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Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 4

English (machine translation) 4

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Contents

4.1.1

By means of the anunirvāpyā [iṣṭi], the gods slew the Asuras.

4.1.2

Just so the sacrificer, by means of the anunirvāpyā [iṣṭi], strikes down his hateful rivals.

4.1.3

He offers a sacrificial cake on eleven potsherds to Indra Vimṛdh.

4.1.4

Indra is indeed the disperser of hostile forces.

4.1.5

He disperses his hostile forces.

4.1.6

And also, he thereby brings back the rite of the new moon day, in that he sacrifices to Indra on the full moon day.

4.1.7

Here, when the New and Full Moon sacrifices are completed, if the sacrificer should suffer a setback in the latter half of the month,

4.1.8

there would be no disruption of his sacrifice.

4.1.9

Now when he sacrifices to Aditi on the new moon day,

4.1.10

[it is] for the completeness of the sacrifice.

4.1.11

It contains [verses] with 'vimṛdh' as samyājyā offering verses.

4.2.1

Now, regarding the abhyuditā [iṣṭi].

4.2.2

He indeed has strayed from the path of sacrifice

4.2.3

on whose day of preparation the moon is seen in the east.

4.2.4

He offers a sacrificial cake on eight potsherds to Agni Dātṛ.

4.2.5

Agni is indeed the giver.

4.2.6

He gives him the sacrifice.

4.2.7

[He offers] curds from the evening milking to Indra Pradātṛ.

4.2.8

Indra is indeed the bestower.

4.2.9

He bestows the sacrifice upon him.

4.2.10

[He offers] a caru in the morning milk to Viṣṇu Śipiviṣṭa.

4.2.11

Viṣṇu is indeed the sacrifice.

4.2.12

He gives him the sacrifice.

4.2.13

As to why he sacrifices to these deities,

4.2.14

[it is with the thought:] 'May I not stray from the path of sacrifice.'

4.2.15

A bow with three arrows is the dakṣiṇā.

4.2.16

That is the symbol of safe progress.

4.3.1

Now, regarding the abhyuddṛṣṭā [iṣṭi].

4.3.2

He indeed has strayed from the path of sacrifice

4.3.3

on whose day of preparation the moon is seen in the west.

4.3.4

He offers a sacrificial cake on eight potsherds to Agni Pathikṛt.

4.3.5

Agni is indeed the path-maker.

4.3.6

He brings him to the path of sacrifice.

4.3.7

[He offers a cake] on eleven potsherds to Indra Vṛtrahan.

4.3.8

Indra is indeed the slayer of Vṛtra.

4.3.9

He brings him back to the path of sacrifice.

4.3.10

[He offers a cake] on twelve potsherds to Vaiśvānara.

4.3.11

That one who shines up there is indeed Vaiśvānara.

4.3.12

He brings him back to the path of sacrifice.

4.3.13

As to why he sacrifices to these deities,

4.3.14

[it is with the thought:] 'May I not stray from the path of sacrifice.'

4.3.15

A staff and sandals are the dakṣiṇā.

4.3.16

That is the symbol of security.

4.4.1

Now, next, of the Dākṣāyaṇa sacrifice.

4.4.2

Intending to sacrifice with the Dākṣāyaṇa sacrifice, he begins on the full moon day of Phālguna.

4.4.3

The full moon day of Phālguna is the mouth of the year.

4.4.4

Therefore sessions without consecration are begun on it.

4.4.5

Moreover, Dakṣa Pārvati, having sacrificed with this sacrifice, obtained all desires.

4.4.6

Now, that one sacrifices with the Dākṣāyaṇa sacrifice

4.4.7

is for the attainment of all desires.

4.4.8

He should not obtain [mere] desire in eating;

4.4.9

he should eat, meditating in his mind: 'May I consume King Soma, the moon.'

4.4.10

That one yonder is indeed King Soma, the all-seeing moon.

4.4.11

Him, this one, the gods press in the dark fortnight.

4.4.12

Now, that they observe the observances of the Dākṣāyaṇa sacrifice in the dark fortnight

4.4.13

is [with the thought]: 'May I also be a drinker of Soma among the gods.'

4.4.14

Now, that he offers an eleven-potsherd sacrificial cake to Agni and Soma on the day of preparation,

4.4.15

whatever [cake] to Agni and Soma belongs to the day of preparation of Soma,

4.4.16

that very one he attains by that.

4.4.17

Now, that he sacrifices in the morning with the new moon [offering],

4.4.18

the day of pressing indeed belongs to Indra;

4.4.19

he thereby attains that day of pressing.

4.4.20

Now, that he offers a twelve-potsherd sacrificial cake to Indra and Agni on the day of preparation of the new moon,

4.4.21

the third pressing indeed belongs to Indra and Agni according to the chant;

4.4.22

he thereby attains that third pressing.

4.4.23

Now, that there is the curd-mixture for Mitra and Varuṇa,

4.4.24

the barren cow indeed belongs to Mitra and Varuṇa;

4.4.25

he thereby attains that barren cow.

4.4.26

This same Soma has entered into the oblation sacrifices.

4.4.27

Therefore, though uninitiated, he has the observances of an initiated person.

4.5.1

Now next of the Iḍādadha [sacrifice]:

4.5.2

one who is about to sacrifice with the Iḍādadha undertakes [it] on this very full moon day; its brāhmaṇa has [already] been stated.

4.5.3

This is the sacrifice for one who desires cattle, for one who desires food.

4.5.4

With it one who desires cattle, one who desires food, should sacrifice.

4.5.5

There he observes the observances in the very same way,

4.5.6

for it is an abridgement of the Dākṣāyaṇa sacrifice.

4.5.7

Now next of the Sārvaseni sacrifice:

4.5.8

one who is about to sacrifice with the Sārvaseni sacrifice undertakes [it] on this very full moon day; its brāhmaṇa has [already] been stated.

4.5.9

This, however, is the sacrifice for one wishing to prostrate [a rival].

4.5.10

He who should wish, 'May I prostrate my hating rival,'

4.5.11

he sacrifices with this; he indeed prostrates [him].

4.5.12

Now next of the Śaunaka sacrifice:

4.5.13

one who is about to sacrifice with the Śaunaka sacrifice undertakes [it] on this very full moon day; its brāhmaṇa has [already] been stated.

4.5.14

This is the sacrifice for one who desires offspring.

4.5.15

With it one who desires offspring should sacrifice.

4.5.16

Now, that the adhvaryu causes the oblations to be generated, that is the symbol for offspring.

4.6.1

Now next of the Vasiṣṭha sacrifice:

4.6.2

one who is about to sacrifice with the Vasiṣṭha sacrifice undertakes [it] on the new moon day of Phālguna.

4.6.3

The full moon day is the spiritual power;

4.6.4

the new moon day is the kingly power.

4.6.5

This sacrifice is like kingly power,

4.6.6

[with the thought:] 'May I overcome enemies through kingly power.'

4.6.7

Vasiṣṭha, having had his sons slain, desired: 'May I propagate with offspring and cattle; may I overcome the Saudāsas.'

4.6.8

He saw this sacrificial rite, the Vasiṣṭha sacrifice.

4.6.9

Having sacrificed with it, he propagated with offspring and cattle; he overcame the Saudāsas.

4.6.10

Just so indeed here, when the sacrificer sacrifices with the Vasiṣṭha sacrifice,

4.6.11

he propagates with offspring and cattle; he overcomes his hating rivals.

4.6.12

Now next of the Sākamprasthāyya [sacrifice]:

4.6.13

one who is about to sacrifice with the Sākamprasthāyya undertakes [it] on this very new moon day; its brāhmaṇa has [already] been stated.

4.6.14

This is the sacrifice for one who desires preeminence, for one who desires heroic strength.

4.6.15

With it one who desires preeminence, one who desires heroic strength, sacrifices.

4.6.16

Now, that they step forth together,

4.6.17

sacrifice together,

4.6.18

and consume together,

4.6.19

therefore is it called the Sākamprasthāyya.

4.7.1

Now next of the Munyayana [course]:

4.7.2

one who is about to sacrifice with the Munyayana undertakes [it] on this very full moon day; its brāhmaṇa has [already] been stated.

4.7.3

This is the sacrifice for one who desires everything.

4.7.4

With it one who desires everything should sacrifice.

4.7.5

Now next of the Turāyaṇa.

4.7.6

When intending to sacrifice with the Turāyaṇa, he sets it in motion on this very full moon day; its explanation has been told.

4.7.7

This is the sacrifice of one who desires heaven.

4.7.11

Thereby he indeed makes himself prosper through the brahman.

4.7.12

These indeed are three oblations.

4.7.13

Three, truly, are these worlds.

4.7.14

He thereby obtains these very worlds.

4.8.1

Now next of the Āgrayaṇa.

4.8.2

With the Āgrayaṇa one who desires food should sacrifice in the rainy season when the millet crop has arrived.

4.8.3

He orders [them] to take up the millets.

4.8.4

Whichever new moon day falls at that time,

4.8.5

having sacrificed with it, he should then sacrifice with this iṣṭi.

4.8.6

If [it is] the full moon day,

4.8.7

having sacrificed with this, he should then sacrifice with the Full Moon [sacrifice].

4.8.8

And if he should wish to attain a lunar mansion,

4.8.9

having watched for a lunar mansion in the first half of the month, he should sacrifice under whichever auspicious lunar mansion he may desire.

4.8.10

For it there are seventeen kindling verses, two butter portions containing the word 'end', [and] two virāj verses as samyājyā offering verses; its explanation has been told.

4.8.11

A caru belongs to Soma.

4.8.12

Soma, truly, is the king of plants.

4.8.13

Thereby he pleases him through his own quarter.

4.8.14

Now, that he gives a honey-mixture [as sacrificial fee],

4.8.15

for this is the essence of wild [plants].

4.9.1

Now in spring, when it has arrived and the bamboo barley has ripened,

4.9.2

he orders [them] to take up the bamboo barley.

4.9.3

Its seasonal point is the very same, its ritual paradigm the same, this the deity, this the sacrificial gift, this the explanation.

4.9.4

Some indeed make it dedicated to Agni, or dedicated to Varuṇa, or dedicated to Prajāpati, with this very ritual paradigm, with this very explanation.

4.9.5

Now when the rice crop or the barley crop has arrived,

4.9.6

he orders [them] to take up the [grains] for the Āgrayaṇa.

4.9.7

Its seasonal point is the very same, its ritual paradigm the same.

4.9.8

Now, that [the sacrificial cake] for Indra and Agni is on twelve potsherds—

4.9.9

Indra and Agni, truly, are the mouth of the gods;

4.9.10

thereby he pleases the gods right from the mouth.

4.9.11

Now, that there is a caru for the Viśve Devas—

4.9.12

these indeed are all the gods, namely the Viśve Devas;

4.9.13

[it is] for the pleasing of all the gods.

4.9.14

Now, that there is [a cake] on one potsherd for Heaven and Earth—

4.9.15

Heaven and Earth, truly, are the two accomplishers of the crop.

4.9.16

Earth is the support; that [sky] provides with moisture.

4.9.17

So when he sacrifices to these deities,

4.9.18

[he thinks:] 'I shall eat food that has been made propitious through these deities.'

4.10.1

Now, that he gives a first-born cow [as sacrificial fee],

4.10.2

for this is a first action.

4.10.3

If he should feel weary of this [iṣṭi],

4.10.4

he should make the oblation of the Full Moon or of the New Moon [sacrifice] from the new [grains], for the attainment of both.

4.10.5

Or he should add the oblations to the Full Moon or to the New Moon [sacrifice], so that the deities are not neglected.

4.10.6

Or he should offer the Agnihotra evening and morning with gruel made of the new [grains], for the attainment of both.

4.10.7

Or having cooked a dish of rice on the Gārhapatya fire from the new [grains], he should offer it on the Āhavanīya fire to these deities of the Āgrayaṇa, with [Agni] Sviṣṭakṛt as fourth, [saying,] 'To that [deity] svāhā, to that [deity] svāhā', so that the deities are not neglected.

4.10.8

Or having fed the Agnihotra cow with the new [grains], he should offer the Agnihotra evening and morning with her milk, for the attainment of both.

4.10.9

These are the alternative procedures, so many.

4.10.10

With whichever among them he may desire, with that he should sacrifice.

4.10.11

The three-oblation [rite], however, is the standard.

4.10.12

Three, truly, are these worlds.

4.10.13

He thereby obtains these very worlds, he thereby obtains these very worlds.

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