Chapter 260 - The use of the hymns of Yajurveda (yajurvidhāna)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Puṣkara said:

1-2. I shall describe the use (of the hymns) of Yajur (veda) [i.e., yajurvidhāna], that yield enjoyment and emancipation. Listen (to me): O Rāma: The great vyāhṛtis^[1] are considered to be preceded by the syllable oṃ. They destroy all sins and yield all pleasures. A wise man should worship the gods with thousand oblations of clarified butter.

3. O Rāma: This confers the desired pleasures. One who desires peace should offer (oblation) with barley. (One should offer) with sesamum for the destruction of sin.

4. (One should offer oblation) with grains and white mustard that will confer all the pleasures. (Offering oblations) with the twigs of udumbara (tree) is commended for one who desires cattle.

5. One who desires food (should offer oblation) with curd and one who desires peace (should) with milk. One who desires plenty of gold (should offer oblation) with the twigs of apāmārga.

6. One who seeks a maiden should offer oblation of jāti flowers that have been strung together in pairs and soaked in ghee. One who desires to have (governorship over) a village should offer (oblations of) sesamum and rice.

7. The oblations (of the twigs) of śākhoṭa, vāsā and apāmārga (trees) (are commended) for bringing (others) under control. O Son of Bhṛgu (Paraśurāma): (oblation) of twigs mixed with poison and blood (should be made) for causing the death of one after becoming sick.

8-9. One who is angry (should act) perfectly in the above manner in order to kill his enemies. O Brahmin: After having made an image of the king made up of rice one should offer a thousand oblations. The king will thus be subjected to one’s control. Flowers (are to be used) by one who desires clothes. (The offering of) dūrvā (grass) destroys disease.

10. It is laid down that strong scents (should be used) by one who desires to gain the splendour of a realised soul. Oblation should be offered with the ash of husk and thorns in retaliatory enchantments.

11-12. (In incantation) to cause animosity, the wings of a crow and owl (should be offered). O Brahmin! One should offer the ghee of a black cow to fire at (the time of) the lunar eclipse and partake of it after having mixed it with the residue of powdered vacā (a kind of aromatic root) after incantation a thousand times. This will make him intelligent.

13-14a. A peg of eleven inches made of iron or khadira (tree) should be buried in the house of the enemy after repeating (the hymn dviṣato vadho'si^[2]. This act of magical incantation for (the destruction of) the enemy has been narrated to you.

14b-15. By the recitation of (the hymn) cakṣuṣyā^[3] one will get back lost eyesight. (The repetition) of the section (of the hymn beginning with) upayuñjata^[4] will procure food. One will be free from difficulties by offering oblation of dūrvā (grass) (with the recitation of the hymn) tanūnapāgne sat^[5].

16-18. Oblation made with curd and clarified butter (with the recitation of the hymn) bheṣajamasi^[6] will cure the sickness of domestic animals. Oblation (made with the recitation of the hymn) tryambakaṃ yajāmahe^[7] will increase one’s fortune. (One who makes an oblation with this hymn) pronouncing the name of a maiden, will secure that maiden. One who repeats (this hymn) daily when he is stricken with fear, will get free from fears. By making an oblation with the dhuttūra flower along with ghee (repeating this hymn), one will get all the pleasures. O Rāma! One who makes an oblation with guggulu (a fragrant gum resin) (with the recitation of the hymn) will see Śaṅkara (Śiva) in the dream.

19-20. One will get long life by repeating the section yuñjate mana^[8]. (The repetition of the hymn) viṣṇorarāṭaṃ^[9] destroys all the obstacles. It is capable of destroying demons. It also confers victory. (The repetition of the hymn) ayaṃ no agniḥ^[10] yields victory in battle.

21-22. (The hymn) idamāpaḥ pravahata^[11] (when repeated) while bathing is capable of destroying sins. If one buries an iron nail of ten inches length at the threshold (of the house) of a maiden with (the repetition of the hymn) viśvakarmannu havis^[12] she will not be given (in marriage) to somebody else. One who makes an oblation with (the repetition of the hymn) deva-savitaḥ^[13] will get food.

23-24. O Knower of virtue! The excellent brahmin who desires strength should do oblation with sesamum, barley, rice and (twigs of) apāmārga with (the recitation of) agnau svāhā (oblations to fire). O Brahmin! One will win the affection of the people by making a mark (on the forehead) with gorocanā (yellow pigment got from the belly of cow) after having made the incantation (of the sacred syllable) a thousand times.

25-28. The repetition of the Rudra (hymns)^[14] is capable of destroying all the sins. The oblation (made with that hymn) accomplishes all tasks and ensures peace everywhere. O Bhārgava! Knower of virtue! when the goats, sheep, horses, elephants, cows, men, kings, children, women, villages, cities and countries are being attacked or afflicted by diseases, when there is the outbreak of plague and there is fear from the enemies, then (the offering) of oblation with Rudra hymns with sweet porridge and ghee (will confer) supreme peace.

29-30. One gets free from all sins by offering oblation with pumpkin and ghee (with the Rudra hymns). Excellent man! One gets free from (the sin of) killing a brahmin by eating the flour of barley, barley or alms in the night and bathing for a month outside. One will get everything by offering oblation with (the repetition of) the hymn madhuvātā^[15].

31. One will certainly get children by offering oblation (with the recitation of the hymn) dadhikrāvṇa.^[16] Similarly (oblation made) with ghee (with the recitation of the hymn) ghṛtavatī^[17] will give life.

32. (The recitation of the hymn) svasti na indra^[18] would destroy all difficulties (and the hymn) iha gāvaḥ prajāyadhvaṃ^[19] would increase the strength.

33-34. A thousand oblations made with ghee (with this hymn) will ward off ill-luck. (Oblations made) with (the twigs of) apāmārga and rice (with the recitation of the hymn) sruveṇa devasya tvā^[20] will without any doubt free one quickly from the deformities inflicted by incantation. One would get gold by (oblations) with the twigs of palāśa with (the hymn) rudra pātu^[21] (Rudra protect).

35. One should offer oblations with rice with (the recitation of the hymn) śivo bhava^[22] (The repetition of the hymn) yāḥ senā^[23] removes the fear of thieves.

36. O Brahmin! One who makes a thousand oblations with black sesamum with (the recitation of the hymn) yo asmabhyamayātīyāt^[24] will become free from deformities caused by incantation.

37. One will get food by offering an oblation of food with (the recitation of the hymn) annapate^[25] The repetition of (the hymn) haṃsaḥ śuciṣad^[26] (while remaining) in the water destroys sins.

38. (The repetition of the hymn) catvāri śṛṅgāḥ^[27] (while remaining) in the water will remove all sins. By the repetition of (the hymn) devā yajña^[28] one will be respected in the world of Brahmā.

39. One will obtain the favour of the Sun by offering oblation with clarified butter with (the repetition of the hymn) vasanta^[29]. The rites relating to (the use of the hymn) suparṇo'si^[30] are the same as for the (seven) vyāhṛtis^[31].

40. One will get released from bondage by repeating namaḥ svāhā^[32] three times. By repeating (the hymn) drupadā^[33] three times (while remaining) in the water will destroy all sins.

41. The sacred formula iha gāvaḥ prajāyadhvaṃ^[34] is capable of sharpening the intellect when oblations are offered with clarified butter, curd, milk and sweet porridge.

42. Oblations made with leaves and fruits with (the recitation of the hymn) śataṃ yo^[35] confers health, wealth and long life.

43. (The recitation of the hymn) oṣadhīḥ pratimodadhvaṃ^[36] while mowing and cutting will give returns. Oblations made with sweet porridge (with the repetition of the hymn) aśvāvat^[37] will secure peace.

44. One will be released from bondage by (the repetition of) the sacred formula tasmā^[38]. One will get excellent dress by (repeating the hymn) yuvā suvāsāḥ^[39].

45. (The recitation of the hymn) muñcantu mā śapathyāt^[40] is capable of destroying all the enemies. Oblation of sesamum (while reciting the hymn) mā mā hiṃsīḥ^[41] is capable of destroying enemies.

46. (Oblations of) ghee and sweet porridge (with the repetition of the hymns) namo'stu sarvasarpebhyo^[42] and kṛṇudhvaṃ rāja^[43] destroys magic incantations.

47-49. One can control an epidemic in a village or country by making ten thousand oblations of pieces of dūrvā grass with (the recitation of the hymn) kāṇḍāt kāṇḍāt^[44]. One who is suffering from a disease will be cured and the grief-stricken (will become free) from grief (by this). O Rāma! A person who offers a thousand twigs of udumbara (tree)as oblation with (the recitation of the hymn) madhumānno vanaspatiḥ^[45] will get wealth. One will also get great fortune and victory in litigation.

50-51. One will make the gods rain by offering oblations (of the same) with (the recitation of the hymn) apāṃ garbhaṃ.^[46] O Knower of virtue! By making oblations of curd, ghee and honey (with the repetition of the hymn) apaḥ pinva^[47] one will make it rain heavily. (The repetition of the hymn) namaste rudra^[48] destroys all misfortunes.

52-53. (The above hymn) is also said to ensure all peace and destroy great sins. One who is afflicted by a disease is protected by (the repetition of the hymn) adhyavocat.^[49] It is also capable of destroying demons, increasing fame, long life and strength. One will be happy by scattering white mustard and repeating this (hymn) on the journey.

54-55a. O Knower of virtue! One will get long life and undiminishing food by worshipping daily the sun morning and evening unweariedly repeating (the hymn) asau yastāmro^[50].

55b-56. Weapons are consecrated by the six (hymns) pramuñca dhanvanas^[51]. It will frighten enemies in battle. One need not entertain any doubt. (The repetition of the hymn) māno mahāntaṃ^[52] confers peace on children.

57. One should offer oblations of black mustard soaked in pungent oil (with the repetition of) the seven sections (beginning with) namo hiraṇyabāhave^[53] that will destroy enemies.

58. One becomes a sovereign by offering oblations of a lakh lotuses with (the recitation of the hymn) namo vaḥ kirikebhyo^[54]. By similar (offerings) of bilva (leaves) (one will acquire) gold.

59. One will obtain wealth by oblations of sesamum with (the repetition of) imā rudrāya^[55]. Oblations with dūrvā grass (will make one) free from all diseases.

60. (The hymn) āśuḥ śiśāna^[56] (is used) in the protection of weapons. O Rāma! It is said to destroy all the enemies in battle.

61. O Brahmin! Knower of virtue! One thousand oblations of clarified butter with (the repetition of) the five (hymns) rāja sāma^[57] will cure the eye disease (of a person).

62. The oblation (done with the hymn) śanno vanaspate gehe^[58] will destroy the defects of a building. One will not earn enmity with anyone by offering oblations of clarified butter (with the repetition of) agna āyūṃṣi^[59].

63. One will gain victory by the oblation of fried paddy (with the hymn) apāṃ phena^[60]. He who has defective sense-organs will get sound ones by the repetition of (the hymn) bhadrā^[61].

64. (The hymn) agniśca pṛthivī ca^[62] (is) an excellent charm. One who repeats the hymn adhvana^[63] will be victorious in litigation.

65. (The hymn) brahma rājanyaṃ^[64] accomplishes the task (when repeated) at its commencement. One will be free from disease by the oblation of ghee a lakh times (with the repetition of the hymn) saṃvatsaro'si^[65].

66. (The hymn) ketuṃ kṛṇvan^[66] will confer victory in battle.

(The hymn) indro'gnirdharma^[67] ensures fair play in battle.

67. The hymn dhanvanā gā^[68] is excellent for the bow wielder. The hymn yuñjīta^[69] is known (to be used) in consecrating (the bow).

68. The hymn āhiratha^[70] should be used for the consecration of arrows. Bahvīnāṃ pitā^[71] is said to be the hymn for consecrating quiver.

69. Yuñjantī [Yuñjanti?]^[72] is said to be the hymn for arranging horses. (The hymn) āśuḥ śiśāna^[73] is said (to be used) while commencing a journey.

70. The hymns viṣṇoḥ krama^[74] (is said to be) excellent for one who boards a chariot. (The hymn) ājaṅghanti^[75] is said (to be used) for whipping the horses.

71. One should repeat (the hymn) yaḥ senā abhitvari^[76] when facing the army of the enemy. The war drums are beaten with (the recitation of the hymn) dundubhya^[77].

72-73. One will become victorious by offering oblations earlier with these hymns. A wise man who offers one crore oblations with (the recitation of the hymn) yamena dattam^[78] will soon produce a chariot that will give victory in the battle. The ceremonies relating to (the hymn) ā kṛṣṇa^[79] are similar to that of the vyāhṛtis (bhūḥ etc.).

74. One will get the composure of mind by the repetition of (the hymn of) śivasaṅkalpa^[80]. One will get fortune by making five lakh oblations (with the repetition of the hymn) pañcanadyaḥ^[81].

75. One should wear a golden (plate) after making incantations one thousand times with the hyymn yad ābadhnan dākṣāyaṇā^[82]. It will ward off the enemies.

76. One will not have the fear of thieves by throwing stones and lumps of earth in all the four directions in the house (after repeating the hymn) imaṃ jīvebhyaḥ^[83].

77. (The hymn) parī me gāmaneṣata^[84] is excellent for charming. One who has come to kill will be subdued.

78. O Knower of Dharma! A person will be brought under one’s complete control soon by giving him food, betels, flowers and other things charmed (with this hymn).

79-80. (The hymn) śanno mitra^[85] always confers peace everywhere (when repeated). One will be able to charm the entire world by making oblations of all grains (with the repetition of the hymn) gaṇānāṃ tvā gaṇapatiṃ^[86] at the junction of four roads. The hymn hiraṇyavarṇāḥ śucayaḥ^[87] (is used) in consecration.

81-82. (The hymn) śanno devīr abhiṣṭaye^[88] (is) excellent for conferring peace. There is no doubt that one will appease the planets and get their grace by offering oblations of clarified butter in parts (to the respective planets) with (the repetition of) the hymn ekacakra^[89]. One who makes oblations of clarified butter with the two (hymns) gāvo bhago^[90] will get cows.

83. (The hymn) pravādāṃṣaḥ sopat^[91] is used in the propitiatory rite in the house. (The hymn) devebhyo vanaspate^[92] is prescribed (for use) in the rite for the consecration of a tree.

84. (The hymn) tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padaṃ^[93] is known to be the gāyatrī for (Lord) Viṣṇu. It is capable of destroying all the sins and granting all the pleasures.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The syllables bhūḥ, bhuvaḥ, svaḥ, mahaḥ, janaḥ, tapaḥ and satyaṃ.

[2]:

Vāj. Sam. 1.28.

[3]:

Cf. cākṣuṣmatyāya svāhā TB. 3.10.7.1.

[4]:

Could not be traced.

[5]:

Cf. Bloomfield, Vedic Concordance p. 397b.

[6]:

Vaj. Sam. 3.59.

[7]:

Taitt. Sam. 1.8.6.2a.

[8]:

Vāj. Sam. 5.14a; Taitt. Sam. l.2.13.1a.

[9]:

Vāj. Sam. 5.21; Taitt. Sam. 1.2.13.3.

[10]:

Vāj. Sam. 5.37a; 7.44a; Taitt. Sam. 13.4.1a; 4.46.3a.

[11]:

ṚV. 1.33.22a; Vāj. Sam. 6.17a.

[12]:

Cf. Bloomfield, Vedic Concordance p. 878a.

[13]:

Vāj. Sam. 9.1 ; 11.7; 30.1; Taitt. Sam. I.7.7.1; 4.1.1.2.

[14]:

namas te rudra manyave Taitt. Sam. 4.5.1.1a; Vāj. Sam. 16.1a.

[15]:

Taitt. Sam. 4.2.9.3a; 5.2.8.6.

[16]:

Taitt. Sam. 1.5.11.4a; 7.4.19.4a.

[17]:

Cf Taitt. Sam. 4.4.12.5a.

[18]:

ṚV. I.89.6a; Vāj. Sam. 25.19a; MS. 4.9.27a; 140.1.

[19]:

AV. 20.127.12a; Kaṭh. Sam. 35.5a.

[20]:

Could not be traced.

[21]:

Could not be traced.

[22]:

Vāj. Sam. 11.45a; Taitt. Sam. 4.1.4.2a.

[23]:

Could not be traced.

[24]:

Vāj. Sam. 11.80a; Taitt. Sam. 4.1.10.3a.

[25]:

Taitt. Sam. 4.2.3.1a; 5.2.2.I.

[26]:

Vāj. Sam. 10.24a; 12.14a; Taitt. Sam. 1.8.15.2a; 4.2.1.5a.

[27]:

Vāj. Sam. 17.91a; MS. 1.6,2a; 87.17.

[28]:

Cf. devā yajñam nayantu ṚV. 1.40.3d; MS. 4.9.1d; 120.10.

[29]:

Vāj. Sam. 10.10; Taitt. Sam. 4.3.3.1.

[30]:

Vāj Sam. 10.4; 17.72; Taitt. Sam. 4.1.10.5; 6.5.3; 5.1.10.5.

[31]:

See note to verse 1 above.

[32]:

Cf. G. Dh. 27. 9.

[33]:

Cf. drupadād iva Vāj. Sam. 20.20a.

[34]:

Kaṭh. Sam. 35.3a.

[35]:

Tait. Sam. 5.7.2.3c.

[36]:

ṚV. 10.97.3a; Vāj. Sam. 12.77a.

[37]:

ṚV. 9.63. 18b; Vāj. Sam. 8.63b.

[38]:

Cf. ṚV. 10.9.3a; Taitt. Sam. 4.1.5.1a.

[39]:

ṚV. 3.8.4a; MS. 4. 13.1a: 199.13.

[40]:

ṚV. 10.97.16a; Vaj. Sam. 12.90a.

[41]:

Tait. Sam. 1.2.2.2.

[42]:

ṚV. Kh. 7.55.10a; Tait. Sam. 4.2.8.3a.

[43]:

ṚV. 7.32.9b.

[44]:

Tait. Sam. 4.2.9.2a.

[45]:

Tait. Sam. 4.2.9.3a.

[46]:

Tait. Sam. 4.1.4.3b.

[47]:

Tait. Sam. 4.3.4,3.

[48]:

Tait. Sam. 4.5.1.1a.

[49]:

Tait. Sam. 4.5.1.2a.

[50]:

Tait. Sam. 4.5.1.3a.

[51]:

Tait. Sam. 4.5.10.2a.

[52]:

Tait. Sam. 4.5.10.2a.

[53]:

Tait. Sam. 4.5.2.1.

[54]:

Tait. Sam. 4.5.9.2.

[55]:

Vaj. Sam. 16.48a.

[56]:

Tait. Sam. 4.6.4.1a.

[57]:

Could not be traced.

[58]:

Could not be traced.

[59]:

TS. 1.3.14.7a.

[60]:

Cf. apām phenena Vaj. Sam. 19.71a.

[61]:

Cf. ṚV. 8.19.19b.

[62]:

Vaj. Sam. 26.1.

[63]:

Tait. Sam. 1.7.8.1.

[64]:

Cf. brahma rājanyābhyām Vāj. Sam. 26.2c.

[65]:

Vaj. Sam. 27.45 or TB. 3.11.1.14.

[66]:

Tait. Sam. 7.4.20.1a.

[67]:

Could not be traced.

[68]:

Tait. Sam. 4.6.6.1a.

[69]:

Could not be traced.

[70]:

Could not be traced.

[71]:

Tait. Sam. 4.6.6.2a.

[72]:

Cf. Yuñjanti bradhnam Tait. Sam. 7.4.20.1a.

[73]:

Tait. Sam. 4.6.4.1a.

[74]:

Tait. Sam. 1.6.5.2.

[75]:

Tait. Sam. 4.6.6.5a.

[76]:

Could not be traced.

[77]:

Cf. Vedic Concordance p. 485b.

[78]:

Tait. Sam. 4.6.7.1a.

[79]:

Tait. Sam. 3.4.11.2a.

[80]:

Could not be traced.

[81]:

Vāj Sam. 34.11a.

[82]:

Vaj Sam. 34.52b.

[83]:

Vāj. Sam. 35.15a.

[84]:

Vāj. Sam. 35.18a.

[85]:

ṚV. 1.90.9a; Vāj. Sam. 36.9a.

[86]:

Tait. Sam. 2.3.14.3a.

[87]:

Tait. Sam. 5.6.1.1a.

[88]:

ṚV. 10.9.4a.

[89]:

Cf. TA. 1.11.7c.

[90]:

ṚV. 6.28.5a.

[91]:

Could not be traced.

[92]:

MS. 4.13.7a: 208.10.

[93]:

Tait. Sam. 1.3.6.2a.