Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 18
English (machine translation) 18
- Language
- English
Contents
- 18.1 — 27 parts
- 18.2 — 30 parts
- 18.3 — 24 parts
- 18.4 — 34 parts
- 18.5 — 30 parts
- 18.6 — 10 parts
- 18.7 — 28 parts
- 18.8 — 33 parts
- 18.9 — 34 parts
18.1.1
That which is the recitation for the Aśvins is an over-abundant Soma.
18.1.2
Whatever of the sacrifice is left over,
18.1.3
by that the enemy of the sacrificer rises up [against him].
18.1.4
Now, when he sacrifices subsequently to the two Aśvins,
18.1.5
the two Aśvins are the physicians of the gods.
18.1.6
he thereby effects healing.
18.1.7
Now, when Savitṛ gave Sūryā to King Soma,
18.1.8
or of Prajāpati,
18.1.9
he assigned a thousand [cows] as bridal gift to his daughter being carried away in marriage.
18.1.10
That belonged to these deities.
18.1.11
They said, 'Let us run a race for this thousand.'
18.1.12
They ran a race.
18.1.13
The two Aśvins won it with a donkey.
18.1.14
Therefore many deities are recited;
18.1.15
yet it is called the Āśvina [recitation].
18.1.16
Thence indeed, furthermore, the donkey does not run at all with full speed.
18.1.17
Thinking, 'It is pressed by me,' [or] 'The enemy is slain,' he should recite a thousand [verses].
18.1.18
For the two won a thousand.
18.1.19
Now they say: 'Since the pṛṣṭha stotras are based on the Bṛhatī, why then does he begin with a Triṣṭubh?'
18.1.20
This verse, recited three times, amounts to three Bṛhatīs and one Gāyatrī.
18.1.21
And this is the form of the twilight [juncture], that there are three Bṛhatīs;
18.1.22
the Gāyatrī is the form of the morning pressing.
18.1.23
Then, in that he brings about the Bṛhatī,
18.1.24
the Bṛhatī indeed turns into what is encompassingly covered.
18.1.25
Now, in that he recites the first pragātha of each of the Bṛhatī opening sections by taking it up repeatedly, making a Kakubh,
18.1.26
the Sāman singers chant by taking up repeatedly;
18.1.27
it is its form that is thereby produced.
18.2.1
He recites the section to Agni;
18.2.2
thereby he wins this world.
18.2.3
He recites [the section] to the Dawn;
18.2.4
thereby he wins the intermediate world.
18.2.5
He recites [the section] to the Aśvins;
18.2.6
thereby he wins yonder world.
18.2.7
He recites the section to Sūrya;
18.2.8
there is indeed a fourth world of the gods: the Waters.
18.2.9
That one he wins for him thereby.
18.2.10
He recites a pragātha;
18.2.11
cattle are a pragātha,
18.2.12
for the obtaining of cattle.
18.2.13
Moreover, the Bārhatapragātha is expiration and inhalation.
18.2.16
He recites [the verse] to Heaven and Earth;
18.2.17
Heaven and Earth are two firm supports, for firm support.
18.2.18
He recites a Dvipadā;
18.2.19
the Dvipadā metre is a firm support, for firm support.
18.2.20
He concludes with a verse to Bṛhaspati;
18.2.21
Bṛhaspati is the sacred power;
18.2.22
in the sacred power he ultimately finds a firm support.
18.2.23
Now this is the metrical computation:
18.2.24
three hundred Gāyatrīs, they are two hundred Bṛhatīs;
18.2.25
seventy Anuṣṭubhs and seventy Paṅktis are one hundred and forty Bṛhatīs;
18.2.26
taking out a hundred Gāyatrīs from three hundred Triṣṭubhs, these are three hundred Bṛhatīs;
18.2.27
and that one hundred Gāyatrīs and one hundred Jagatīs, they are two hundred Bṛhatīs;
18.2.28
fifty Triṣṭubhs and fifty Uṣṇihs amount to one hundred Bṛhatīs;
18.2.29
then the fifty-seven Bṛhatīs are fulfilled right here;
18.2.30
then the two Triṣṭubhs of fifty-two syllables and the Dvipadā amount to the remaining Bṛhatīs.
18.2.31
Thus, being a thousand verses in various metres, they amount to a thousand Bṛhatīs.
18.2.32
'He should not recite more than a thousand, nor less than a thousand'—such indeed is the rule.
18.3.1
Moreover, the extensive abundance of the Āśvina [recitation] is proclaimed.
18.3.2
This is the section to Agni;
18.3.3
he should not depart from the proper season of Agni.
18.3.4
Now, if he should finish the section to Agni before the time,
18.3.5
he should pursue in the verses whatever is addressed to dual divinities after the Āśvina;
18.3.6
in the section to Sūrya, the Pavamāna verses according to their metre:
18.3.7
Gāyatrīs in the Gāyatrī section, Triṣṭubhs in the Triṣṭubh, Jagatīs in the Jagatī;
18.3.8
everything having a characteristic mark of Sūrya in the place of the section to Sūrya.
18.3.9
[He inserts] all the Pragāthas addressed to Indra in the place of the Pragātha;
18.3.10
all addressed to Dyāvāpṛthivī in the place of that addressed to Dyāvāpṛthivī;
18.3.11
all Dvipadā verses in the place of the Dvipadā;
18.3.12
[and] all addressed to Bṛhaspati before the concluding verse.
18.3.13
This indeed is that [recitation], as it were, of which not [a single category] of verses is omitted.
18.3.14
Now, indeed, the Aśvina [recitation] has wheels.
18.3.15
The two wheels are attached; the axle is straight.
18.3.16
'Your chariot, O Aśvins, flying like a falcon'—that is the chariot frame.
18.3.17
Then the four verses of Agastya are harnessed.
18.3.18
This is the chariot of the gods.
18.3.19
By this chariot of the gods, he safely reaches the heavenly world.
18.3.20
It should have a bird (suparṇa).
18.3.21
A bird, indeed, is the suparṇa.
18.3.22
Thus, just as having become a winged bird, so does he safely reach the heavenly world.
18.3.23
Twice only do they summon for the Aśvina [recitation]: for the opening verse and for the concluding verse.
18.3.24
That is just as one might drive without turning back because of an obstacle.
18.4.1
Now follows the deliberation concerning the concluding verse itself.
18.4.2
When the sun creeps past the front beam of the canopy,
18.4.3
when the hotṛ himself can discern it,
18.4.4
when its redness has disappeared,
18.4.5
when all its rays have spread out—
18.4.6
that is the time for concluding.
18.4.7
At this time indeed does he have his evil struck away and his evil separated [from him].
18.4.8
He strikes away evil and is separated from evil who concludes at this time.
18.4.9
Now, if it should be cloudy,
18.4.10
this indeed is its form by which it supports creatures;
18.4.11
this is the one, which is this breath within the self.
18.4.12
Thinking, 'It has ascended above me,' he should conclude.
18.4.13
He should offer the Vibhrāj oblation when the sun is not discerned;
18.4.14
[or] whoever might be unoccupied [should offer it].
18.4.15
[Then] it becomes visible to them.
18.4.16
He should sacrifice with two [verses],
18.4.17
for the Aśvina [offering] is known as belonging to two [deities].
18.4.18
Having recited the Gāyatrī without drawing breath, he should breathe in at the half-verse of the Virāj.
18.4.19
The Virāj is prosperity and food;
18.4.20
thereby he is established in prosperity, in the Virāj, and in food.
18.4.21
With the subsequent half-verse of the Virāj he utters the vaṣaṭ-call;
18.4.22
thereby he places the sacrificer in the heavenly world.
18.4.23
'He should sacrifice with the Virāj alone,' Kauṣītaki used to say.
18.4.24
Thirty-three syllables indeed is the Virāj;
18.4.25
thirty-three are the deities;
18.4.26
he makes the deities possessors of the syllables.
18.4.27
However, 'O Aśvins, you together with Vāyu, having great skill' is established as the Triṣṭubh verse addressed to the Aśvins, containing [the word] tiroahnya.
18.4.28
For the soma [portions] are tiroahnya (held over from the previous day).
18.4.29
Moreover, the Triṣṭubh is strength and heroic might;
18.4.30
thereby he places strength and heroic might in the sacrificer.
18.4.31
He utters the secondary vaṣaṭ-call for the appeasement of the oblations,
18.4.32
[and] for the firm support of the oblations.
18.4.33
When the Chhandogas have settled down, he offers the two pravṛtahoma oblations:
18.4.34
'The great recitation, speech and mind, being pleased, lift [it] up.'
18.5.1
Then they proceed with the Hāriyojana cup.
18.5.2
Thereby they please the two bay steeds.
18.5.3
Here the gods together with their horses become pleased.
18.5.4
Having recited a Triṣṭubh as the invitatory verse for the Hāriyojana cup, he sacrifices with a Jagatī.
18.5.5
The Triṣṭubh is strength and heroic might;
18.5.6
cattle are the Jagatī;
18.5.7
thereby he ultimately establishes [him] in strength, in heroic might, and in cattle.
18.5.8
The offering verse contains [the word] mad; for the third pressing contains [the word] mad.
18.5.9
He utters the secondary vaṣaṭ-call for the appeasement of the oblations,
18.5.10
[and] for the firm support of the oblations.
18.5.11
He should take the largest portion of those parched grains.
18.5.12
Parched grains are cattle.
18.5.13
Thus he bestows an abundance of cattle upon himself.
18.5.14
Now, when they murmur a verse, they thereby bring about well-being.
18.5.15
They scatter them at the edge of the ash of the āhavanīya fire.
18.5.16
The āhavanīya fire is the womb of cattle.
18.5.17
Thus they place them in their own cowpen, not to wander away.
18.5.18
Then they offer wood splinters.
18.5.19
Just as a serpent sloughs off its old skin,
18.5.20
or a stalk from the muñja reed,
18.5.21
even so do they completely free themselves from all evil.
18.5.22
Then, turning to the left, they go down to the waters with the somas.
18.5.23
Here they set them down within the altar.
18.5.24
For that is the abode of soma.
18.5.25
They separate the tufts of darbha grass.
18.5.26
When waters and plants come together,
18.5.27
Then Soma is complete.
18.5.28
They pour them down with a verse addressed to Viṣṇu.
18.5.29
The sacrifice is indeed Viṣṇu.
18.5.30
Thereby in the end they establish them in the sacrifice.
18.6.1
Then they touch their vital breaths.
18.6.2
Whatever of their vital breaths has been injured here, whatever strained, that they thereby invigorate, that they heal.
18.6.3
They make cups for consuming [Soma] into enclosure-sticks.
18.6.4
With human consumption they thereby separate divine consumption.
18.6.5
The avabhṛtha.
18.6.6
With the pressings they seek to reach that one there who shines.
18.6.7
As he rises, with the morning pressing;
18.6.8
as he is in the middle, with the midday pressing;
18.6.9
as he sets, with the third pressing.
18.6.10
Having entered the waters, he indeed becomes Varuṇa.
18.7.1
Therefore they offer a sacrificial cake on one potsherd to Varuṇa.
18.7.2
Prosperity is indeed concentrated in one.
18.7.3
Varuṇa is indeed prosperity.
18.7.4
They thereby firmly establish [themselves] in prosperity at the end.
18.7.5
They go out between the pit and the rubbish heap.
18.7.6
For that is the ford of the sacrifice called āpnāna.
18.7.7
This is expressed in a verse:
18.7.8
'What will he proclaim here at the ford āpnāna?'
18.7.9
By this ford the gods entered upon the sacrifice and attained all desires.
18.7.10
In the very same way the sacrificer enters upon the sacrifice by this ford;
18.7.11
he attains all desires.
18.7.12
They proceed turning towards that quarter in which the water is.
18.7.13
The eastern quarter is indeed that in which the deities are.
18.7.14
He offers four fore-offerings, omitting that of the barhis.
18.7.15
He leaves out the one with the barhis.
18.7.16
For here the barhis is not strewed.
18.7.17
There are two Vṛtra-slaying butter portions, to strike down evil.
18.7.18
Moreover, he has not departed from the ritual paradigm of the full moon day.
18.7.19
Some indeed make them containing [the word] 'water'.
18.7.20
However, the two Vṛtra-slaying ones are established.
18.7.21
Now as to his sacrificing to Varuṇa in the waters:
18.7.22
he pleases him in his own abode.
18.7.23
Now as to his sacrificing to Agni and Varuṇa:
18.7.24
here Agni becomes a sharer in all the oblations.
18.7.25
He offers two after-offerings, omitting that of the barhis.
18.7.26
He leaves out the one with the barhis.
18.7.21_2
Offspring is indeed the barhis:
18.7.28
[he thinks,] 'Lest I throw offspring into the waters.'
18.8.1
These fore-offerings and after-offerings are one hundred and one.
18.8.2
Man has a hundred years of life, a hundred energies, a hundred faculties;
18.8.3
the one hundred and first is the self.
18.8.4
This is the course of the Aṅgirases.
18.8.5
Entering upon this course, he attains coexistence and union with the Aṅgirases.
18.8.6
Now the six or eight vaṣaṭ-calls—
18.8.7
that is the course of the Ādityas.
18.8.8
Entering upon this course, he attains coexistence and union with the Ādityas.
18.8.9
The anūbandhyā cow.
18.8.10
The anūbandhyā is indeed this fourth pressing.
18.8.11
Therefore it is unalterable;
18.8.12
for it is the fourth of the pressings.
18.8.13
It belongs to Mitra and Varuṇa.
18.8.14
For [the victim] to Agni and Soma is offered before.
18.8.15
Therefore it belongs to Mitra and Varuṇa,
18.8.16
to give balance to the sacrifice.
18.8.17
Now as to his sacrificing to Varuṇa in the waters:
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Translations (1)
- Rigveda Brahmanas: The Aitareya and Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇas of the Rigveda (HOS 25) — Arthur Berriedale Keith 1920, English
Linked texts (1)
- Kauṣītakibrāhmaṇa — Kauṣītaki, Sanskrit