Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 6.1

6.1.1.1

asadvā idamagra āsīt | tadāhuḥ kiṃ tadasadāsīdityṛṣayo vāva te gre sadāsīttadāhuḥ ke ta ṛṣaya iti prāṇā vā ṛṣayaste yatpurāsmātsarvasmādidamicantaḥ śrameṇa tapasāriṣaṃstasmādṛṣayaḥ dhyata indriyeṇainddha yadainddha tasmādindha indho ha vai tam

6.1.1.2

sa yo yam madhye prāṇaḥ | eṣa evendrastāneṣa prāṇānmaindra ityācakṣate paro 'kṣam paro 'kṣakāmā hi devāsta iddhāḥ sapta nānā puruṣānasṛjanta

6.1.1.3

te 'bruvan | na vā itthaṃ santaḥ śakṣyāmaḥ prajanayitumimāntsapta puruṣānekam puruṣaṃ karavāmeti ta etāntsapta puruṣānekam puruṣamakurvanyadūrdhvaṃ nābhestau dvau samaubjanyadavāṅnābhestau dvau pakṣaḥ puruṣaḥ pakṣaḥ puruṣaḥ pratiṣṭhaika āsīt

6.1.1.4

atha yaiteṣāṃ saptānām puruṣāṇāṃ śrīḥ | yo rasa āsīttamūrdhvaṃ samudauhastadasya śiro 'bhavadyacriyaṃ samudauhaṃstasmācirastasminnetasminprāṇā aśrayanta tasmādvevaitaciro 'tha yatprāṇā aśrayanta tasmādu prāṇāḥ śriyau 'tha yatsarvasminnaśrayanta tasmādu śarīram

6.1.1.5

sa eva puruṣaḥ prajāpatirabhavat | sa yaḥ sa puruṣaḥ prajāpatirabhavadayameva sa yo 'yamagniścīyate

6.1.1.6

sa vai saptapuruṣo bhavati | saptapuruṣo hyayam puruṣo yacctvāra ātmā trayaḥ pakṣapucāni catvāro hi tasya puruṣasyātmā trayaḥ pakṣapucānyatha yadekena puruṣeṇātmānaṃ vardhayati tena vīryeṇāyamātmā pakṣapucānyudyacati

6.1.1.7

atha yaścite 'gnirnidhīyate | yaivaiteṣāṃ saptānām puruṣāṇāṃ śrīryo rasastametadūrdhvaṃ samudūhanti tadasyaitacirastasmintsarve devāḥ śritā atra hi sarvebhyo devebhyo juhvati tasmādvevaitaciraḥ

6.1.1.8

so 'yam puruṣaḥ prajāpatirakāmayata bhūyāntsyām prajāyeyeti so 'śrāmyatsa tapo 'tapyata sa śrāntastepāno brahmaiva prathamamasṛjata trayomeva vidyāṃ saivāsmai pratiṣṭhābhavattasmādāhurbrahmāsya sarvasya pratiṣṭheti tasmādanūcya pratitiṣṭhati pratiṣṭhā hyeṣā yadbrahma tasyām pratiṣṭhāyām pratiṣṭhito 'tapyata

6.1.1.9

so 'po 'sṛjata | vāca eva lokādvāgevāsya sāsṛjyata sedaṃ sarvamāpnodyadidaṃ kiṃ ca yadāpnottasmādāpo yadavṛṇottasmādvāḥ

6.1.1.10

so 'kāmayata | ābhyo 'dbhyo 'dhi prajāyeyeti so 'nayā trayyā vidyayā sahāpaḥ prāviśattata āṇḍaṃ samavartata tadabhyamṛśadastvityastu bhūyo 'stvityeva tadabravīttato brahmaiva prathamamasṛjyata trayyeva vidyā tasmādāhurbrahmāsya sarvasya prathamajamityapi hi tasmātpuruṣādbrahmaiva pūrvamasṛjyata tadasya tanmukhamevāsṛjyata tasmādanūcānamāhuragnikalpa iti mukhaṃ hyetadagneryadbrahma

6.1.1.11

atha yo garbho 'ntarāsīt | so 'grirasṛjyata sa yadasya sarvasyāgramasṛjyata tasmādagriragrirha vai tamagnirityācacate paro 'kṣam paro 'kṣakāmā hi devā atha yadaśru saṃkṣaritamāsītso 'śrurabhavadaśrurha vai tamaśva ityācakṣate paro 'kṣam paro 'kṣakāmā hi devā atha yadarasadiva sa rāsabho 'bhavadatha yaḥ kapāle raso lipta āsītso 'jo 'bhavadatha yatkapālamāsītsā pṛthivyabhavat

6.1.1.12

so 'kāmayata | ābhyo 'dyo 'dhīmām prajanayeyamiti tāṃ saṃkL!śyāpsu prāvidhyattasyai yaḥ parāṅ raso 'tyakṣaratsa kūrmo 'bhavadatha yadūrdhvamudaukṣyatedaṃ tadyadidamūrdhvamadbhyo 'dhi jāyate seyaṃ sarvāpa evānuvyaittadidamekameva rūpaṃ samadṛśyatāpa eva

6.1.1.13

so 'kāmayata | bhūya eva syātprajāyeteti so 'śrāmyatsa tapo 'tapyata sa śrāntastepānaḥ phenamasṛjata so 'vedanyadvā etadrūpam bhūyo vai bhavati śrāmyāṇyeveti sa śrāntastepāno mṛdaṃ śuṣkāpamūṣasikataṃ śarkarāmaśmānamayo hiraṇyamoṣadhivanaspatyasṛjata tenemām pṛthivīm prācādayat

6.1.1.14

tā vā etā nava sṛṣṭayaḥ | iyamasṛjyata tasmādāhustrivṛdagniritīyaṃ hyagnirasyai hi sarvo 'gniścīyate

6.1.1.15

abhūdvā iyam pratiṣṭheti | tadbhūmirabhavattāmaprathayatsā pṛthivyabhavatseyaṃ sarvā kṛtsnā manyamānāgāyadyadagāyattasmādiyaṃ gāyatryatho āhuragnirevāsyai pṛṣṭhe sarvaḥ kṛtsno manyamāno 'gāyadyadagāyattasmādagnirgāyatra iti tasmādu haitadyaḥ sarvaḥ kṛtsno manyate gāyati vaiva gīte vā ramate

6.1.2.1

so 'kāmayata prajāpatiḥ | bhūya eva syātprajāyeteti so 'gninā pṛthivīm mithunaṃ samabhavattata āṇḍaṃ samavartata tadabhyamṛśatpuṣyatviti puṣyatu bhūyo 'stvityeva tadabravīt

That Pragâpati desired, 'May it multiply, may it be reproduced!' By means (or, in the form) of Agni he entered into union with the Earth: thence an egg arose. He touched it: 'May it grow! May it grow and multiply!' he said.

6.1.2.2

sa yo garbho 'ntarāsīt | sa vāyurasṛjyatātha yadaśru saṃkṣaritamāsīttāni vayāṃsyabhavannatha yaḥ kapāle raso lipta āsīttā marīcayo 'bhavannatha yatkapālamāsīttadantarikṣamabhavat

And the embryo which was inside was created as Vâyu (the wind). And the tear which had formed itself became those birds. And the juice which was adhering to the shell became those sun-motes. And that which was the shell became the air.

6.1.2.3

so 'kāmayata | bhūya eva syātprajāyeteti sa vāyunāntarikṣam mithunaṃ samabhavattata āṇḍaṃ samavartata tadabhyamṛśadyaśo bibhṛhīti tato 'sāvādityo 'sṛjyataiṣa vai yaśo 'tha yadaśru saṃkṣaritamāsītso 'śmā pṛśnirabhavadaśrurha vai tamaśmetyācakṣate paro 'kṣam paro 'kṣakāmā hi devā atha yaḥ kapāle raso lipta āsītte raśmayo 'bhavannatha yatkapālamāsītsā dyaurabhavat

He desired, 'May it multiply, may it reproduce itself!' By means of Vâyu he entered into union with the Air: thence an egg arose. He touched it, saying, 'Bear thou glory!' From it yonder sun was created, for he indeed is glorious. And the tear which (asru) formed itself became that variegated pebble (asman); for 'asru' indeed is what they mystically call 'asman,' for the gods love the mystic. And the juice which was adhering to the shell became those sunbeams. And that which was the shell became the sky.

6.1.2.4

so 'kāmayata | bhūya eva syātprajāyeteti sa ādityena divam mithunaṃ samabhavattata āṇḍaṃ samavartata tadabhyamṛśadreto bibhṛhīti tataścandramā asṛjyataiṣa vai reto 'tha yadaśru saṃkṣaritamāsīttāni nakṣatrāṇyabhavannatha yaḥ kapāle raso lipta āsīttā avāntaradiśo 'bhavannatha yatkapālamāsīttā diśo 'bhavan

He desired, 'May it multiply, may it reproduce itself!' By means of the Sun he entered into union with the Sky: thence an egg arose. He touched it, saying, 'Bear thou seed!' From it the moon was created, for he (the moon) is seed. And the tear which formed itself became those stars. And the juice which was adhering to the shell became those intermediate quarters; and that which was the shell became those (chief) quarters (points of the compass).

6.1.2.5

sa imāṃlokāntsṛṣṭvākāmayata | tāḥ prajāḥ sṛjeya yā ma eṣu lokeṣu syuriti

Having created these worlds, he desired, 'May I create such creatures as shall be mine in these worlds!'

6.1.2.6

sa manasā vācam mithunaṃ samabhavat | so 'ṣṭau drapsāngarbhyabhavatte 'ṣṭau vasavo 'sṛjyanta tānasyāmupādadhāt

By his Mind (manas) he entered into union with Speech (vâk): he became pregnant with eight drops. They were created as those eight Vasus: he placed them on this (earth).

6.1.2.7

sa manasaiva | vācam mithunaṃ samabhavatsa ekādaśa drapsāngarbhyabhavatta ekādaśa rudrā asṛjyanta tānantarikṣa upādadhāt

By his Mind he entered into union with Speech: he became pregnant with eleven drops. They were created as those eleven Rudras: he placed them in the air.

6.1.2.8

sa manasaiva | vācam mithunaṃ samabhavatsa dvādaśa drapsāngarbhyabhavatte dvādaśādityā asṛjyanta tāndivyupādadhāt

By his Mind he entered into union with Speech: he became pregnant with twelve drops. They were created as the twelve Âdityas: he placed them in the sky.

6.1.2.9

sa manasaiva | vācam mithunaṃ samabhavatsa garbhyabhavatsa viśvāndevānasṛjata tāndikṣūpādadhāt

By his Mind he entered into union with Speech: he became pregnant. He created the All-gods: he placed them in the quarters.

6.1.2.10

atho āhuḥ | agnimeva sṛṣṭaṃ vasavo 'nvasṛjyanta tānasyāmupādadhādvāyuṃ rudrāstānantarikṣa ādityamādityāstāndivi viśve devāścandramasaṃ tāndikṣūpādadhāditi

And so they say, 'After Agni having been created, the Vasus were created: he placed them on this (earth);--after Vâyu, the Rudras: (he placed) them in the air;--after the sun, the Âdityas: (he placed) them in the sky;--after the moon, the All-gods: he placed them in the quarters.'

6.1.2.11

atho āhuḥ | prajāpatirevemāṃlokāntsṛṣṭvā pṛthivyām pratyatiṣṭhattasmā imā oṣadhayo 'nnamapacyanta tadāśnātsa garbhyabhavatsa ūrdhvebhya eva prāṇebhyo devānasṛjata ye vāñcaḥ prāṇāstebhyo martyāḥ prajā ityato yatamathāsṛjata tathāsṛjata prajāpatistvevedaṃ sarvamasṛjata yadidaṃ kiṃ ca

And so they say, 'Pragâpati, having created these worlds, was firmly established on the earth. For him these plants were ripened into food: that he ate. He became pregnant. From the upper vital airs he created the gods, and from the lower vital airs the mortal creatures.' In whatever way he created thereafter, so he created; but indeed it was Pragâpati who created everything here, whatsoever exists.

6.1.2.12

sa prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā | sarvamājimitvā vyasraṃsata tasmādu haitadyaḥ sarvamājimeti vyeva sraṃsate tasmādvisrastātprāṇo madhyata udakrāmattasminnenamutkrānte devā ajahuḥ

Having created creatures he, having run the whole race, became relaxed; and therefore even now he who runs the whole race becomes indeed relaxed. From him being thus relaxed, the vital air went out from within. When it had gone out of him the gods left him.

6.1.2.13

so 'gnimabravīt | tvam mā saṃdhehīti ki me tato bhaviṣyatīti tvayā mācakṣāntai yo vai putrāṇāṃ rādhyate tena pitaram pitāmaham putram pautramācakṣate tvayā mācakṣāntā atha mā saṃdhehīti tatheti tamagniḥ samadadhāttasmādetam prajāpatiṃ santamagnirityācakṣata ā ha vā enena pitaram pitāmaham putram pautraṃ cakṣate ya evaṃ veda

He said to Agni, 'Restore me!'--'What will then accrue to me?' said he.--'They shall call me after thee; for whichever of the sons succeeds (in life), after him they call the father, grandfather, son, and grandson: they shall call me after thee,--restore me, then!'--'So be it!' so (saying) Agni restored him: therefore, while being Pragâpati, they call him Agni; and verily, whosoever knows this, after him they call his father, grandfather, son, and grandson.

6.1.2.14

tamabravīt | kasmistvopadhāsyāmīti hita evetyabravītprāṇo vai hitam prāṇo hi sarvebhyo bhūtebhyo hitastadyadenaṃ hita upādadhāttasmādāhopadhāsyāmyupadadhāmiti

He said, 'Whereon shall we set thee up?'--'On the hita (set, or suitable, good)!' he said: the vital air is indeed something good, for the vital air is good for all beings. And inasmuch as he set him up on the hita, therefore one says, 'I shall set up, I am setting up, I have set up.'

6.1.2.15

tadāhuḥ | kiṃ hitaṃ kimupahitamiti prāṇa eva hitaṃ vāgupahitam prāṇe hīyaṃ vāgupeva hitā prāṇastveva hitamaṅgānyupahitam prāṇe hīmānyaṅgānyupeva hitāni

As to this they say, 'What is hita, and what is upahita?' The vital air, forsooth, is the 'hita,' and speech is the 'upahita,' for it is on the vital air that this speech is based (upa-hitâ). The vital air, again, is the 'hita,' and the limbs are the 'upahita,' for on the vital air these limbs are indeed based.

6.1.2.16

so >syaiṣa citya āsīt | cetavyo hyasyāsīttasmāccityaścitya u evāyaṃ yajamānasya bhavati cetavyo hyasya bhavati tasmādveva cityaḥ

This, then, was his (Pragâpati's) 'kitya' (Agni to be set up on an altar-pile); for he had to be built up (ki) by him, and therefore was his 'kitya.' And so indeed he now is the Sacrificer's 'kitya;' for he is to be built up by him, and therefore is his 'kitya.'

6.1.2.17

tadetā vā asya tāḥ | pañca tanvo vyasraṃsanta loma tvaṅnāṃsamasthi majjā tā evaitāḥ pañca citayastadyatpañca citīścinotyetābhirevainaṃ tattanūbhiścinoti yaccinoti tasmāccitayaḥ

Now it was those five bodily parts (tanu) of his (Pragâpati's) that became relaxed,--hair, skin, flesh, bone, and marrow,--they are these five layers (of the fire-altar); and when he builds up the five layers, thereby he builds him up by those bodily parts; and inasmuch as he builds up (ki), therefore they are layers (kiti).

6.1.2.18

sa yaḥ sa prajāpatirvyasraṃsata | saṃvatsaraḥ so 'tha yā asyaitāḥ pañca tanvo vyaśraṃsanta 'rtavaste pañca vā ṛtavaḥ pañcaitāścitayastadyatpañca citīścinotyṛtubhirevainaṃ taccinoti yaccinoti tasmāccitayaḥ

And that Pragâpati who became relaxed is the year; and those five bodily parts of his which became relaxed are the seasons; for there are five seasons, and five are those layers: when he builds up the five layers, he thereby builds him up with the seasons; and inasmuch as he builds up (lays down), therefore they are layers.

6.1.2.19

sa yaḥ sa saṃvatsaraḥ prajāpatirvyasraṃsata | ayameva sa vāyuryo 'yam pavate 'tha yā asya tā ṛtavaḥ pañca tanvo vyasraṃsanta diśastṝḥ pañca vai diśaḥ pañcaitāścitayastadyatpañca citīścinoti digbhirevainaṃ taccinoti yaccinoti tasmāccitayaḥ

And that Pragâpati, the year, who became relaxed, is that very Vâyu (wind) who blows yonder. And those five bodily parts of his, the seasons, which became relaxed, are the regions (or quarters); for five in number are the regions, and five those layers: when he builds up the five layers, he builds him up with the regions; and inasmuch as he builds up, therefore they are layers.

6.1.2.20

atha yaścite 'gnirnidhīyate | asau sa ādityaḥ sa eṣa evaiṣo 'gniścita etāvannu tadyadenamagniḥ samadadhāt

And the Fire that is laid down on the built (altar), that is yonder Sun;--that same Agni is indeed (raised) on the altar, and that just because Agni had restored him (Pragâpati).

6.1.2.21

atho āhuḥ | prajāpatireva visrasto devānabravītsam mā dhatteti te devā agnimabruvaṃstvayīmam pitaram prajāpatim bhiṣajyāmeti sa vā ahametasmintsarvasminneva viśānīti tatheti tasmādetam prajāpatiṃ santamagnirityācakṣate

But they say,--Pragâpati, when relaxed, said to the gods, 'Restore me!' The gods said to Agni, 'In thee we will heal this our father Pragâpati.'-- 'Then I will enter into him, when whole,' he said.--'So be it!' they said. Hence, while being Pragâpati, they yet call him Agni.

6.1.2.22

taṃ devā agnāvāhutibhirabhiṣajyan | te yāṃ yāmāhutimajuhavuḥ sā-sainam pakveṣṭakā bhūtvāpyapadyata tadyadiṣṭātsamabhavaṃstasmādiṣṭakāstasmādagnineṣṭakāḥ pacantyāhutīrevaināstatkurvanti

In the fire the gods healed him by means of oblations; and whatever oblation they offered that became a baked brick and passed into him. And because they were produced from what was offered (ishta), therefore they are bricks (ishtakâ). And hence they bake the bricks by means of the fire, for it is oblations they thus make.

6.1.2.23

so 'bravīt | yāvadyāvadvai juhutha tāvattāvanma kam bhavatīti tadyadasmā iṣṭe kamabhavattasmādveveṣṭakāḥ

He spake, 'Even as much as ye offer, even so much is my happiness:' and inasmuch as for him there was happiness (ka) in what was offered (ishta), therefore also they are bricks (ishtakâ).

6.1.2.24

taddha smāhāktākṣyaḥ | ya eva yajuṣmatīrbhūvasīriṣṭakā vidyātso 'gniṃ cinuyādbhūya eva tatpitaram prajāpatim bhiṣajyatīti

Here now Âktâkshya used to say, 'Only he who knows abundant bricks possessed of (special) prayers, should build up the fire (altar): abundantly indeed he then heals Father Pragâpati.'

6.1.2.25

atha ha smāha tāṇḍyaḥ | kṣatraṃ vai yajuṣmatya iṣṭakā viśo lokampṛṇā attā vai kṣatriyo 'nnaṃ viḍyatra vā atturanna bhūyo bhavati tadrāṣṭraṃ samṛddham bhavati tadedhate tasmāllokampṛṇā eva bhūyasīrupadadhyādityetadaha tayorvaco 'nyā tvevāta sthitiḥ

But Tândya used to say, 'Surely the bricks possessed of prayers are the nobility, and the space-fillers are the peasants; and the noble is the feeder, and the peasantry the food; and where there is abundant food for the feeder, that realm is indeed prosperous and thrives: let him therefore pile up abundant space-fillers!' Such then was the speech of those two, but the settled practice is different therefrom.

6.1.2.26

sa eṣa pitā putraḥ | yadeṣo 'gnimasṛjata tenaiṣo 'gneḥ pitā yadetamagniḥ samadadhāttenaitasyāgniḥ pitā yadeṣa devānasṛjata tenaiṣa devānām pitā yadetaṃ devāḥ samadadhustenaitasya devāḥ pitaraḥ

Now that father (Pragâpati) is (also) the son: inasmuch as he created Agni, thereby he is Agni's father; and inasmuch as Agni restored him, thereby Agni is his (Pragâpati's) father; and inasmuch as he created the gods, thereby he is the father of the gods; and inasmuch as the gods restored him, thereby the gods are his fathers.

6.1.2.27

ubhayaṃ haitadbhavati | pitā ca putraśca prajāpatiścāgniścāgniśca prajāpatiśca prajāpatiśca devāśca prajāpatiśca ya evaṃ veda

Twofold verily is this,--father and son, Pragâpati and Agni, Agni and Pragâpati, Pragâpati and the gods, the gods and Pragâpati--(for) whosoever knows this.

6.1.2.28

sa upadadhāti | tayā devatayeti vāgvai sā devatāṅgirasvaditi prāṇo vā aṅgirā dhruvā sīdeti sthirā sīdetyetadatho pratiṣṭhitā sīdeti vācā caivainametatprāṇena ca cinoti vāgvā agniḥ prāṇa indra aindrāgno 'gniryāvānagniryāvatyasya mātrā tāvataivainametaccinotīndrāgnī vai sarve devāḥ sarvadevatyo 'gniryāvānagniryāvatyasya mātrā tāvataivainametaccinoti

He builds up with, 'By that deity'--that deity, doubtless, is Vâk (speech),--'Aṅgiras-like,'--Aṅgiras, doubtless, is the breath;--'lie thou steady!'--that is, 'lie thou firm;' or 'lie thou firmly established.' It is both with speech and with breath that he builds; for Agni is speech, and Indra is the breath; and the fire (agni) relates to Indra and Agni: as great as Agni is, as great as is his measure, by so much he thus builds him up. And again, Indra and Agni are all the gods, (for) Agni belongs to all deities: thus as great as Agni is, as great as is his measure, by so much he thus builds him up.

6.1.2.29

tadāhuḥ | kasmādasyā agniścīyata iti yatra vai sā devatā vyasraṃsata tadimāmeva rasenānu vyakṣarattaṃ yatra devāḥ samaskurvaṃstadenamasyā evādhi samabharantsaiṣaikaiveṣṭakeyameveyaṃ hyagnirasyai hi sarvo 'gniścīyate seyaṃ catuḥsraktirdiśo hyasyai sraktayastasmāccatuḥkraktaya iṣṭakā bhavantīmāṃ hyanu sarvā iṣṭakāḥ

Here now they say, 'Wherefore is Agni (the fire-altar) built of this (earth)?' But, surely, when that deity (Pragâpati) became relaxed (fell asunder), he flowed along this (earth) in the shape of his life-sap; and when the gods restored him (put him together), they gathered him up from this earth: this earth then is that one brick, for Agni is this earth, since it is thereof that the whole Agni is built up. Now this earth is four-cornered, for the quarters are her corners: hence the bricks are four-cornered; for all the bricks are after the manner of this earth.

6.1.2.30

tadāhuḥ | yadevamekeṣṭako 'tha katham pañceṣṭaka itīyaṃ nveva prathamā mṛnmayīṣṭakā tadyatkiṃ cātra mṛnmayamupadadhātyekaiva seṣṭakātha yatpaśuśīrṣāṇyupadadhāti sā paśviṣṭakātha yadrukbhapuruṣā upadadhāti yaddhiraṇyaśakalaiḥ prokṣati sā hiraṇyeṣṭakātha yatsrucā upadadhāti yadulūkhalamusale yāḥ samidha ādadhāti sā vānaspatyeṣṭakātha yatpuṣkaraparṇamupadadhāti yatkūrmaṃ yaddadhi madhu ghṛtaṃ yatkiṃ cātrānnamupadadhāti saivānnaṃ pañcamīṣṭakaivamu pañceṣṭakaḥ

As to this they say, 'But if he (Agni) thus consists of one brick, how then (comes he to be) a five-bricked one?' Now surely the first brick of clay is this earth,--whatever made of clay he places on that (altar) that is that one brick. And when he puts thereon the heads of the animal victims, that is the animal-brick. And when he puts on the gold plate and man, when he scatters gold shavings thereon, that is the golden brick. And when he puts on two spoonfuls (of ghee) when he puts on the mortar and pestle, and fire-sticks, that is the wood-brick. And when he puts on a lotus-leaf (petal), a tortoise, sour curds, honey, ghee, and whatever other food he puts on, that is the fifth brick, the food. Thus, then, it is a five-bricked (Agni).

6.1.2.31

tadāhuḥ | katarata iṣṭakāyāḥ śira iti yata upaspṛśya yajurvadatītyu haika āhuḥ sa svayamātṛṇāyā evārdhādupaspṛśya yajurvadettatho hāsyaitāḥ sarvāḥ svayamātṛṇāmabhyāvṛttā bhavantīti na tathā kuryādaṅgāni vā asyaitāni parūṃṣi yadiṣṭakā yathā vā aṅge 'ṅge parvanparvañciraḥ kuryāttādṛtkadyo vāva cite 'gnirnidhīyate tadevaitāsāṃ sarvāsāṃ śiraḥ

As to this they say, 'On which side is the head of the brick?'--'Where he touches it and says a prayer,' so say some, 'on one end of the naturally perforated (brick) alone indeed should he say a prayer while touching it, but thus all those (bricks) of his are turned towards the naturally perforated one.' Let him not do so, for those bricks doubtless are his (Agni's) limbs, his joints; and it would be just as if he were to put a head on each limb, on each joint. But indeed, the fire which is deposited on the pile, that is the head of all those (bricks).

6.1.2.32

tadāhuḥ | kati paśavo 'gnā upadhīyanta iti pañceti nveva brūyātpañca hyetānpaśūnupadadhāti

Here they say, 'How many animal victims are laid upon the fire (altar)?'--Let him say 'Five,' for he does lay thereon those five victims.

6.1.2.33

atho eka iti brūyāt | aviritīyaṃ vā aviriyaṃ hīmāḥ sarvāḥ prajā avatīyamu vā agnirasyai hi sarvo 'gniścīyate tasmādeka iti brūyāt

Or, 'One,' he may say; 'a ewe;' for a ewe (avi) is this earth, since she favours (av) all these creatures. And the fire (altar) also is this earth, for the whole fire (altar) is built up thereof: hence he may say, 'One.'

6.1.2.34

atho dvāviti brūyāt | avī itīyaṃ cāsau ceme hīmāḥ sarvāḥ prajā avato yanmṛdiyaṃ tadyadāpo 'sau tanmṛccāpaśceṣṭakā bhavanti tasmāddāviti brūyāt

Or, 'Two,' he may say, 'two sheep;' for sheep, indeed, are both this (earth) and that (sky), since these two favour all these creatures;--what clay (there is in the brick) that is this earth; and what water there is that is that sky; and the bricks consist of clay and water: therefore he may say, 'Two.'

6.1.2.35

atho gauriti brūyāt | ime vai lokā gauryaddhi kiṃ ca gacatīmāṃstallokāngacatīma u lokā eṣo 'gniścitastasmādgauriti brūyāt

Or he may say, 'A cow (or bullock, go);--'the cow forsooth means these worlds, for whatever walks (gam) that walks in these worlds; and that fire also is these worlds: therefore he may say, 'A cow.'

6.1.2.36

tadāhuḥ | kasmai kāmāyāgniścīyata iti suparṇo mā bhūtvā divaṃ vahādityu haika āhurna tathā vidyādetadvai rūpaṃ kṛtvā prāṇāḥ prajāpatirabhavannetadrūpaṃ kṛtvā prajāpatirdevānasṛjataitadrūpaṃ kṛtvā devā amṛtā abhavaṃstadyadevaitena prāṇā abhavanyatprajāpatiryaddevāstadevaitena bhavati

As to this they say, 'For what object is this fire (altar) built? Having become a bird, he (Agni) shall bear me to the sky!' so say some; but let him not think so; for by assuming that form, the vital airs became Pragâpati; by assuming that form, Pragâpati created the gods; by assuming that form, the gods became immortal and what thereby the vital airs, and Pragâpati, and the gods became, that indeed he (the Sacrificer) thereby becomes.

6.1.3.1

prajāpatirvā idamagra āsīt | eka eva so 'kāmayata syām prajāyeyeti so 'śrāmyatsa tapo 'tapyata tasmācrāntāttepānādāpo 'sṛjyanta tasmātpuruṣāttaptādāpo jāyante

Verily, Pragâpati alone was here in the beginning. He desired, 'May I exist, may I reproduce myself!' He toiled, he practised austerity (or, became heated). From him, worn out and heated, the waters were created: from that heated Person the waters are born.

6.1.3.2

āpo 'bruvan | kva vayam bhavāmeti tapyadhvamityabravīttā atapyanta tāḥ phenamasṛjanta tasmādapāṃ taptānām pheno jāyate

The waters said, 'What is to become of us?'--'Ye shall be heated,' he said. They were heated; they created foam: hence foam is produced in heated water.

6.1.3.3

pheno 'bravīt | kvāham bhavānīti tapyasvetyabravītso 'tapyata sa mṛdamasṛjataitadvai phenastapyate yadapsvāveṣṭamānaḥ plavate sa yadopahanyate mṛdeva bhavati

The foam (m.) said, 'What is to become of me?'--'Thou shalt be heated!' he said. It was heated, and produced clay; for indeed the foam is heated, when it floats on the water, covering it; and when one beats upon it, it indeed becomes clay.

6.1.3.4

mṛdabravīt | kvāham bhavānīti tapyasvetyabravītsātapyata sā sikatā asṛjataitadvai mṛttapyate yadenāṃ vikṛṣanti tasmādyadyapi sumārtsnaṃ vikṛṣanti saikatamivaiva bhavatyetāvannu tadyatkvāham bhavāni kvāha bhavānīti

The clay (f.) said, 'What is to become of me?'--'Thou shalt be heated!' he said. It was heated, and produced sand; for this clay becomes indeed heated when they plough it; and if only they plough very fine then it becomes, as it were, sandy. So much, then, as to that 'What is to become of me? what is to become of me?'

6.1.3.5

sikatābhyaḥ śarkarāmasṛjata | tasmātsikatāḥ śarkaraivāntato bhavati śarkarāyā aśmānaṃ tasmācarkarāśmaivāntato bhavatyaśmano 'yastasmādaśmano 'yo dhamantyayaso hiraṇyaṃ tasmādayo bahudhmātaṃ hiraṇyasaṃkāśamivaiva bhavati

From the sated he created the pebble: whence sand finally indeed becomes a pebble;--from the pebble the stone: whence the pebble finally indeed becomes a stone;--from the stone metal ore: whence from stone they smelt ore;--from ore gold: whence ore much smelted comes, as it were, to have the appearance of gold.

6.1.3.6

tadyadasṛjyatākṣarat tadyadakṣarattasmādakṣaraṃ yadaṣṭau kṛtvo 'kṣaratsaivāṣṭākṣarā gāyatrya bhavat

Now that which was created was flowing; and inasmuch as it was flowing (aksharat), a syllable (akshara) resulted therefrom; and inasmuch as it flowed eight times, that octosyllabic Gâyatrî was produced.

6.1.3.7

abhūdvā iyam pratiṣṭheti | tadbhṛmirabhavattāmaprathayatsā pṛthivyabhavattasyāmasyām pratiṣṭhāyām bhūtāni ca bhūtānāṃ ca pratiḥ saṃvatsarāyādīkṣanta bhūtānām pratirgṛhapatirāsīduṣāḥ patnī

'This has indeed become (bhû) a foundation (resting-place),' so he thought: whence it became the earth (bhûmi). He spread it out (prath): it became the broad (earth, prithivî). On this earth, as on a foundation, the beings, and the lord of beings, consecrated themselves for a year: the lord of beings was the master of the house, and Ushas (the Dawn) was the mistress.

6.1.3.8

tadyāni tāni bhūtāni | ṛtavaste 'tha yaḥ sa bhūtānām patiḥ saṃvatsaraḥ so 'tha yā soṣāḥ patnyauṣasī sā tānīmāni bhūtāni ca bhūtānāṃ ca patiḥ saṃvatsara uṣasi reto 'siñcantsa saṃvatsare kumāro 'jāyata so 'rodīt

Now, those beings are the seasons; and that lord of beings is the year; and that Ushas, the mistress, is the Dawn. And these same creatures, as well as the lord of beings, the year, laid seed into Ushas. There a boy (kumâra) was born in a year: he cried.

6.1.3.9

tam prajāpatirabravīt | kumāra kiṃ rodiṣi yacramāttapaso 'dhi jāto 'sīti so 'bravīdanapahatapāpmā vā asmyahitanāmā nāma ma dhehīti tasmātputrasya jātasya nāma kuryātpāpmānamevāsya tadapahantyapi dvitīyamapi tṛtīyamabhipūrvamevāsya tatpāpmānamapahanti

Pragâpati said to him, 'My boy, why criest thou, when thou art born out of labour and trouble?' He said, 'Nay, but I am not freed from (guarded against) evil; I have no name given me: give me a name!' Hence one should give a name to the boy that is born, for thereby one frees him from evil;--even a second, even a third (name), for thereby one frees him from evil time after time.

6.1.3.10

tamabravīdrudro 'sīti | tadyadasya tannāmākarodagnistadrūpamabhavadagniva rudro yadarodīttasmādrudraḥ so 'bravījjyāyānvā ato 'smi dhehyeva me nāmeti

He said to him, 'Thou art Rudra.' And because he gave him that name, Agni became suchlike (or, that form), for Rudra is Agni: because he cried (rud) therefore he is Rudra. He said, 'Surely, I am mightier than that: give me yet a name!'

6.1.3.11

tamabravītsarvo 'sīti | tadyadasya tannāmākarodāpastadrūpamabhavannāpo vai sarvo 'dbhyo hīdaṃ sarvaṃ jāyate so 'bravījjyāyānvā ato 'smi dhehyeva me nāmeti

He said to him, 'Thou art Sarva.' And because he gave the him that name, the waters became suchlike, for Sarva is the waters, inasmuch as from the water everything (sarva) here is produced. He said, 'Surely, I am mightier than that: give me yet a name!'

6.1.3.12

tamabravītpaśupatirasīti | tadyadasya tannāmākarodoṣadhayastadrūpamabhavannoṣadhayo vai paśupatistasmādyadā paśava oṣadhīrlabhante 'tha patīyanti so 'bravījjyāyānvā ato 'smi dhehyeva me nāmeti

He said to him, 'Thou art Pasupati.' And because he gave him that name, the plants became suchlike, for Pasupati is the plants: hence when cattle (pasu) get plants, then they play the master (patîy). He said, 'Surely, I am mightier than that: give me yet a name!'

6.1.3.13

tamabravīdugro 'sīti | tadyadasya tannāmākarodvāyustadrūpambhavadvāyurvā ugrastasmādyadā balavadvāyugro vātotyāhuḥ so 'bravījjyāyānvā ato 'smi dhehyeva me nāmeti

He said to him, 'Thou art Ugra.' And because he gave him that name, Vâyu (the wind) became suchlike, for Ugra is Vâyu: hence when it blows strongly, they say 'Ugra is blowing.' He said, 'Surely, I am mightier than that: give me yet a name!'

6.1.3.14

tamabravīdaśanirasīti | tadyadasya tannāmākarodvidyuttadrūpamabhavadvidyudvā aśanistasmādyaṃ vidyuddhantyaśanirabadhīdityāhuḥ so 'bravījjyāyānvā ato 'smi dhehyeva me nāmeti

He said to him, 'Thou art Asani.' And because he gave him that name, the lightning became suchlike, for Asani is the lightning: hence they say of him whom the lightning strikes, 'Asani has smitten him.' He said, 'Surely, I am mightier than that: give me yet a name!'

6.1.3.15

tamabravīdbhavo 'sīti | tadyadasya tannāmākarotparjanyastadrūpamabhavatparjanyo vai bhavaḥ parjanyāddhīdaṃ sarvam bhavati so 'bravījjyāyānvā ato 'smi dhehyeva me nāmeti

He said to him, 'Thou art Bhava.' And because he gave him that name, Parganya (the rain-god) became suchlike; for Bhava is Parganya, since everything here comes (bhavati) from the rain-cloud. He said, 'Surely, I am mightier than that: give me yet a name!'

6.1.3.16

tamabravīnmahāndevo 'sīti | tadyadasya tannāmākaroccandramāstadrūpamabhavatprajāpatirvai candramāḥ prajāpatirvai mahāndevaḥ so 'bravījjyāyānvā ato 'smi dhehyeva me nāmeti

He said to him, 'Thou art Mahân Devah (the Great God).' And because he gave him that name, the moon became suchlike, for the moon is Pragâpati, and Pragâpati is the Great God. He said, 'Surely, I am mightier than that: give me yet a name!'

6.1.3.17

tamabravīdīśāno 'sīti | tadyadasya tannāmākarodādityastadrūpamabhavadādityo vā īśāna ādityo hyasya sarvasyeṣṭe so 'bravīdetāvānvā asmi mā metaḥ paro nāma dhā iti

He said to him, 'Thou art Îsâna (the Ruler).' And because he gave him that name, the Sun became suchlike, for Îsâna is the Sun, since the Sun rules over this All. He said, 'So great indeed I am: give me no other name after that!'

6.1.3.18

tānyetānyaṣṭāvagnirūpāṇi | kumāro navamaḥ saivāgnistrivṛttā

These then are the eight forms of Agni. Kumâra (the boy) is the ninth: that is Agni's threefold state.

6.1.3.19

yadvevāṣṭāvagnirūpāṇi | aṣṭākṣarā gāyatrī tasmādāhurgāyatro 'gniriti so 'yaṃ kumāro rūpāṇyanuprāviśanna vā agniṃ kumāramiva paśyantyetānyevāsya rūpāṇi paśyantyetāni hi rūpāṇyanuprāviśat

And because there are eight forms of Agni-- the Gâyatrî consisting of eight syllables--therefore they say, 'Agni is Gâyatra.' That boy entered into the forms one after another; for one never sees him as a mere boy (kumâra), but one sees those forms of his, for he assumed those forms one after another.

6.1.3.20

tametaṃ saṃvatsara eva cinuyāt | saṃvatsare 'nubrūyāddūyorityu haika āhuḥ saṃvatsare vai tadreto 'siñcantsa saṃvatsare kumāro 'jāyata tasmāddūyoreva cinuyādvūyoranubrūyāditi saṃvatsare tveva cinuyātsaṃvatsare 'nubrūyādyadvāva retaḥ siktaṃ tadeva jāyate tattato vikriyamāṇameva vardhamānaṃ śete tasmātsaṃvatsara eva cinuyātsaṃvatsare 'nubrūyāttasya citasya nāma karoti pāpmānamevāsya tadapahanti citranāmānaṃ karoti citro 'sīti sarvāṇi hi citrāṇyagniḥ

One ought to build him (Agni, the fire-altar) up in (the space of) a year, and recite for a year. 'For two (years),' however, say some; 'for in one year they laid the seed, and in one year that boy was born, therefore let him build for two (years), and recite for two (years).' Let him, however, build for a year only, and recite for a year; for the same seed which is laid is brought forth; it then lies changing and growing: hence let him build for a year only, and recite for a year. To him (Agni) when built up (kita) he gives a name: whereby he keeps away evil from him. He calls him by a bright (kitra) name, saying, 'Thou art bright;' for Agni is all bright things.