First Adhyaya, Tenth Khanda (9 mantras)

Mantra 1.10.1.

1. When (the crops in the land of) the Kurus were destroyed by hailstones, Uṣasti Cākrāyaṇa lived a-begging with his young wife, at Ibhya-grāma. Seeing the Lord of Ibhya eating beaus, he begged some from him.—72.

Madhva’s commentary called the Bhāṣya:

The word means a hailstone, for according to the Śabda Nirṇaya upalā (a stone), iṣṭakā (a brick) sthūlā (a big ball) and maṭacī are synonyms. A girl approaching puberty is called aṭakī (Ibid). Who for the sake or in search of food and drink goes about wandering, is called a pradrāṇaka (Ibid)—a famine vagrant.

Mantra 1.10.2.

2. (The master of elephants) said to Uṣasti “I have no more except these, which are placed before me for eating.” Uṣasti said “give me then some of these.” He gave him some of those, and said “Here is some water to drink, in this bag.” Uṣasti said “I shall drink impure water, if 1 drank what has already been drunk by another.” The master of elephants said “Are not these beans also impure, as I am eating of them?”—73.

Mantra 1.10.3.

3. Uṣasti replied “No, (these beans should not be considered unclean) because without eating them I can not live; while the drinking of (your) water (is not an absolute necessity and) depends on my pleasure, (for it can be obtained every where).” Uṣasti having eaten himself, brought the remainder to his wife. But she had already eaten before, therefore, she took them and put them away.—74.

Mantra 1.10.4.

4. Uṣasti next morning, after leaving his bed, said to her “alas! if we could get a little of food, then we should get much wealth; for that king, there, is going to offer a sacrifice; be may choose me for all the priestly posts.”—75.

Mantra 1.10.5.

5. His wife said to him “Alas! O husband! (There is nothing else in the house) but these (stale) beans (which you brought yesterday).” Uṣasti having eaten them, went to that big sacrifice (which was being performed). There he sat down near the Udgātṛns who were singing hymns in the Āstāva ceremony: and then said to the Prastotṛ priest.—76.

[Note.—Āstāve Stoṣyamānān—who were going to sing their hymns of praise in the Āstāva Kanna The word āstāva also means the place of reciting hymns in a sacrifice, the orchestra.]

Mantra 1.10.6.

6. Oh Prastotar (Prastotṛ)! if thou, without knowing the Devatā invoked in the particular Prastāva, art going to sing it, thy head will fall off.—77.

Mantra 1.10.7.

7. O Udgātar (Udgātṛ)! if thou, without knowing the Devatā invoked in the particular Udgītha, art going to sing it, thy head will fall off.—78.

Mantra 1.10.8.

8.O Pratihartar (Pratihartṛ)! if thou, without knowing the Devatā, invoked in the particular Pratihāra, art going to sing it, thy head will fall off. They indeed stopped and sat down silently.—79.