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Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 24

English (machine translation) 24

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English

Contents

24.1.1

The Abhijit.

24.1.2

By means of the Abhijit, the gods conquered these three worlds.

24.1.3

Therefore it has three turns and four conclusions.

24.1.4

By means of the Viśvajit, they conquered these four directions.

24.1.5

Therefore it has four turns and three conclusions.

24.1.6

The Abhijit: by the Abhijit the gods conquered.

24.1.7

And that adhered closely, as it were;

24.1.8

what was left unconquered, that they conquered by the Viśvajit.

24.1.9

"We have conquered all!"—hence [it is called] Viśvajit.

24.1.10

These two indeed are Indra and Agni: the Abhijit and Viśvajit.

24.1.11

Agni is the Abhijit;

24.1.12

for Agni conquered all this.

24.1.13

Indra is the Viśvajit;

24.1.14

for Indra conquered all this entirely.

24.1.15

That Abhijit has both sāmans and all the stomas.

24.1.16

The Rathantara is visibly its sixth [day sāman];

24.1.17

in the Ārbhava Pavamāna [is] the Bṛhat.

24.1.18

Therefore hymns belonging to both Bṛhat and Rathantara are recited.

24.1.19

Its [verses], "Forth to your god Agni..." [and] "What is most conveyance for Agni...", these both are that ājya [śastra].

24.1.20

"Forth to your..." is that Rathantara characteristic.

24.1.21

"Sing out greatly, O radiant one..." is the great, Bṛhat-related [characteristic].

24.1.22

He should interweave the two Praugas, the Mādhucchandasa and the Gārtsamada:

24.2.1

having recited the puroruc to Vāyu, then both triplets to Vāyu;

24.2.2

having recited the puroruc to Indravāyū, then both triplets to Indravāyū;

24.2.3

then the puroruc, then both triplets;

24.2.4

then the puroruc, then both triplets.

24.2.5

Just so should he interweave [them].

24.2.6

He makes the Mādhucchandasa triplets first, the Gārtsamada ones subsequent.

24.2.7

Regarding this, they also say: "Why should he interweave both?

24.2.8

The Prauga remaining Mādhucchandasa, he should bring around the Gārtsamada All-gods [triplet] after the Mādhucchandasa All-gods [triplet]."

24.2.9

There is here one [characteristic] explicitly related to Bṛhat:

24.2.10

"All gods, come hither, hear this call of mine!

24.2.11

Sit down upon this sacred grass!"

24.2.12

"Sacred grass" (barhis)—that is the Bṛhat characteristic.

24.2.13

Then, having recited the hymn to Sarasvatī by Madhucchandas, he should conclude with its final [verse].

24.2.14

The morning pressing should be that of a one-day rite: that is the established rule.

24.2.15

For the Abhijit is a one-day rite;

24.2.16

a one-day rite is a firm foundation, for the sake of a firm foundation.

24.3.1

Having first recited the Gaurivīta [hymn], 'Born fierce for swift power...', he inserts the nivid into this five-verse hymn connected with the Bṛhant: 'Indra, drink! Pressed for you for exhilaration...'

24.3.2

Having first recited the Hairaṇyastūpa [hymn], 'I will now proclaim the heroic deeds of Indra...', he inserts the nivid into this nine-verse hymn connected with the Bṛhant: 'What help of yours is lowest, what highest...'

24.3.3

This is so if the Rathantara is the pṛṣṭha [sāman];

24.3.4

but if it is the Bṛhant,

24.3.5

having first recited the two [hymns] connected with the Bṛhant, he should insert the two nivids in the two connected with the Rathantara.

24.3.6

The Marutvatīya and the Niṣkevalya [recitations] should consist of a single hymn: that is the established rule.

24.3.7

'Drink the soma, fiercely piercing that which...', 'Praise him who is surpassing in strength...'—[these verses] contain [the word] 'abhi';

24.3.8

that is the characteristic mark of the Abhijit.

24.3.9

Then the third pressing is just the standard one of a one-day rite.

24.3.10

For the Abhijit is a one-day rite;

24.3.11

a one-day rite is a firm foundation, for the sake of a firm foundation.

24.4.1

Svarbhānu, the Asura, pierced the sun with darkness.

24.4.2

The Atris, wishing to strike away its darkness, approached this three-day rite with the seventeenfold stoma before the Viṣuvant.

24.4.3

They struck away the darkness in front of it;

24.4.4

it settled before [it].

24.4.5

They approached this same three-day rite after the Viṣuvant;

24.4.6

they struck away the darkness above it;

24.4.7

it settled beyond [it].

24.4.8

Therefore, when knowing thus they approach this three-day rite on both sides of the Viṣuvant,

24.4.9

the sacrificers strike away evil from both worlds.

24.4.10

They indeed call them the Svara-sāmans.

24.4.11

By means of these the Atris saved the sun from darkness;

24.4.12

and because they saved [it],

24.4.13

therefore they are the Svara-sāmans.

24.4.14

This is expressed by a verse:

24.4.15

'The sun whom Svarbhānu, the Asura, pierced with darkness,

24.4.16

the Atris found; no others indeed were able.'

24.4.17

The Svara-sāmans are indeed spoken of by this [verse].

24.4.18

The Marutvatīya [recitations] contain 'ka-';

24.4.19

the pragāthas in the Niṣkevalyas contain 'ka-'.

24.4.20

Who indeed is Ka? Ka is Prajāpati;

24.4.21

Prajāpati is the Svara-sāmans.

24.4.22

The hymns holding the nivids are composed in Anuṣṭubh;

24.4.23

the Anuṣṭubh is water;

24.4.24

the waters are the Svara-sāmans;

24.4.25

for all this is supported by water.

24.4.26

For on both sides of that sun are the waters, both below and above.

24.4.27

This is expressed by a verse:

24.4.28

'The waters that attend beyond the sun in the luminous sphere, and those below...'

24.5.1

'O god, with sacrifices, mortal...': [this is] the Ājya [recitation] of the first Svara-sāman, containing 'ā', connected with the Rathantara.

24.5.2

'For lofty, O beams, is your vigor...': [this is that] of the second, containing 'bṛhat', connected with the Bṛhant.

24.5.3

'O Agni, bring the most powerful...': [this is that] of the third, containing 'ā', connected with the Rathantara.

24.5.4

The Prauga [recitation] of the first Svara-sāman is that of Madhucchandas;

24.5.5

that of the second is of Gṛtsamada;

24.5.6

that of the third is of the Atri lineage, in the Uṣṇih metre.

24.5.7

Their brāhmaṇa has been explained.

24.5.8

The introductory verse and the following verse of the Marutvatīya [recitations] are connected, and the Brāhmaṇaspati hymns are connected, in the form of a three-day rite.

24.5.9

Their brāhmaṇa has been explained.

24.5.10

'Where is that hero? Who has seen Indra?': [this is] the Marutvatīya hymn of the first Svara-sāman; 'where' contains 'ka-';

24.5.12

'With what splendour, sharing the same age and home...': [this is that] of the second; 'with what' contains 'ka-'.

24.5.13

Who indeed is Ka? Ka is Prajāpati;

24.5.14

Prajāpati is the Svara-sāmans.

24.5.15

Now, some connect the svaras day by day into this verse, 'Since you were born peerless...', as a third stotriya in the Bṛhatī metre.

24.5.16

If they should do so,

24.5.17

these two are the stotriya and anurūpa verses, and this is the insertion verse.

24.5.18

'Who, anew, of the wanderers...': [this is] the pragātha containing 'ka-'; its brāhmaṇa has been explained.

24.5.19

Then [comes] the womb of the Rathantara; its Brāhmaṇa has been explained.

24.5.20

"Which thou holdest, O Indra"—[this is] a two-verse hymn, so that [the womb-verse] does not fall alone,

24.5.21

lest that Bṛhatī should be recited as if all alone.

24.5.22

"To thee, O Indra, generous one, we have belonged" is a recognized Triṣṭubh hymn supporting the pressing; its Brāhmaṇa has been explained.

24.5.23

"Which is thy most effective [protection] for help" is an Anuṣṭubh Niṣkevalya [hymn]; its Brāhmaṇa has been explained.

24.5.24

"O Indra, bring that insight" has [the word] "bring" (ā) and belongs to the Rathantara.

24.6.1

Such indeed is [the order] of the first [day].

24.6.2

"What now of his has not been done?" is a pragātha containing "what" (kad); its Brāhmaṇa has been explained.

24.6.3

Then [comes] the womb of the Bṛhat; its Brāhmaṇa has been explained.

24.6.4

"They sound to thee when pressed, O men"—[this is] a two-verse hymn, so that [the womb-verse] does not fall alone,

24.6.5

lest that Bṛhatī should be recited as if all alone.

24.6.6

"O adhvaryu hero, forth to the great [offering] of the pressed [drinks]" is a recognized Triṣṭubh hymn supporting the pressing; its Brāhmaṇa has been explained.

24.6.7

"The singers of the Gāyatra sing thee" is an Anuṣṭubh Niṣkevalya [hymn]; its Brāhmaṇa has been explained.

24.6.8

"They raised, as it were, a bamboo pole" has [the prefix] "up" (ud) and belongs to the Bṛhat.

24.6.9

Such indeed is [the order] of the second [day].

24.6.10

"These to thee, O Pūruvasu" is a pragātha; the syllables "pāvaka" and the syllables "ka" contain "what" (kad); its Brāhmaṇa has been explained.

24.6.11

Then [comes] the womb of the Rathantara, then of the Bṛhat; the Brāhmaṇa of both has been explained.

24.6.12

"A wild beast like an elephant by gifts"—[this is] a two-verse hymn, so that [the womb-verse] does not fall alone,

24.6.13

lest that Bṛhatī should be recited as if all alone.

24.6.14

"This is that vessel for Indra's drinking" is a recognized Triṣṭubh hymn supporting the pressing; its Brāhmaṇa has been explained.

24.6.15

The Niṣkevalya recitation in Anuṣṭubh meter begins: 'Indra have all enhanced'; its Brāhmaṇa has been stated.

24.6.16

'Unto thee we shout aloud' contains [the word] 'unto'.

24.6.17

That is the characteristic form of the Rathantara.

24.6.18

Such indeed is that of the third [day].

24.6.19

Thus it is if the Pṛṣṭha stotras are the Svara sāmans.

24.6.20

Or if the Bṛhat and Rathantara should be applied upon the wombs of the Svara [sāmans],

24.6.21

this recitation is unmodified.

24.6.22

If, however, they make the Bṛhat and Rathantara the Pṛṣṭha stotras,

24.6.23

the Stotriya and Anurūpa verses of the Bṛhat and Rathantara are well known; the Dhāyyā verses are well known.

24.7.1

Having recited the two Pragāthas belonging to the two sāmans first, they recite the Pragāthas containing 'kad'.

24.7.2

He removes the two-verse sets and the holders of the pressing.

24.7.3

Regarding this they say: 'He should not insert the Nivid in Anuṣṭubh verses, [lest] he confuse the midday whose meters are arranged.'

24.7.4

Having recited the Anuṣṭubh verses first, he inserts the Nivid in the Triṣṭubh verses for the attainment of desire.

24.7.5

'Hitherward [bring] thy all-desirable chariot, O fierce one' on the first day contains 'hither', belonging to the Rathantara.

24.7.6

'Upward has our most bright [light arisen]' on the second contains 'upward', belonging to the Bṛhat.

24.7.7

'Together unto thee have the songs gone, O Indra, many' on the third has the form of having reached the end.

24.7.8

Thus the Nivid is inserted according to its proper place.

24.7.9

Inserted according to its proper place, it places them according to their proper place in all worlds and in all desires.

24.7.10

If the Svara sāmans are the Pṛṣṭha stotras,

24.7.11

then the Sāman singers perform the Bṛhat and Rathantara in the Pavamāna lauds.

24.7.12

If the Bṛhat and Rathantara should be the Pṛṣṭha stotras,

24.7.13

then the Sāman singers perform the Svara sāmans in the Pavamāna lauds.

24.7.14

'The Svara sāmans alone should be the Pṛṣṭha stotras,' said Kauṣītaki.

24.7.15

For these are the Svara-sāman days.

24.7.16

By means of the Pṛṣṭha stotras the gods touched the heavenly world.

24.7.17

In that the Svara sāmans become the Pṛṣṭha stotras,

24.7.18

it is for touching the heavenly world.

24.8.1

The Pratipad verses of the Vaiśvadeva recitations belonging to the first three-day period of the combined Pṛṣṭhya-ṣaḍaha are the Pratipads [here].

24.8.2

The third pressings belonging to the second three-day period are the third pressings together with their Anucaras.

24.8.3

Taking out the Vaiśvadeva hymns that are there, other unexpressed ones addressed to Prajāpati, being indirectly addressed to the Viśve Devas, are inserted:

24.8.4

'Forth to you drinkable, ye swift in wrath, the Soma draught', 'Him as of old, as formerly, as everywhere, even so', 'How indeed a vessel of men desiring the gods?'

24.8.5

Corresponding to the Nābhānediṣṭha hymn.

24.8.6

However, hymns directly addressed to the Viśve Devas should rather be inserted:

24.8.7

'Agni, Indra, Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryaman' on the first day contains 'kad' [by the word] 'having propped the sky'.

24.8.8

'The gods I call, of high renown, for welfare' on the second day contains 'kad' [by the word] 'light-maker'.

24.8.9

'Dawn and Night, the great, fair-formed' on the third day contains 'kad' [by the word] 'night'.

24.8.10

Who (ka) indeed is Prajāpati.

24.8.11

Prajāpati is the Svara sāmans.

24.8.12

They conclude either as Agniṣṭomas or as Ukthyas.

24.8.13

'As Agniṣṭomas,' was the view of Paiṅgya.

24.8.14

Those who undertake the Agniṣṭomas become endowed with sacred splendor.

24.8.15

'They should be Ukthyas,' said Kauṣītaki.

24.8.16

That sacrificial rite is complete which is an Ukthya.

24.8.17

For it has fifteen stotras,

24.8.18

and fifteen recitations;

24.8.19

these make thirty praised and recited chants.

24.8.20

It attains the Virāj.

24.8.21

The Virāj is prosperity and food.

24.8.22

For the attainment of prosperity, the Virāj, and food; for the attainment of prosperity, the Virāj, and food.

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