India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c10.s3.t1.46

c10.s3.t1.46

*THE GENESIS OF THE ŚATAPATHA*—The whole of the *Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa* of 100 *adhyāyas* is now generally attributed to Yājñavalkya, but the fact remains that the present text of the *ŚB.* was a composite work made up of different portions of ritualistic texts. The grammatical literature throws some light on this textual problem of the *ŚB.* Its first nine Books consist of two broad divisions, Books I-V deal with *Ishtis* and *Paśubandha*, being a complete exposition of Havir-Yājña and Soma sacrifices. These were subjects of special study as shown by the example *seshṭi-paśubandham adhīte* (*Kāśikā*, II.1.6). In these Books Yājñavalkya is cited as an authority. The next four Books deal with the Fire-ritual (*Agnichayana*) and refer to Śāṇḍilya more frequently than to Yājñavalkya. These Books were also separate subjects of study as shown in the expression *sāgni adhīte* (II.1.6, *Kāśikā*); or *kashṭo'gniḥ*, 'difficult to master is the Agni text' (VII.2.22). These nine Books contain sixty *adhyāyas*, and may be identified with *Shashṭipatha* mentioned by Patañjali in an old *Kārikā* (II.284). Book X (*Agnirahasya*) deals with the same subject as the preceding four *kāṇḍas*; and here also Śāṇḍilya and not Yājñavalkya figures as authority. The XI Book is called *Saṁgraha*, as it contains a summary of the preceding ritual. Kāṇḍas XII-XIV treat of miscellaneous subjects and are called *Parishishṭa* or Appendices. The last of these contains the famous philosophical discourse of Yājñavalkya. The text so constituted finds corroboration from the *Mahābhārata* which speaks of Yājñavalkya as the author of certain portions of the *Śatapatha* described as (a) Rahasya (Ritual, Book X), (b) Saṅgraha (Book XI) and (c) Pariśesha (Books XII-XIV; Śāntiparvan, 318.16). Saṅgraha mentioned by Pāṇini in the *Ukthādi-gaṇa* (IV.2.60) as the name of a treatise, seems to refer to the XI Book of the *Śatapatha*. A student of Saṅgraha was known as *Sāṅgrahika*. These portions of the *Śatapatha*, viz. Agni-Rahasya, Saṅgraha, and Pariśishṭa may be taken to be what were known as the Yājnavalka-Brāhmaṇas. The term Madhyama was applied to Book XII, showing that the Books preceding and following it were parts of one whole. The *ŚB.* was rather a voluminous text. Those who mastered its earlier portions consisting of 60 Chs. were designated as *Shashṭipathika*; while students studying its 100 Chs. were called *Śatapathika*. The names *Shashṭipatha* and *Śatapatha* appear analogous to *Bhārata* and *Mahābhārata* existing side by side for some time.