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Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 1

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1.1.1

In this world both gods and men were [together].

1.1.2

The gods, going to the heavenly world, said to Agni:

1.1.3

"Be you our overseer of this world."

1.1.4

Agni said to them:

1.1.5

"Now, since I am terrifying to you, most fierce to touch,

1.1.6

and men are disrespectful,

1.1.7

how will that be for you, that which is among men?"

1.1.8

The gods said:

1.1.9

"We shall indeed lay away your fierce bodies.

1.1.10

Now, which body of yours is auspicious, benevolent, fit for sacrifice,

1.1.11

with that you shall be here for men."

1.1.12

His Pavamāna [body] they placed in the waters,

1.1.13

the Pāvaka [body] in the wind,

1.1.14

the Śuci [body] in the sun.

1.1.15

Now that body of his which was auspicious, benevolent, fit for sacrifice,

1.1.16

with that he shone here for men.

1.1.17

These indeed are the bodies of Agni.

1.1.18

Now that he sacrifices to these deities,

1.1.19

here Agni, complete with his limbs, complete with his bodies, becomes propitiated.

1.1.20

They are indeed three.

1.1.21

Three, indeed, are these worlds;

1.1.22

thus he obtains these worlds.

1.2.1

The ritual paradigm of the full moon day belongs to the first [iṣṭi];

1.2.2

that of the new moon day to the second.

1.2.3

Thereby the New and Full Moon sacrifices are begun by him.

1.2.4

The two samyājyā offering verses for the first contain [the words] 'praised' (īḍita) and 'carrying the oblation' (havyavāh);

1.2.5

that is the characteristic mark of the samyājyā offering verse.

1.2.6

The two for the second contain the word 'Agni' twice;

1.2.7

for he sacrifices to two Agnis.

1.2.8

The third has seventeen kindling verses.

1.2.9

Seventeen kindling verses, indeed, have the iṣṭis and animal sacrifices;

1.2.10

thus he obtains the iṣṭis and animal sacrifices.

1.2.11

The two butter portions contain forms of [the root] as- ('to be').

1.2.12

"May I be [something]," thinking thus he establishes the sacred fires;

1.2.13

"May I be," thus he desires.

1.2.14

Even if he establishes the sacred fires while being, as it were, devoid of heroic power,

1.2.15

quickly indeed he comes into being,

1.2.16

he quickly attains the capacity for enjoyment,

1.2.17

who makes them contain forms of [the root] as-.

1.2.18

The two samyājyā offering verses are in the Virāj [metre];

1.2.19

the Virāj is prosperity, food.

1.2.20

[It is] for the attainment of prosperity, the Virāj, and food.

1.2.21

They are indeed Gāyatrīs;

1.2.22

Agni is of Gāyatrī nature, having the Gāyatrī metre.

1.2.23

By his own metre he establishes the sacred fires.

1.2.24

They are [recited] in a whisper.

1.2.25

The establishment of the sacred fires is indeed the shedding of seed;

1.2.26

in secret, indeed, seed is shed.

1.2.27

They are appropriate [in form];

1.2.28

what in the sacrifice is appropriate, that is successful, for the success of the sacrifice.

1.2.29

He should give twelve [cows];

1.2.30

twelve months, indeed, are the year;

1.2.31

[it is] for the attainment of the year.

1.2.32

He gives a horse as the thirteenth;

1.2.33

for the attainment of that which is the thirteenth month.

1.3.1

The gods and the Asuras were locked in conflict in these worlds.

1.3.2

Agni departed from them.

1.3.3

He entered the seasons.

1.3.4

The gods, having slain the Asuras and conquered, sought after Agni.

1.3.5

Yama and Varuṇa saw him.

1.3.6

They invited him.

1.3.7

They appeased him.

1.3.8

They granted him a boon.

1.3.9

He chose this boon:

1.3.10

“The fore-offerings and after-offerings for me alone, and the ghee of the waters, and the essence of the plants.”

1.3.11

Therefore they say: “The fore-offerings and after-offerings belong to Agni; the ghee belongs to Agni.”

1.3.12

Then indeed the gods prospered,

1.3.13

the asuras perished.

1.3.14

He prospers in himself,

1.3.15

and the one whom he hates perishes, who knows thus.

1.3.16

Regarding this they say: “In which season should one re-establish [the fires]?”

1.3.17

“In the rains,” say some.

1.3.18

For all desires are in the rains;

1.3.19

[it is] for the attainment of all desires.

1.3.20

In the middle of the rainy season, having waited for the Punarvasū asterism, he should re-establish [the fires],

1.3.21

[thinking,] “May good fortune and wealth fall to my lot again!”

1.3.22

Moreover, [it is] for the attainment of his desire again.

1.3.23

Indeed, at that time, during the bright fortnight, it does not coincide with the Punarvasūs.

1.3.24

Whatever new moon day occurs after the Āṣāḍhī [full moon],

1.3.25

on that he should re-establish [the fires].

1.3.26

That [day] coincides with the Punarvasūs.

1.3.27

The desire is attained in the new moon day;

1.3.28

it is attained in the rains;

1.3.29

it is attained in the Punarvasūs.

1.3.30

Therefore on that [day] he should re-establish [the fires].

1.3.31

The sacrificial cake is on five potsherds.

1.3.32

The Paṅkti has five feet.

1.3.33

The sacrifice is fivefold, [and this is] for the attainment of the sacrifice.

1.4.1

He offers the fore-offerings and after-offerings with case-forms.

1.4.2

The fore-offerings and after-offerings are the seasons.

1.4.3

Thereby they gather him together from the seasons.

1.4.4

“Agni, come to the feast,” “We choose Agni as messenger,” “Agni is kindled by Agni,” “May Agni slay the foes,” “We think on the praise of Agni,” “To Agni, who, a mortal, worships”—the opening phrases of these verses are the case-forms.

1.4.5

They are six.

1.4.6

Six indeed are the seasons.

1.4.7

Thereby he gathers him together again from the seasons.

1.4.8

He offers the final fore-offering and after-offering according to their proper order.

1.4.9

Thus there is no departure for him from the fore-offerings and after-offerings.

1.4.10

The prior butter portion is Vṛtra-slaying, for the destruction of evil.

1.4.11

Moreover, there is no departure for him from the paradigm of the full moon sacrifice.

1.4.12

“He should make the first [butter portion] for Agni the wise, [with the verse] ‘Awake Agni with praise’,” say some.

1.4.13

For the fire of him who takes down his fires as it were sleeps;

1.4.14

[they say] that thereby he awakens him again.

1.4.15

The Vṛtra-slaying [verse], however, is the settled rule.

1.4.16

“O Agni, thou art purified with life,” is the invitatory verse of the second [butter portion].

1.4.17

“Thou art purified” is the Soma-like form.

1.4.18

For this sacrificial rite belongs to Agni alone.

1.4.19

Because he mentions Pavamāna,

1.4.20

thus there is no departure for him from the butter portion belonging to Soma.

1.5.1

The offering verses and invitatory verses are verse-paṅktis.

1.5.2

The Paṅkti has five feet.

1.5.3

The sacrifice is fivefold, [and this is] for the attainment of the sacrifice.

1.5.4

They are interwoven.

1.5.5

For these vital breaths, as it were interwoven, support the self.

1.5.6

The whole [rite], along with the kindling verses, is performed in a whisper up to the first two after-offerings.

1.5.7

For up to this point the case-forms are strung along.

1.5.8

Moreover, all desires are in the case-forms.

1.5.9

Therefore they are in a whisper,

1.5.10

for the attainment of all desires.

1.5.11

He offers with the final after-offering aloud.

1.5.12

[He recites] aloud the Sūktavāka and the Śaṁyuvāka.

1.5.13

Just as one would make known what was lost, [saying,] 'I have found it,'

1.5.14

so he makes the desires manifest, [saying,] 'I have obtained [them].'

1.5.15

Some perform three [elements] in a whisper: the vibhaktis, the second butter portion, and the oblation.

1.5.16

'For so much is adventitious,' [they say].

1.5.17

It is, indeed, whispered [and] distinctly uttered.

1.5.18

For twofold was form in the beginning: distinctly uttered and indistinctly uttered.

1.5.19

By that he obtains that very [form] of it.

1.5.20

Some make it entirely dedicated to Agni.

1.5.21

One should not do so.

1.5.22

For it, a re-stitched worn garment, a repaired cart, an ox, or gold is the sacrificial fee.

1.5.23

For this is a repeated rite.

1.5.24

The second [oblation] is to Aditi.

1.5.25

Aditi is indeed a firm foundation;

1.5.26

[it is] for a firm foundation, for a firm foundation.

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