Satapatha-brahmana

by Julius Eggeling | 1882 | 730,838 words | ISBN-13: 9788120801134

This is Satapatha Brahmana XII.1.2 English translation of the Sanskrit text, including a glossary of technical terms. This book defines instructions on Vedic rituals and explains the legends behind them. The four Vedas are the highest authortity of the Hindu lifestyle revolving around four castes (viz., Brahmana, Ksatriya, Vaishya and Shudra). Satapatha (also, Śatapatha, shatapatha) translates to “hundred paths”. This page contains the text of the 2nd brahmana of kanda XII, adhyaya 1.

Kanda XII, adhyaya 1, brahmana 2

1. Verily, from out of faith the gods fashioned the initiation, from out of Aditi the opening (sacrifice[1]), from out of Soma the buying (of Soma-plants), from out of Viṣṇu the guest-offering, from out of the sun the Pravargya, from out of the Svadhā (the food of departed ancestors) the Upasads, from out of Agni and Soma the day of fasting, and from out of this world the opening Atirātra[2].

2. From out of the year (they fashioned) the Caturviṃśa day, from out of the priesthood the Abhiplava (ṣaḍaha), from out of the nobility the Pṛṣṭhya (ṣaḍaha)[3], from out of Agni the Abhijit, from out of the waters the Svarasāman days, from out of the sun the Vishuvat,--the Svarasāman days have been told;--from out of Indra the Viśvajit,--the Pṛṣṭhya and Abhiplava have been told;--from out of Mitra and Varuṇa the Go and

Āyus[4], from out of the Viśve Devāḥ the Daśarātra[5], from out of the regions the Pṛṣṭhya-ṣaḍaha of the Daśarātra, from out of these worlds the Chandoma days.

3. From out of the year (they fashioned) the tenth day, from out of Prajāpati the Mahāvrata, and from out of the world of heaven the Udayanīya Atirātra:--such was the birth of the Year; and, verily, whosoever thus knows that birth of the Year becomes more (and more) glorious to (the end of) it, he becomes possessed of a (new) body, he becomes the Year, and, as the Year[6], he goes to the gods.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

For the Prāyaṇīyeṣṭi of the ordinary Soma-sacrifice, see part ii, p. 47 seqq. For the subsequent ceremonies, cf. the table of contents of the same part. They are here alluded to for the reason that they are essential parts of every day's performance during the year's session.

[2]:

The Prāyaṇīya Atirātra is the first day of the sacrificial session called Gavām ayanam, the performance of which lasts a year, and includes the following sacrificial periods and days (cf. part ii, p, 427):--

[3]:

For the difference between these two sacrificial periods of six days, see part iii, introd., p. xxi, note 2.

[4]:

For the differences between the three modes of chanting the Stotras of the Agniṣṭoma and Ukthya Soma-sacrifices--viz. Jyotiṣṭoma, Goṣṭoma, Āyuṣṭoma--see part iv, p. 287, note 2.

[5]:

The Daśarātra, or central ten days of the Dvādaśāha (twelve days’ period), consists of a Pṛṣṭhya ṣaḍaha, three Chandoma days (of the Ukthya order), and a final (tenth) Atyagniṣṭoma day called Avivākya.

[6]:

For the Sacrificer as father Time, see part iv, introd., p. xxii.

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