse) he inserts in the later (verses), thereby it is not removed. For one who is spoken ill of on both sides of the Vena (hymn) he should utter in praise (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying; Vena is the self; (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying are a purifier; verily thus he purifies him. He utters in praise verses for Brahmaṇaspati which are appropriate, ‘Thee, lord of hosts, we invoke’; that is the head; Brahmaṇaspati is the holy power; verily by the holy power he perfects the head. When he approaches (the verse ) ‘May we speak aloud in the assembly with good sons,’ he should think of a son for one desiring a son; he obtains a son. ‘What offering will win your favour, O Açvins?’ these are nine aimless verses. The aimless verses are as it were of the Gāyatrī metre; breath is connected with the Gāyatrī; the aimless verses are breath. (He utters) three Anuṣṭubh verses, ‘Hither with all aids’; that is speech. ‘Let Viṣṇu form the womb,’ that (hymn ) should he utter in praise in the house of him who desires offspring. Moreover both (should he utter) when there is something unaccomplished.

8.6.24

ubhayato venam pāpa uktasya.(?).pāvamānīr abhiṣṭuyāt / (soma: pravargya)

For one accused of evil, he should recite the Pavamāna verses on both sides of the Vena [hymn].

verse; they make up twelve (verses) for (Soma) the purifying; verily with these he accompanies the call of Hail! for Soma. ‘May Vena impel those born of Pṛṣni’ (he says); Vena is Indra; verily with these verses he accompanies the call of Hail! for Indra. Of this (hymn) one verse, ‘The eagle flying in the vault,’ he omits; this is the radiance of the self; this (verse) he inserts in the later (verses), thereby it is not removed. For one who is spoken ill of on both sides of the Vena (hymn) he should utter in praise (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying; Vena is the self; (the verses) for (Soma) the purifying are a purifier; verily thus he purifies him. He utters in praise verses for Brahmaṇaspati which are appropriate, ‘Thee, lord of hosts, we invoke’; that is the head; Brahmaṇaspati is the holy power; verily by the holy power he perfects the head. When he approaches (the verse ) ‘May we speak aloud in the assembly with good sons,’ he should think of a son for one desiring a son; he obtains a son. ‘What offering will win your favour, O Açvins?’ these are nine aimless verses. The aimless verses are as it were of the Gāyatrī metre; breath is connected with the Gāyatrī; the aimless verses are breath. (He utters) three Anuṣṭubh verses, ‘Hither with all aids’; that is speech. ‘Let Viṣṇu form the womb,’ that (hymn ) should he utter in praise in the house of him who desires offspring. Moreover both (should he utter) when there is something unaccomplished.

8.6.25

ātmā vai venaḥ /

Vena is the self.

8.6.26

pavitram pāvamānyaḥ /

The Pavamāna verses are a purifier.

8.6.27

punāty eva enam tat / (soma: pravargya)

Thus he purifies him.