Satapatha-brahmana
by Julius Eggeling | 1882 | 730,838 words | ISBN-13: 9788120801134
This is Satapatha Brahmana XI.2.2 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 XI, adhyaya 2.
Kanda XI, adhyaya 2, brahmana 2
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
1. He recites a gāyatrī invitatory formula[1]: the gāyatrī consisting of three feet, these worlds being three in number[2], it is these worlds the gods thereby established.
2. He offers with a triṣṭubh (verse): the triṣṭubh consisting of four feet, and cattle being four-footed, it is cattle the gods thereby established in these established worlds.
3. The Vaṣaṭ-call consists of two syllables (vauṣaṭ): man being two-footed; it is two-footed man they thereby established among the established cattle.
4. Two-footed man, then, is established here among cattle. In like manner this (Sacrificer) establishes thereby the worlds; and in the established worlds he establishes cattle, and among the established cattle he establishes himself: thus, indeed, is that man established among cattle, who, knowing this, offers sacrifice.
5. And when he offers, after the Vaṣaṭ has been uttered,--that Vaṣaṭ-call being yonder shining (sun), and he being the same as Death[3]--he thereby consecrates him (the Sacrificer) after death, and causes him to be born from out of it, and he is delivered from that death. And the sacrifice, indeed, becomes his body: thus, having become the sacrifice, he is delivered from that death, and all his chief offerings are thereby delivered from that death[4].
6. And, verily, whatever offering he there performs, that offering becomes his body in yonder world; and when he who knows this departs this world then that offering, being behind him, calls out to him, 'Come hither, here I am, thy body;' and inasmuch as it calls out (invokes, āhvayati), it is called 'āhuti' (offering or invocation).
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
The anuvākyās recited prior to the principal oblations (pradhāna-havis) are in the gāyatrī metre; whilst the yājyās (referred to in the next paragraph), at the end of which the Vauṣaṭ! is uttered and the oblation poured into the fire, consist of triṣṭubh verses; cf. 1, 7, 2, 15.
[2]:
These inserted clauses with 'vai' supply the reason for what follows, not for what precedes, them.
[3]:
See X, 5, 1, 4.
[4]:
Viz. inasmuch as the oblation is made with the Vaṣaṭ.