Atharvaveda 9.6

9.6.1

yó vidyā́d bráhma pratyákṣaṃ párūṃṣi yásya saṃbhārā́ ŕ̥co yásyānūkyàm ||1||

Whoever may know the obvious (pratyákṣa) bráhman, whose joints are the preparations (sambhārá), whose spine the verses (ṛ́c);

9.6.2

sā́māni yásya lómāni yájur hŕ̥dayam ucyáte paristáraṇam íd dhavíḥ ||2||

Whose hairs the chants (sā́man), [whose] heart the sacrificial formula (yájus) is called, [whose] litter (paristáraṇa) the oblation.

9.6.3

yád vā́ átithipatir átithīn pratipáśyati devayájanaṃ prékṣate ||3||

When in truth the lord of guests meets with his eyes the guests, he looks at a sacrificing to the gods.

9.6.4

yád abhivádati dīkṣā́m úpaiti yád udakáṃ yā́caty apáḥ prá ṇayati ||4||

When he greets them, he enters upon consecration; when he offers (yāc) water, he brings forward the [sacrificial] waters.

9.6.5

yā́ evá yajñá ā́paḥ praṇīyánte tā́ evá tā́ḥ ||5||

Just what waters are brought in at the sacrifice, those are the very ones.

9.6.6

yát tárpaṇam āháranti yá evā́gnīṣomī́yaḥ paśúr badhyáte sá evá sáḥ ||6||

When they fetch a gratification (tárpaṇa)—that is just the same as an animal for Agni-and-Soma that is bound [for sacrifice].

9.6.7

yád āvasathā́n kalpáyanti sadohavirdhānā́ny evá tát kalpayanti ||7||

In that they prepare lodgings, they so prepare the seat (sádas) and oblation-holders (havirdhā́na).

9.6.8

yád upastr̥ṇánti barhír evá tát ||8||

In that they strew [a couch], that is a barhís.

9.6.9

yád upariśayanám āháranti svargám evá téna lokám áva runddhe ||9||

In that they fetch a coverlet (? upariçayaná), thereby one gains possession of the heavenly (svargá) world.

9.6.10

yát kaśipūpabarhaṇám āháranti paridháya evá té ||10||

In that they fetch mattress and pillow, those are the enclosures (paridhí).

9.6.11

yád āñjanābhyañjanám āháranty ā́jyam evá tát ||11||

In that they fetch ointment and unguent, that is sacrificial butter.

9.6.12

yát purā́ pariveṣā́t svādám āháranti purodā́śāv evá táu ||12||

In that they fetch a morsel (khādá) before the serving-up (pariveṣá), that is the two sacrificial cakes.

9.6.13

yád aśanakŕ̥taṃ hváyanti haviṣkŕ̥tam evá tád dhvayanti ||13||

In that they call the food-maker (açanakṛ́t), they so call the maker of oblations.

9.6.14

yé vrīháyo yávā nirupyánte 'ṃśáva evá té ||14||

The grains of rice, of barley, that are scattered out—those are soma-shoots (aṅçú).

9.6.15

yā́ny ulūkhalamusalā́ni grā́vāṇa evá té ||15||

The mortar and pestles—those are the pressing-stones.

9.6.16

śū́rpaṃ pavítraṃ túṣā r̥jīṣā́bhiṣávaṇīr ā́paḥ ||16||

The sieve ⌊çū́rpa⌋ is the soma-strainer (pavítra); the chaff is the pomace (ṛjīṣā́); the waters are those of pressing.

9.6.17

srúg dárvir nékṣaṇam āyávanaṃ droṇakalaśā́ḥ kumbhyò vāyavyā̀ni pā́trāṇīyám evá kr̥ṣṇājinám ||17||

The spoon is the sacrificial spoon, the stirring-stick the spit (? nékṣaṇa), the kettles the wooden vessels, the drinking-vessels those of Vāyu, this [earth] itself the black antelope's skin.

9.6.18

yajamānabrāhmaṇáṃ vā́ etád átithipatiḥ kurute yád āhāryā̀ṇi prékṣata idáṃ bhū́yā3 idā́3m íti ||18||

The lord of guests verily makes for himself a sacrificer's brā́hmaṇa in that he looks at the [portions] to be partaken of, saying "is this larger, or this?"

9.6.19

yád ā́ha bhū́ya úd dharéti prāṇám evá téna várṣīyāṃsaṃ kurute ||19||

In that he says "take up the larger one," he thereby makes his breath longer (várṣīyāṅs).

9.6.20

úpa harati havī́ṃṣy ā́ sādayati ||20||

[In that] he presents [it], he brings libations near.

9.6.21

téṣām ā́sannānām átithir ātmán juhoti ||21||

Of them, brought near, the guest makes libations in himself;

9.6.22

srucā́ hástena prāṇé yū́pe srukkāréṇa vaṣaṭkāréṇa ||22||

With his hand as sacrificial spoon, at his breath as stake, with the sound of swallowing as utterance of váṣaṭ.

9.6.23

eté vái priyā́ś cā́priyāś ca rtvíjaḥ svargáṃ lokáṃ gamayanti yád átithayaḥ ||23||

These same guests, both loved (priyá) and unloved, [as] priests (ṛtvíj), make [one] go to the heavenly world.

9.6.24

sá yá eváṃ vidvā́n ná dviṣánn aśnīyān ná dviṣató 'nnam aśnīyān ná mīmāṃsitásya ná mīmāṃsámānasya ||24||

He who, knowing thus, shall partake, not hating, he shall not partake the food of one hating, not of one that is doubted, nor of one doubting (?).

9.6.25

sárvo vā́ eṣá jagdhápāpmā yásyā́nnam aśnánti ||25||

Verily every such one has his sin devoured, whose food they partake of.

9.6.26

sárvo vā́ esó 'jagdhápāpmā yásyā́nnam nā́śnánti ||26||

Verily every such one has his sin undevoured whose food they partake not of.

9.6.27

sarvadā́ vā́ eṣá yuktágrāvārdrápavitro vítatādhvara ā́hr̥tayajñakratur yá upahárati ||27||

Verily he who presents [the food] hath always his pressing-stones harnessed, his cleanser wet, his sacrifice extended, his ceremony of offering assumed.

9.6.28

prājāpatyó vā́ etásya yajñó vítato yá upahárati ||28||

To Prajāpati, verily, is his offering extended who presents.

9.6.29

prajā́pater vā́ eṣá vikramā́n anuvíkramate yá upahárati ||29||

He who presents verily strides Prajāpati's strides after [him].

9.6.30

yó 'tithīnāṃ sá āhavanī́yo yó véśmani sá gā́rhapatyo yásmin pácanti sá dakṣiṇāgníḥ ||30||

[The fire] that is the guests', that is the fire of libations (āhavanī́ya); the one in the dwelling (véçman), that is the householder's fire (gā́rhapatya); the one in which they cook, that is the southern fire (dakṣiṇāgní).

9.6.31

iṣṭáṃ ca vā́ eṣá pūrtáṃ ca gr̥hā́ṇām aśnāti yáḥ pū́rvó 'tither aśnā́ti ||31||

Verily both what is sacrificed and what is bestowed of the houses doth he partake of who partakes before a guest.

9.6.32

páyaś ca vā́ eṣá rásaṃ ca gr̥hā́ṇām aśnāti yáḥ pū́rvó 'tither aśnā́ti ||32||

Verily both the milk and the sap of the houses doth he etc. etc.

9.6.33

ūrjā́ṃ ca vā́ eṣá sphātíṃ ca gr̥hā́ṇām aśnāti yáḥ pū́rvó 'tither aśnā́ti ||33||

Verily both the refreshment and the fatness of the houses doth he etc. etc.

9.6.34

prajā́ṃ vā́ eṣá paśū́ṃś ca gr̥hā́ṇām aśnāti yáḥ pū́rvó 'tither aśnā́ti ||34||

Verily both the progeny and the cattle of the houses doth he etc. etc.

9.6.35

kīrtíṃ vā́ eṣá yáśaś ca gr̥hā́ṇām aśnāti yáḥ pū́rvó 'tither aśnā́ti ||35||

Verily both the fame and the glory of the houses doth he etc. etc.

9.6.36

śríyaṃ vā́ eṣá saṃvídaṃ ca gr̥hā́ṇām aśnāti yáḥ pū́rvó 'tither aśnā́ti ||36||

Verily both the fortune (çrī́) and the alliance (? saṁvíd) of the houses doth he etc. etc.

9.6.37

eṣá vā́ átithir yác chrótriyas tásmāt pū́rvo nā́śnīyāt ||37||

He verily is a guest, namely (yát) one versed in sacred learning (çrótriya); before him one should not partake.

9.6.38

aśitā́vaty átithāv aśnīyād yajñásya sātmatvā́ya yajñásyā́vichedāya tád vratám ||38||

When the guest hath partaken he should partake, in order to the soulfulness of the sacrifice, in order to the integrity of the sacrifice; that is the [proper] course.

9.6.39

etád vā́ u svā́dīyo yád adhigaváṃ kṣīráṃ vā́ māṃsáṃ vā́ tád evá nā́śnīyāt ||39||

That verily is specially sweet which comes from the cow (adhigavá), either milk (kṣīrá) or flesh; that he should not partake of.

9.6.40

sá yá eváṃ vidvā́n kṣīrám upasícyopahárati |
yā́vad agniṣṭoméneṣṭvā́ súsamr̥ddhenāvarunddhé tā́vad enenā́va runddhe ||40||

He who, thus knowing, pouring out milk, presents [it]—as much as, having sacrificed with a very successful agniṣṭomá, one gets possession of, of so much thereby does he get possession.

9.6.41

sá yá eváṃ vidvā́nt sarpír upasícyopahárati |
yā́vad atirātréṇeṣṭvā́ súsamr̥ddhenāvarunddhé tā́vad enenā́va runddhe ||41||

He who, thus knowing, pouring out butter (sarpís), presents [it]—as much as, having sacrificed with a very successful atirātrá, one gets etc. etc.

9.6.42

sá yá eváṃ vidvā́n mádhūpasícyopahárati |
yā́vad sattrasádyeneṣṭvā́ súsamr̥ddhenāvarunddhé tā́vad enenā́va runddhe ||42||

He who, thus knowing, pouring out honey, offers [it]—as much as, having sacrificed with a very successful session-sitting, one gets etc. etc.

9.6.43

sá yá eváṃ vidvā́n māṃsám upasícyopahárati |
yā́vad dvādaśāhéneṣṭvā́ súsamr̥ddhenāvarunddhé tā́vad enenā́va runddhe ||43||

He who, thus knowing, pouring out meat, presents [it]—as much as, having sacrificed with a very successful twelve-day sacrifice, one gets etc. etc.

9.6.44

sá yá eváṃ vidvā́n udakám upasícyopahárati |
prajā́nāṃ prajánanāya gachati pratiṣṭhā́ṃ priyáḥ prajā́nāṃ bhavati yá eváṃ vidvā́n upasícyopahárati ||44||

He who, thus knowing, pouring out water, presents [it]—he arrives at (gam) firm standing in order to the generating of progeny; he becomes loved of progeny—he who, thus knowing, pouring out water, presents [it].

9.6.45

tásmā uṣā́ híṅ kr̥ṇoti savitā́ prá stauti |
bŕ̥haspátir ūrjáyód gāyati tváṣṭā púṣṭyā práti harati víśve devā́ nidhánam ||2||
nidhánaṃ bhū́tyāḥ prajā́yāḥ paśūnā́ṃ bhavati yá eváṃ véda ||45||

For him the dawn utters hing; Savitar preludes (pra-stu); Brihaspati with refreshment (ūrjáyā) sings the udgīthá; Tvashṭar with prosperity responds (prati-hṛ); all the gods [are] the conclusion (nidhána); the conclusion of thrift, of progeny, of cattle becometh he who knoweth thus.

9.6.46

tásmā udyánt sū́ryo híṅ kr̥ṇoti saṃgaváḥ prá stauti |
madhyándina úd gāyaty aparāhṇáḥ práti haraty astaṃyán nidhánam |
nidhánaṃ bhū́tyāḥ prajā́yāḥ paśūnā́ṃ bhavati yá eváṃ véda ||46||

For him the rising sun utters hing; cow-gathering time (saṁgavá) preludes; noon sings the udgīthá; afternoon responds; the setting [sun is] the conclusion: the conclusion of etc. etc.

9.6.47

tásmā abhró bhávan híṅ kr̥ṇoti stanáyan prá stauti |
vidyótamānaḥ práti harati várṣann úd gāyaty udgr̥hṇán nidhánam |
nidhánaṃ bhū́tyāḥ prajā́yāḥ paśūnā́ṃ bhavati yá eváṃ véda ||47||

For him the cloud, forming (bhū), utters hing; thundering, it preludes; lightenng, it responds; raining, it sings the udgīthá; holding up, it is the conclusion: the conclusion of etc. etc.

9.6.48

átithīn práti paśyati hiṅ kr̥ṇoty abhí vadati prá stáuty udakám yācaty úd gāyati |
úpa harati práti haraty úcchiṣṭaṃ nidhánam |
nidhánaṃ bhū́tyāḥ prajā́yāḥ paśūnā́ṃ bhavati yá evám véda ||48||
yát kṣattā́raṃ hváyaty ā́ śrāvayaty evá tát ||49||

[When] he meets the guests with his eyes, he utters hing; [when] he greets [them], he preludes; [when] he offers water, he sings the udgīthá; [when] he presents [food], he responds; the remnant (úchiṣṭa) [of the food] is the conclusion: the conclusion of etc. etc.

When (yát) he calls the distributor, then he is just summoning (ā-çrāvay-).

9.6.50

yát pratiśr̥ṇóti pratyā́śrāvayaty evá tát ||50||

When [the distributor] assents, then he is just answering the summons.

9.6.51

yát pariveṣṭā́raḥ pā́trahastāḥ pū́rve cā́pare ca prapádyante camasā́dhvaryava evá té ||51||

When the servers, with drinking-vessels in their hands, both the former and the latter, go forward, they are just cup-bearing priests.

9.6.52

téṣāṃ ná káś canā́hotā ||52||

Of them, none soever is not an invoker (áhotṛ).

9.6.53

yád vā́ átithipatir átithīn parivíṣya gr̥hā́n upodáity avabhŕ̥tham evá tád upā́vaiti ||53||

Verily when the lord of guests goes up unto the houses serving the guests, then he is even going down unto the purifactory bath (avabhṛ́tha).

9.6.54

yát sabhāgáyati dákṣiṇāḥ sabhāgayati yád anutíṣṭhata udávasyaty evá tát ||54||

When he apportions [them], he is apportioning sacrificial fees; when he follows [them], then he is even shifting the place of sacrifice (ud-ava-sā).

9.6.55

sá úpahūtaḥ pr̥thivyā́ṃ bhakṣayaty úpahūtas tásmin yát pr̥thivyā́ṃ viśvárūpam ||55||

He ⌊the guest?⌋, being invited (úpahūta), feeds (bhakṣay-) on the earth; in him ⌊locative⌋, invited ⌊nominative⌋, [he ⌊the host?⌋ feeds on] what of every form [there is] on the earth.

9.6.56

sá úpahūto 'ntárikṣe bhakṣayaty úpahūtas tásmin yád diví viśvárūpam ||56||

He, being invited, feeds in the atmosphere; in him, invited, [he feeds on] what of every form [there is] in the atmosphere.

9.6.57

sá úpahūto diví bhakṣayaty úpahūtas tásmin yád diví viśvárūpam ||57||

He, being invited, feeds in the sky (dív); in him, invited, [he feeds on] what of every form [there is] in the sky.

9.6.58

sá úpahūto devéṣu bhakṣayaty úpahūtas tásmin yád diví viśvárūpam ||58||

He, being invited, feeds among the gods; in him, invited, [he feeds on] what of every form [there is] among the gods.

9.6.59

sá úpahūto lokéṣu bhakṣayaty úpahūtas tásmin yád diví víśvárūpam ||59||

He, being invited, feeds in the worlds; in him, invited, [he feeds on] what of every form [there is] in the worlds.

9.6.60

sá úpahūta úpahūtaḥ ||60||

He, whoever invited,—

9.6.61

āpnótīmáṃ lokám āpnóty amúm ||61||

Obtains this world, obtains yon [world].

9.6.62

jyótiṣmato lokā́n jayati yá eváṃ véda ||62||

Worlds rich in light conquereth he who knoweth thus.