Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 5.3.5

5.3.5.1

taṃ vai mādhyadine savane 'bhiṣiñcati | eṣa vai prajāpatirya eṣa yajñastāyate yasmādimāḥ prajāḥ prajātā etamvevāpyetarhyanu prajāyante tadenam madhyata evaitasya prajāpaterdadhāti madhyataḥ suvati

He consecrates him at the midday Soma-feast. Now Pragâpati is that sacrifice which is here performed, and whence these creatures have been produced,--and so they are even now produced after this one: he thus places him in the very middle of that Pragâpati, and consecrates him in the middle.

5.3.5.2

agṛhīte māhendre | eṣa vā indrasya niṣkevalyo graho yanmāhendro 'pyasyaitanniṣkevalyameva stotraṃ niṣkevalyaṃ śastramindro vai yajamānastadenaṃ sva evāyatane 'bhiṣiñcati tasmādagṛhīte māhendre

Before the Mâhendra (cup) has been drawn,--for that Mâhendra cup is Indra's special (nishkevalya) cup, and so is that Nishkevalya Stotra (hymn) and Nishkevalya Sastra (recitation); and the Sacrificer is Indra: he thus consecrates him--in his own resting-place. Hence before the Mâhendra (cup) has been drawn,--

5.3.5.3

agreṇa maitrāvaruṇasya dhiṣṇyam | śārdūlacarmopastṛṇāti somasya tviṣirasīti yatra vai soma indramatyapavata sa yattataḥ śārdūlaḥ samabhavattena somasya tviṣistasmādāha somasya tviṣirasīti taveva me tviṣirbhūyāditi śārdūlatviṣi mevāsminnetaddadhāti tasmādāha taveva me tviṣirbhūyāditi

He spreads a tiger-skin in front of the Maitrâvaruna's hearth, with (Vâg. S. X, 5), 'Thou art Soma's beauty.' For because when Soma flowed through Indra he (Indra) thereupon became a tiger, therefore he is Soma's beauty: this is why he says, 'Thou art Soma's splendour;'--'may my beauty become like unto thine!' He thus bestows the tiger's beauty on him: therefore he says, 'May my beauty become like unto thine!'

5.3.5.4

atha pārthāni juhoti | pṛthā ha vai vainyo manuṣyāṇām prathamo 'bhiṣiṣice so 'kāmayata sarvamannādyamavarundhīyeti tasmā etānyajuhavuḥ sa idaṃ sarvamannādyamavarurudhe 'pi ha smāsmā āraṇyānpaśūnabhihvayantyasāvehi rājā tvā pakṣyata iti tathedaṃ tarvamannādyamavarurudhe sarvaṃ ha vā annādyamavarunddhe yasyaivaṃ viduṣa etāni hūyante

He then offers the Pârtha oblations. Now Prithin Vainya was consecrated first of men. He desired that he might appropriate to himself all food. They offered up for him those (oblations), and he appropriated to himself all the food here on earth. They would even call forest beasts to him, saying, 'Come hither thou (beast) so and so, the king wants to cook thee!' Thus he appropriated all food here on earth; and verily he appropriates to himself all food for whom that knows this those (oblations) are offered.

5.3.5.5

tāni vai dvādaśa bhavanti | dvādaśa vai māsāḥ saṃvatsarasya tasmāddvādaśa bhavanti

There are twelve of them,--for there are twelve months in the year: therefore there are twelve of them.

5.3.5.6

ṣaṭ purastādabhiṣekasya juhoti | ṣaḍupariṣṭāttadenam madhyata evaitasya prajāpaterdadhāti madhyataḥ suvati

Six he offers before, and six after, the consecration: he thereby places him in the very middle of that Pragâpati, and consecrates him in the middle.

5.3.5.7

sa yāni purastādabhiṣekasya juhoti | bṛhaspatisteṣāmuttamo bhavatyatha yānyupariṣṭādabhiṣekasya juhotīndrasteṣām prathamo bhavati brahma vai bṛhaspatirindriyaṃ vīryamindra etābhyāmevainametadvīryābhyāmubhayataḥ paribṛṃhati

Now of those which he offers before the consecration, Brihaspati is the last (recipient), and of those which he offers after the consecration, Indra is the first;--but Brihaspati is priestly dignity (brahma), and Indra is might, vigour: with these two kinds of vigour he thus encloses him on both sides.

5.3.5.8

sa juhoti | yāni purastādabhiṣekasya juhotyagnaye svāheti tejo vā agnistejasaivainametadabhiṣiñcati somāya svāheti kṣatraṃ vai somaḥ kṣatreṇaivainametadabhiṣiñcati savitre svāheti savitā vai devānām prasavitā savitṛprasūta evainametadabhiṣiñcati sarasvatyai svāheti vāgvai sarasvatī vācaivainametadabhiṣiñcati pūṣṇe svāheti paśavo vai pūṣā paśubhirevainametadabhiṣiñcati bṛhaspataye svāheti brahma vai bṛhaspatirbrahmaṇaivainametadabhiṣiñcatyetāni purastādabhiṣekasya juhoti tānyetānyagnināmānītyācakṣate

Those which he offers before the consecration, he offers (resp.) with, 'To Agni hail!'--Agni is brightness (tegas): with brightness he thus sprinkles (endows) him;--'To Soma hail!'--Soma is princely power (kshatra): with princely power he thus sprinkles him;--'To Savitri hail!'--Savitri is the impeller of the gods: impelled by Savitri he thus consecrates him;--'To Sarasvatî hail!'--Sarasvatî is Speech: he thus sprinkles him with Speech;--'To Pûshan hail!'--Pûshan is cattle: with cattle he thus sprinkles him;--'To Brihaspati hail!'--Brihaspati is priestly dignity: with priestly dignity he thus sprinkles him. These he offers before the consecration: these are called the Agni-named ones.

5.3.5.9

atha juhoti | yānyupariṣṭādabhiṣekasya juhotīndrāya svāheti vīrya vā indro vīryeṇaivainametadabhiṣiñcati ghoṣāya svāheti vīryaṃ vai ghoṣo vīryeṇaivainametadabhiṣiñcati ślokāya svāheti vīryaṃ vai śloko vīryeṇaivainametadabhiṣiñcatyaṃśāya svāheti vīryaṃ vā aṃśo vīryeṇaivainametadabhiṣiñcati bhagāya svāheti vīryaṃ vai bhāgo vīryeṇaivainametadabhiṣiñcatyaryamṇe svāheti tadenamasya sarvasyāryamaṇaṃ karotyetānyupariṣṭādabhiṣekasya juhoti tānyetānyādityanāmānītyācakṣate

Those which he offers after the consecration, he offers (resp.) with, 'To Indra hail!'--Indra is vigour: with vigour he thus sprinkles him;--'To the roar hail!'--roar means vigour: with vigour he thus sprinkles him;--'To the noise hail! 'noise means vigour: with vigour he thus sprinkles him;--'To Amsa hail!'--Amsa is vigour: with vigour he thus sprinkles him;--'To Bhaga hail!'--Bhaga is vigour: with vigour he thus sprinkles him;--'To Aryaman hail!'--he thus makes him the friend (aryaman) of everything here. These he offers after the consecration: these are called the Âditya-named ones.

5.3.5.10

agreṇa maitrāvaruṇasya dhiṣṇyam | abhiṣecanīyāni pātrāṇi bhavanti yatraitā āpo 'bhiṣecanīyā bhavanti

In front of the Maitrâvaruna's hearth are the (four) consecration vessels in which that consecration water is contained.

5.3.5.11

pālāśam bhavati | tena brāhmaṇo 'bhiṣiñcati brahma vai palāśo brahmaṇaivainametadabhiṣiñcati

There is a palâsa (butea frondosa) one: with (the water of) that (vessel) a Brâhman sprinkles;--the Palâsa tree is priestly dignity (brahman): it is with priestly dignity that he sprinkles (endows) him.

5.3.5.12

audumbaram bhavati | tena svo 'bhiṣiñcatyannaṃ vā ūrgudumbara ūrgvai svaṃ yāvadvai puruṣasya svam bhavati naiva tāvadaśanāyati tenorkṣvaṃ tasmādaudumbareṇa svo 'bhiṣiñcati

There is an udumbara (ficus glomerata) one: therewith one of his own (kinsmen, or brothers) sprinkles. The udumbara tree means sustenance, (that is) food, and the 'own' means sustenance, for as far as a man's own goes, so far he does not hunger: thereby his 'own' is sustenance, and therefore one of his own (kinsmen) sprinkles with an udumbara (vessel).

5.3.5.13

naiyagrodhapādam bhavati | tena mitryo rājanyo 'bhiṣiñcati padbhirvai nyagrodhaḥ pratiṣṭhito mitreṇa vai rājanyaḥ pratiṣṭhitastasmānnaiyagrodhapādena mitryo rājanyo 'bhiṣiñcati

There is one made of the foot (stem) of the nyagrodha (ficus indica): therewith a friendly (mitrya) Râganya sprinkles: for by its feet the nyagrodha tree is supported, and by the friend (mitra) the Râganya (nobleman or king) is supported: therefore a friendly Râganya sprinkles with (the water of a vessel) made of the foot of a nyagrodha.

5.3.5.14

āśvattham bhavati | tena vaiśyo 'bhiṣiñcati sa yadevādo 'śvatthe tiṣṭhata indro maruta upāmantrayata tasmādāśvatthena vaiśyo 'bhiṣiñcatyetānyabhiṣecanīyāni pātrāṇi bhavanti

There is an asvattha (ficus religiosa) one: therewith a Vaisya sprinkles. Because Indra on that (former) occasion called upon the Maruts staying on the Asvattha tree, therefore a Vaisya sprinkles with an asvattha (vessel). These are the consecration vessels.

5.3.5.15

atha pavitre karoti | pavitre stho vaiṣṇavyāviti so 'sāveva bandhustayorhiraṇyam pravayati tābhyāmetā abhiṣecanīyā apa utpunāti tadyaddhiraṇyam pravayatyamṛtamāyurhiraṇyaṃ tadā svamṛtamāyurdadhāti tasmāddhiraṇyam pravayati

He then prepares two strainers (pavitra), with (Vâg. S. X, 6), 'Purifiers ye are, Vishnu's own;'--the significance is the same (as before). He weaves gold (threads) into them. With them he purifies those consecration waters. As to why he weaves gold (threads) in,--gold is immortal life: that immortal life he lays into these (waters), and hence he weaves gold (threads) in.

5.3.5.16

sa utpunāti | saviturvaḥ prasava utpunāmyacidreṇa pavitreṇa sūryasya raśmibhiriti so 'sāveva bandhuranibhṛṣṭamasi vāco bandhustapojā ityanādhṛṣṭā stha rakṣobhirityevaitadāha yadāhānibhṛṣṭamasīti vāco bandhuriti yāvadvai prāṇeṣvāpo bhavanti tāvadvācā vadati tasmādāha vāco bandhuriti

He purifies with, 'By the impulse of Savitri I purify you with a flawless purifier, with the rays of the sun.' The significance is the same (as before). 'Not downfallen thou art, the friend of Speech, born of heat,'--unimpaired by the Rakshas he means to say when he says, 'not downfallen;'--'the friend of Speech'--as long as there is water in the vital airs, so long (man) speaks with speech: therefore he says, 'the friend of Speech.'

5.3.5.17

tapojā iti | agnirvai dhūmo jāyate dhūmādabhramabhrādvṛṣṭiragnervā etā jāyante tasmādāha tapojā iti

'Born of heat' he says, for from fire springs smoke, from smoke the cloud, from the cloud rain,--it is from fire that these are produced: hence he says, 'born of heat.'

5.3.5.18

somasya dātramasīti | yadā vā enametābhirabhiṣuṇvantyathāhutirbhavati tasmādāha somasya dātramasīti svāhā rājasva iti tadenāḥ svāhākāreṇaivotpunāti

'Soma's portion thou art;' for when they consecrate him with those (waters), then there is an oblation: therefore he says 'Soma's portion thou art;'--'Hail, spiriters of kings!'--it is with 'Hail' that he thus purifies them.

5.3.5.19

tā eteṣu pātreṣu vyānayati | sadhamādo dyumninīrāpa etā ityanatimāninya ityevaitadāha yadāha sadhamāda iti dyumninīrāpa etā iti vīryavatya ityevaitadāhānādhṛṣṭā apasyo vasānā ityanādhṛṣṭā stha rakṣobhirityevaitadāha yadāhānādhṛṣṭā apasyo vasānā iti pastyāsu cakre varuṇaḥ sadhasthamiti viśo vai pastyā vikṣu cakre varuṇaḥ pratiṣṭhāmityevaitadāhāpāṃ śiśurmātṛtamāsvantariti

He distributes them over those (consecration) vessels, with (Vâg. S. X, 7), 'Playmates are these glorious waters;'--'not overbearing' he means to say, when he says 'playmates;' and by 'these glorious waters' he means to say 'the powerful ones;'--'unimpaired, active, enveloping,' he thereby means to say 'ye are unimpaired by the Rakshas;'--'In the habitations Varuna hath made a home;'--the habitations are the people (clans): 'in the people Varuna has made a support' he thereby says;--'he, the child of the waters, in the best of mothers;'--for he who performs the Râgasûya is indeed the child of the waters: therefore he says, 'the child of the waters, in the best of mothers.'

5.3.5.20

athainaṃ vāsāṃsi paridhāpayati | tattārpyamiti vāso bhavati tasmintsarvāṇi yajñarūpāṇi niṣyūtāni bhavanti tadenam paridhāpayati kṣatrasyolbamasīti tadyadeva kṣatrasyolbaṃ tata evainametajjanayati

He then makes him (the king) put on garments. There is that one called târpya; therein are wrought all forms of sacrifice: that he makes him put on, with (Vâg. S. X, 8), 'Thou art the inner caul of knighthood (kshatra)!' He thus causes him to be born from out of what is the inner caul (amnion) of knighthood.

5.3.5.21

athainam pāṇḍvam paridhāpayati | kṣatrasya jarāyvasīti tadyadeva kṣatrasya jarāyu tata evainametajjanayati

He then makes him put on one of undyed wool, with, 'Thou art the outer caul of knighthood!' He thus causes him to be born from what is the outer caul (chorion) of knighthood.

5.3.5.22

athādhīvāsam pratimuñcati | kṣatrasya yonirasīti tadyaiva kṣatrasya yonistasyā evainametajjanayati

He then throws over the mantle, with, 'Thou art the womb of knighthood!' He thus causes him to be born from what is the womb of knighthood.

5.3.5.23

athoṣṇīṣaṃ saṃhṛtya | purastādavagūhati kṣatrasya nābhirasīti tadyaiva kṣatrasya nābhistāmevāsminnetaddadhāti

He then draws the head-band together, and conceals it (tucks it under) in front, with, 'Thou art the navel of knighthood!' He thus places him in what is the navel of knighthood.

5.3.5.24

taddhaike | samantam pariveṣṭayanti nābhirvā asyaiṣā samantaṃ vā iyaṃ nābhiḥ paryetīti vadantastadu tathāna kuryātpurastādevāvagūhetpurastāddhīyaṃ nābhistadyadenaṃ vāsāṃsi paridhāpayati janayatyevainametajjātamabhiṣiñcānīti tasmādenaṃ vāsāṃsi paridhāpayati

Now some wind it quite round about (the navel) saying, 'that (band) is his navel, and this navel goes all round.' But let him not do this, but let him merely tuck it under in front, for this navel is in front. And as to why he makes him put on the garments;--he thereby causes him to be born, thinking, 'I will anoint him when born:' that is why he makes him put on the garments.

5.3.5.25

taddhaike | nidadhatyetāni vāsāṃsyathainam punardīkṣitavasanam paridhāpayanti tadu tathā na kuryādaṅgāni vā asya janūrvāsāṃsyaṅgairhainaṃ sajanvā tanvā vyardhayanti varuṇyaṃ dīkṣitavasanaṃ sa eteṣāmevaikaṃ vāsasām paridadhīta tadenamaṅgairjanvā tanvā samardhayati varuṇyaṃ dīkṣitavasanaṃ tadenaṃ varuṇyāddīkṣitavasanātpramuñcati

Now some put off those garments, and make him put on again the garment of initiation. But let him not do this; for, the limbs being his natural vestments, they deprive him of his limbs, of his native bodily form. The garment of initiation belongs to Varuna. Let him put on one of those same garments: he (the priest) thereby causes him to be furnished with his limbs, his native bodily form. The garment of initiation belongs to Varuna: he thus saves him from the Varunic garment of initiation.

5.3.5.26

sa yatrāvabhṛthamabhyavaiti | tadetadabhyavaharanti tatsaloma kriyate sa eteṣāmevaikaṃ vāsasām paridhāyodaiti tāni vaśāyai vā vapāyāṃ hutāyāṃ dadyādudavasānīyāyāṃ veṣṭau

And when he enters the bath they throw it into (the water). This is a congruous performance. After putting on one of those same garments he comes out (of the bath). Let him give away those (garments) either when the omentum of the barren cow has been offered, or at the completing oblation.

5.3.5.27

atha dhanuradhitanoti | indrasya vārtraghnamasīti vārtraghnaṃ vai dhanurindro vai yajamāno dvayena vā eṣa indro bhavati yacca kṣatriyo yadu ca yajamānastasmādāhendrasya vārtraghnamasīti

He (the Adhvaryu) then strings the bow, with, 'Thou art Indra's Vritra-killer;' for the bow is indeed a Vritra-killer, and the Sacrificer is Indra,--he is Indra in a twofold way, both as a Kshatriya, and as Sacrificer: therefore he says, 'Thou art Indra's Vritra-killer.'

5.3.5.28

atha bāhū vimārṣṭi | mitrasyāsi varuṇasyāsīti bāhvorvai dhanurbāhubhyāṃ vai rājanyo maitrāvaruṇastasmādāha mitrasyāsi varuṇasyāsīti tadasmai prayacati tvayāyaṃ vṛtram badhediti tvayāyaṃ dviṣantam bhrātṛvyam badhedityevaitadāha

He then strokes the two arms, with, 'Mitra's thou art,--Varuna's thou art;' for the bow is within the two arms, and by his two arms the Râganya pertains to Mitra and Varuna: therefore he says, 'Mitra's thou art, Varuna's thou art.' He hands it to him, with, 'May he slay Vritra by thee!' whereby he means to say, 'May he slay by thee his spiteful enemy!'

5.3.5.29

athāsmai tisra iṣūḥ prayacati | sa yayā prathamayā samarpaṇena parābhinatti saikā seyam pṛthivī saiṣā dṛbā nāmātha yayā viddhaḥ śayitvā jīvati vā mriyate vā sā dvitīyā tadidamantarikṣaṃ saiṣā rujā nāmātha yayāpaiva rādhnoti sā tṛtīyā sāsau dyauḥ saiṣā kṣumā nāmaitā hi vai tisra iṣavastasmādasmai tisra iṣūḥ prayacati

He then hands him three arrows. That first-one by which he pierces on shooting, that is one, that one is this earth, that one is called 'dribâ.' And the one by which (the enemy) being pierced lies either living or dead, that is the second, that is this air, that is called 'rugâ.' And the one with which he misses (his aim), that is the third, that is yonder sky, that is called 'kshumâ.' For these are the three (kinds of) arrows: therefore he hands him three arrows.

5.3.5.30

tāḥ prayacati | pātainam prāñcam pātainam pratyañcam pātainaṃ tiryañcaṃ digbhyaḥ pāteti tadasmai sarvā eva diśo 'śaravyāḥ karoti tadyadasmai dhanuḥ prayacati vīryaṃ vā etadrājanyasya yaddhanurvīryavantamabhiṣiñcānīti tasmādvā asmā āyudham prayacati

These he hands to him with, 'Protect ye him in front!--Protect ye him from behind!--Protect ye him from the side!--Protect ye him from (all) quarters!' Thus he makes all the quarters safe from arrows for him. And as to why he hands the bow to him;--this, the bow, truly is the nobleman's strength: it is because he thinks, 'I will consecrate him when endowed with strength!' that he hands the weapon to him.

5.3.5.31

athainamāvido vācayati | āvirmaryā ityaniruktam prajāpatirvā aniruktastadenam prajāpataya āvedayati so 'smai savamanumanyate tenānumataḥ sūyate

Thereupon he makes him pronounce the âvid formulas (Vâg. S. X, 9), 'In sight, ye mortals! This is mysterious for mysterious is Pragâpati: he thus announces him to Pragâpati, and this one approves of his consecration; and approved by him he is consecrated.

5.3.5.32

āvitto agnirgṛhapatiriti | brahma agnistadenam brahmaṇa āvedayati tadasmai savamanumanyate tenānumataḥ sūyate

'Present is Agni, the house-lord;'---Agni is the priesthood (brahman); he thus announces him to the priesthood; and it approves of his consecration, and approved by it he is consecrated.
33 'Present is Indra, the far-famed;'--Indra is the nobility: he thus announces him to the nobility; and, it approves of his consecration, and approved by it he is consecrated.

5.3.5.33

āvitto indro vṛddhaśravā iti | kṣatraṃ vā indrastadenaṃ kṣatrāyāvedayati tadasmai savamanumanyate tenānumataḥ sūyate

5.3.5.34

āvittau mitrāvaruṇau dhṛtavratāviti | prāṇodānau vai mitrāvaruṇau tadenam prāṇodānābhyāmāvedayati tāvasmai savamanumanyete tābhyāmanumataḥ sūyate

'Present are Mitra and Varuna, the upholders of the law;'--Mitra and Varuna are the out-breathing and in-breathing: he thus announces him to the out-breathing and in-breathing, and they approve of his consecration, and approved by them he is consecrated.

5.3.5.35

āvittaḥ pūṣā viśvavedā iti | paśavo vai pūṣā tadenam paśubhya āvedayati te 'smai savamanumanyante tairanumataḥ sū

'Present is Pûshan, the all-possessing;' Pûshan is (the lord of) cattle: he thus announces him to the cattle, and they approve of his consecration; and approved by them he is consecrated.

5.3.5.36

āvitte dyāvāpṛthivī viśvaśambhuvāviti | tadenamābhyāṃ dyāvāpṛthivībhyāmāvedayati te asmai savamanumanyete tābhyāmanumataḥ sūyate

'Present are Heaven and Earth, the all-propitious;'--he thus announces him to those two, the heaven and the earth, and they approve of his consecration; and approved by them he is consecrated.

5.3.5.37

āvittāditiruruśarmeti | iyaṃ vai pṛthivyaditistadenamasmai pṛthivyā āvedayati sāsmai savamanumanyate tayānumataḥ sūyate tadyābhya evainametaddevatābhya āvedayati tā asmai savamanumanyante tābhiranumataḥ sūyate

'Present is Aditi, of wide shelter;'--Aditi is this earth: he thus announces him to this earth, and she approves of his consecration, and approved by her he is consecrated. Thus to whatever deities he announces him, they approve of his consecration, and approved by them he is consecrated.