Spiritual Authority and Temporal Power in the Indian Theory of Government c2.s1.5

c2.s1.5

⁴ Bṛhaspati, whose identity with Agni, Priest and King, is unquestioned, is “seven-mouthed” and “seven-rayed” in verse 4 of the same hymn. He is regularly the Divine Sacerdotium (*brahma*), and High Priest (*brahmā*) of the Gods, as Indra is the Regnum (*kṣatra*). “Agni-Bṛhaspati” is the answer to the question asked in RV. VIII. 64. 7 *brahmākástáṁ (índraṁ) saparyati*. The verses of our hymn are quoted in AB. VIII. 26, describing Bṛhaspati as the archetype of the human Purohita and Brahmā, who “takes after” him. The Brahmā is, of course, the infallible Brāhman priest who does not take any active part in the Sacrifice, at which his presence is nevertheless indispensable. Himself remaining silent, his relation to the three other Brāhman officiants whose operation is active and vocal is precisely that of Director to Executive; he is thus Brahmaṇaspati and Vācaspati (the *brahma*, as *ṛc*, being precisely the vocalised *brahma*). This is the explanation of “the very close connection of *brahman* with *vāc*”