Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 20
English (machine translation) 20
- Language
- English
Contents
20.1.1
Now this year is a revolving wheel of the gods;
20.1.2
it is immortal.
20.1.3
In it is this sixfold food:
20.1.4
domestic animals and wild animals, herbs and trees, and what lives in the waters and what revolves around.
20.1.5
Having mounted it, the gods float through all the worlds:
20.1.6
the world of the gods, the world of the fathers, the world of the living;
20.1.7
this world, near the waters, the world of Agni;
20.1.8
the world of Vāyu whose abode is truth;
20.1.9
the unconquered world of Indra;
20.1.10
the world of Varuṇa above heaven;
20.1.11
the world of death opposite heaven;
20.1.12
the radiant world of Brahman;
20.1.13
the firmament, the highest of worlds.
20.1.14
Thus, when they undertake the Abhiplava [six-day rite],
20.1.15
those sacrificers mount the year itself.
20.1.16
In it they obtain this sixfold food: domestic animals and wild animals, herbs and trees, and what lives in the waters and what revolves around.
20.1.17
Twice they undertake the Jyotis day;
20.1.18
by it they obtain a twofold food: domestic animals and wild animals.
20.1.19
Twice they undertake the Go day;
20.1.20
by it they obtain a twofold food: herbs and trees.
20.1.21
Twice they undertake the Āyus day;
20.1.22
by it they obtain a twofold food: what lives in the waters and what revolves around.
20.2.1
They undertake the Jyotis as the first day;
20.2.2
its metrical forms are the very ones that belong to the first day.
20.2.3
'Forward to your god Agni' is the ājya recitation, containing the prefix 'pra';
20.2.4
what contains 'pra' is indeed the characteristic of the first day.
20.2.5
The prauga hymn is composed by Madhuchandas.
20.2.6
When the Rathantara Sāman was being created, the prauga hymn composed by Madhuchandas was created after it; / thus by its form he makes the rite successful.
20.2.8
For that rite is prosperous which is complete in its form.
20.2.9
'Indra makes a downward slope for the chariot' is the Marutvatīya recitation, containing 'pra';
20.2.10
what contains 'pra' is indeed the characteristic of the first day.
20.2.11
'Come hither, our offerings placed upon the chariot seat' is the Niṣkevalya recitation, containing the prefix 'ā';
20.2.12
what contains 'ā' is indeed the characteristic of the first day.
20.2.13
'They yoke the mind, and they yoke the thoughts' is the hymn to Savitṛ, containing 'yoked';
20.2.14
what contains 'yoked' is indeed the characteristic of the first day.
20.2.15
'Forward with sacrifices Heaven and Earth that increase cosmic order' is the hymn to Heaven and Earth, containing 'pra';
20.2.18
'The eager ones went towards them with wisdom' contains 'abhi';
20.2.19
that is the characteristic of the Rathantara.
20.2.20
'How of the gods, on the journey of which one?' is the Vaiśvadeva recitation;
20.2.21
'With what assistance does he turn towards?' contains 'abhi';
20.2.22
that is the characteristic of the Rathantara.
20.2.23
'For Vaiśvānara of broad might, with praise' is the hymn to Vaiśvānara;
20.2.24
'In him the sacrificer has desired favors' contains 'ā';
20.2.25
what contains 'ā' is indeed the characteristic of the first day.
20.2.26
'Before the eye, powerful, exuberantly strong' is the hymn to the Maruts, containing 'pra';
20.2.27
what contains 'pra' is indeed the characteristic of the first day.
20.2.28
'Come forward, hotṛ, by his law through craft' is the hymn to Jātavedas, containing 'pra';
20.2.29
what contains 'pra' is indeed the characteristic of the first day.
20.2.30
By the first day they obtain this world,
20.2.31
[and] Agni, the god among the gods;
20.2.32
they place in themselves speech presiding over names.
20.3.1
They undertake the Go as the second day;
20.3.2
its metrical forms are the very ones that belong to the second day.
20.3.3
'For you [have] fame conferring domain' is the ājya recitation;
20.3.4
'You have renown in wide perception' contains the prefix 'vi';
20.3.5
that is the characteristic of this intermediate space,
20.3.6
for this intermediate space is, as it were, wide open.
20.3.7
The prauga hymn is composed by Gṛtsamada.
20.3.8
When the Bṛhat Sāman was being created, the Prauga [recitation] of the Gṛtsamadas was created after it.
20.3.9
Thereby he makes the rite successful by its proper form.
20.3.10
For that rite indeed prospers which is complete in its proper form.
20.3.11
‘Lord of the dwelling of Viśvānara’ is the opening verse of the Marutvatīya [recitation], containing [the word] ‘vi-’. Its Brāhmaṇa has [already] been stated.
20.3.12
‘Indra alone is the drinker of Soma’ is the following triplet.
20.3.13
‘Indra, drinker of pressed [soma], possessing all life’ contains [the word] ‘vi-’. Its Brāhmaṇa has [already] been stated.
20.3.14
‘Arise, O Brahmaṇaspati’ is addressed to Brahmaṇaspati, containing [the word] ‘ud-’.
20.3.15
‘Arise’ contains [the word] ‘ud-’.
20.3.16
The second day indeed contains [the word] ‘ud-’.
20.3.17
‘These to you, of the poet most frequent’ contains [the word] ‘ud-’. Its Brāhmaṇa has [already] been stated.
20.3.18
‘You, O Indra, attached to the pressed soma’ is the Niṣkevalya [recitation].
20.3.19
‘When the chant, the brahman, the uktha is being recited’ contains [the word] ‘ud-’. Its Brāhmaṇa has [already] been stated.
20.3.20
‘Of the god, the guide of all’ is the opening verse of the Vaiśvadeva [recitation], containing [the word] ‘vi-’. Its Brāhmaṇa has [already] been stated.
20.3.21
‘Unto the All-god, the true lord’ is the following triplet, containing [the word] ‘vi-’. Its Brāhmaṇa has [already] been stated.
20.3.22
There are two opening verses for the Vaiśvadeva [recitations].
20.3.23
There are two following triplets.
20.3.24
Two are day and night.
20.3.25
The year has six seasons and is sixfold.
20.3.26
After the two [come] heaven and earth, these two firm foundations.
20.3.27
This body has six limbs and is sixfold.
20.3.28
After the two [come] these two, in-breath and out-breath.
20.3.29
These vital breaths are six.
20.3.30
Consequently they do not depart from the proper measure of the year,
20.3.31
nor from the refinement of the self, nor from the refinement of the vital breath.
20.4.1
"The god Savitṛ has now become worthy of praise for us" is [the hymn] to Savitṛ, containing the word 'up' (ud); its Brāhmaṇa has been stated.
20.4.2
"For they two, heaven and earth, bring blessing to all" is [the hymn] to Heaven and Earth, containing the word 'apart' (vi); its Brāhmaṇa has been stated.
20.4.3
"My work is extended; that indeed is spread out again" is [the hymn] to the Ṛbhus, containing the word 'up' (ud); its Brāhmaṇa has been stated.
20.4.4
"I invoke the gods of great renown for welfare" is [the hymn] to All the Gods, containing the word 'up' (ud); its Brāhmaṇa has been stated.
20.4.5
"Now the strength of the vigorous, reddish bull" is [the hymn] to Vaiśvānara, containing the word 'bull' (vṛṣan).
20.4.6
Indra, indeed, is a bull.
20.4.7
The Triṣṭubh is a bull.
20.4.8
Therefore it contains the word 'bull'.
20.4.9
"For the vigorous, joyous host, for the creator" is [the hymn] to the Maruts, containing the word 'bull'; its Brāhmaṇa has been stated.
20.4.10
"With the sacrifice magnify Jātavedas" is [the hymn] to Jātavedas.
20.4.11
"Being kindled, possessing good food, leader of heaven" contains the word 'up' (ud); its Brāhmaṇa has been stated.
20.4.12
With the second day they attain the world of the intermediate space,
20.4.13
and Vāyu among the deities.
20.4.14
They place life as an overlord, the vital breath, into their self.
20.5.1
They undertake the third day, which is life.
20.5.2
Its metrical forms are the very ones that belong to the third day.
20.5.3
"Thou, O Agni, [bring] the Vasus here" is the Ājya recitation.
20.5.4
This metre is indeed self-collected, which is accomplished in the form of the day.
20.5.5
"Bring hither the thirty-three [gods], O thou with bay horses, eager for praise!" [it says].
20.5.6
That is the form of the third day.
20.5.7
The Praüga recitation is in the Uṣṇih metre, composed by Viśvamanas.
20.5.8
When the Rathantara Sāman was created, the Viśvamanas Praüga recitation in the Uṣṇih metre was created after it.
20.5.9
Thereby one makes the rite successful through [its appropriate] form.
20.5.10
For that rite is prosperous which is complete in form.
20.5.11
"To each and every one for great gift" is the introductory verse for the Marutvatīya recitation.
20.5.12
"To each and every" is a dancing phrase.
20.5.13
The third day is an end.
20.5.14
Having reached the end, one, as it were, dances down.
20.5.15
Whither indeed would one go from there?
20.5.18
"May Brahmaṇaspati go forth" contains the word 'forth' (pra) and is addressed to Brahmaṇaspati.
20.5.17
'Three'—that is the form of the third day.
20.5.18_2
"May Brahmaṇaspati go forth" contains the word 'forth' (pra) and is addressed to Brahmaṇaspati.
20.5.19
"May the goddess of truthfulness go forth" is a dancing phrase.
20.5.20
The third day is an end.
20.5.21
Having reached the end, one, as it were, dances down.
20.5.22
Whither indeed would one go from there?
20.5.23
Three are the introductory verses of the Marutvatīya recitations, three the following verses, three the verses to Brahmaṇaspati.
20.5.24
These worlds indeed are three.
20.5.25
It is these worlds that they thereby attain.
20.5.26
"Stand still, ye two bays, being yoked to the chariot" is the Marutvatīya hymn.
20.5.27
"Stand still" contains the word 'stand' (sthita).
20.5.28
That is the form of an end.
20.5.29
The third day is an end.
20.5.30
Having reached the end, one stands still, as it were.
20.5.31
Whither indeed would one go from there?
20.5.32
"Now I shall proclaim the heroic deeds of Indra" is the Niṣkevalya recitation.
20.5.33
That very thing is its form of the end, which refers to what has happened: "He slew the dragon; he bored [channels] for the waters."
20.5.34
That [points] towards what is, as it were, past.
20.6.1
"Up indeed that god Savitṛ with golden [arms]" is [the hymn] to Savitṛ.
20.6.2
"With ghee the worthy one sprinkles his two hands" contains the word 'ghee' (ghṛta).
20.6.3
Ghee indeed belongs to many deities.
20.6.4
The third day belongs to many deities.
20.6.5
Therefore it contains [the word] ‘ghee’.
20.6.6
‘With ghee, heaven and earth are covered’ is addressed to Dyāvāpṛthivī, containing [the word] ‘ghee’. Its Brāhmaṇa has [already] been stated.
20.6.7
‘They fashioned the well-rolling chariot by skill, skilful in work’ is addressed to the Ṛbhus.
20.6.8
‘They fashioned the two bay steeds carrying Indra, the bull, possessing goods’ contains a dancing-measure.
20.6.9
The third day is the end.
20.6.10
Having reached the end, as it were, one dances.
20.6.11
For whither would one go from there?
20.6.12
‘May auspicious intentions come to us from all sides’ is addressed to the Viśvedevas.
20.6.13
‘Unwearied guardians day by day’ contains a dancing-measure.
20.6.14
The third day is the end.
20.6.15
Having reached the end, as it were, one dances.
20.6.16
For whither would one go from there?
20.6.17
‘To Vaiśvānara, offering, increaser of cosmic order’ is addressed to Vaiśvānara.
20.6.18
‘Ghee purified we produce for Agni’ contains [the word] ‘ghee’. Its Brāhmaṇa has [already] been stated.
20.6.19
‘Come, O Rudras, accompanied by Indra, united’ is addressed to the Maruts.
20.6.20
‘Like springs of heaven, seeking water for the thirsty’ [is the verse].
20.6.21
‘Of heaven’—that is the form of yonder world.
20.6.22
‘Thee, O Agni, righteous men have kindled’ is addressed to Jātavedas.
20.6.23
‘Thee, thee’—it has a repeated beginning.
20.6.24
Just as that which has an end-verse, so that which has a repeated beginning is the form of the end.
20.6.25
They attain yonder world by means of the third day.
20.6.26
The sun, the deity among the deities—
20.6.27
form, over entities; they place sight in themselves, they place sight in themselves.
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