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Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 2.8

English (machine translation) 2.8

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English

2.8.1

He who offers after sunrise

2.8.2

provides hospitality to the Great God only as he is proceeding.

2.8.3

Now he who offers before sunrise

2.8.4

provides hospitality to the Great God when he is right at hand.

2.8.5

Therefore it should be offered before sunrise.

2.8.6

Regarding this, Vṛṣaśuṣma Vātāvata, an old man among the ancients, lying down, having seen both oblations being offered at night, said:

2.8.7

"They offer both oblations in the night!"

2.8.8

"In the night indeed!" he said;

2.8.9

"now, when we have departed to yonder world, we shall speak to the fathers,

2.8.10

and yet they will not believe it:

2.8.11

'Whereas this Agnihotra used to be offered on both days,

2.8.12

now it is offered on another [single] day!'"

2.8.13

"In the night alone!"—this very thing a maiden possessed by a Gandharva said:

2.8.14

"They offer both oblations in the night!"

2.8.15

"In the night indeed!" she said.

2.8.16

One should offer at the junction.

2.8.17

Day and night are indeed an ocean that sweeps away everything;

2.8.18

the two twilight junctions are its two shallow fords.

2.8.19

Just as one would cross an ocean by two shallow fords, such is that,

2.8.20

when one offers at the junction.

2.8.21

Moreover, day and night are an army of the gods on the march, intent on slaying;

2.8.22

the two twilight junctions are its two flanks.

2.8.23

Just as one would swiftly traverse a path with two wings, such is that,

2.8.24

when one offers at the junction.

2.8.25

Moreover, day and night are the two extended arms of Death.

2.8.26

It is just as if one, about to be seized by the two arms of Virāj, should escape between them; such is that.

2.8.27

That he offers at the twilight.

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