First Adhyaya, Eleventh Khanda (8 mantras)

Mantra 1.11.1.

1. Then the Sacrificer said to him “I desire to know who you are, Sir.” He replied, “I am Uṣasti, the son of Cākrāyaṇa. The King said, “I had made up my mind, Sir, to appoint you alone to all these priestly offices; but not having found you, I have appointed others (priests) to these offices. (But now that I have found you) Sir! I elect you for all these priestly offices.”—80.

Mantra 1.11.2.

2. “Very well,” said Uṣasti. “(These should not, however, be sent away) but let them indeed sing the sacred hymns under my direction. And (promise that you) pay as much wealth as you give to all these (collectively.) Sacrificer said, “Let it be so.”—81.

Mantra 1.11.3.

3. Then the Prastotṛ priest approached him respectfully, and said, “Sir, you said to me, ‘O Prastotar (Prastotṛ)! If not knowing the deity related to Prastāva, thou shalt sing him, thy head will fall off,’—which is that Devatā?”—82.

Mantra 1.11.3 (continued).

3. Cākrāyaṇa said (Viṣṇu, the Great Breath, residing in the) Chief Prāṇa is the deity of Creation. Verily all these creatures merge into Prāṇa (at pralaya), and they come out of Him (at creation). He alone is the deity belonging to creation (prastāva). Had’st thou sung without knowing this Lord, thy head would have fallen off, by my saying (by my warning).—83.

Note.—(That is, if in spite of my warning, thou had’st chanted the prastāva, without knowing who is the true God of Creation, thy head surely would have fallen off, i.e., thou wouldst have been humiliated.)

Mantra 1.11.4.

4. Then the Udgātṛ priest approached him respectfully and said, “Sir, you said to me, ‘O Udgātṛ! if not knowing the deity related to Udgītha (Udgītham) thou shalt sing him,

thy head will fall off!’ which is that Devatā? He said the Sun.—84.

Mantra 1.11.4 (continued).

4 Cākrāyaṇa said (Viṣṇu residing in the sun is the deity of Udgītha.) Verily all these singing creatures chant His praises, because He is the Best and the Highest. He alone is the deity belonging to Udgītha. Had st thou sung without knowing this Lord, thy head would have fallen off as I had warned thee.—85.

Mantra 1.11.5.

5 Then the Pratihartṛ approached him respectfully and said, “Sir, you said to me, ‘O Pratihartā, if not knowing the deity related to Pratihāra, thou shalt sing him, then thy head will fall off,’—which is that Devatā? 86.

Mantra 1.11.5 (continued).

5. He said (Viṣṇu residing in the) food (is the deity of Pratihāra). Verily all these creatures eat. food, and live thereby (because Viṣṇu dwells in food and thus maintains them). He alone is the deity belonging to Pratihāra. Hadst thou sung without knowing this Lord, thy head would have fallen off, as I had warned thee.—87.

Madhva’s commentary called the Bhāṣya:

Prastāva is so called because all creatures are born (Prasūyante) from Viṣṇu. Therefore Viṣṇu dwelling in praṇa is the deity of Prastāva; because the word Prastāva means the act of creating or creator-ship. Viṣṇu is the real Udgītha, because residing in the sun, He always enjoys or accepts all the songs of singing creatures, (whether men, angels, or animals,) therefore, He is the Lord of Song. All music, made before kings, etc., though heard by the kings, and sung by ignorant musicians, is really enjoyed by the Lord Viṣṇu, and any reward given to those musicians by their audiences is really given by Viṣṇu (who moves their heart to give such reward.) That Puruṣottama (Highest Person) alone is, therefore, the Lord of Udgītha. All creatures are nourished and kept living by Lord Viṣṇu in the form of food or dwelling in food; therefore, He is called the Lord of Pratihāra, because the word Partihāra means “to eat.” The words “Uccaiḥ Santam” (in mantra 4 p. 83) mean the Best; being the best.