The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v2.c30.s13.6

v2.c30.s13.6

This curious position of the Vājapeya clearly led to confusion: some texts place it above the Rājasūya, and say that by the latter mere kingship is conferred, by the former paramount lordship. But other texts make the Vājapeya appropriate for a paramount lord, and the Rājasūya for a universal monarch like Varuṇa.³ The simplest solution is that which makes the Vājapeya a rite which is performed by the king before the Rājasūya and by the Brahman before the Bṛhaspatisava.⁴ The essential priestly character of the rite as it stands is shown by the prominence of Bṛhaspati and the part played by Prajāpati.