Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 14 Jul 2011 08:03 and updated at 14 Jul 2011 12:40
KRISHNA YAJUR VEDA
KANDA 5
THE EXPLANATION OF THE PILING OF THE FIRE ALTAR
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Table of Contents
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PRAPATHAKA V (5)
The Piling of the Fire Altar (continued)
v. 5. 1.
In that he completes (the sacrifice) with one animal, (it is) for the continuity of the sacrifice and to avoid cutting it in two.
The male animals belong to Indra; in that being Indra s they are offered to the fires, he causes strife among the deities.
He should use Tristubh verses, appertaining to Agni, for the Yajyas and Anuvakyas; in that they appertain to Agni, (the verses) are Agni s, in that they are Tristubhs (they are) Indra s; (verily they serve) for prosperity; he does not cause strife among the deities.
To Vayu of the team he offers a hornless (animal); Vayu is the brilliance of Agni; it is offered to brilliance; therefore wheresoever the wind [1] blows, the fire burns; verily it follows its own brilliance.
If he were not to offer to him of the team, the sacrificer would go mad; (an offering) is made to him of the team, to prevent the sacrificer going mad.
The Yajya and the Anuvakya, contain (the words) wind and white to secure brilliance.
The golden germ first arose (with these words) he pours out the butter portion; the golden germ is Prajapati; (verily it serves) for likeness to Prajapati.
This (animal) is slain to make up all forms of animals; its hairs are [2] the form of man, its lack of horns that of horses, the possession of one set of incisors only that of cows, the sheep like hooves that of sheep, that it is a goat, that is the form of goats.
The wind is the abode dear to cattle; in that it is offered to Vayu, in accord cattle wait upon him.
Sh uld an animal be offered to Vayu, or to Prajapati? they say; if he were to offer it to Vayu, he would depart from Prajapati; if he were to offer it to Prajapati, he would depart from Vayu [3]; in that the animal is offered to Vayu, therefore he does not depart; in that a cake is offered to Prajapati, therefore he does not depart from Prajapati; in that it is offered on twelve potsherds, therefore he does not depart from Vaisvanara.
When about to consecrate himself, he offers to Agni and Visnu on eleven potsherds; all the deities are Agni; the sacrifice is Visnu; verily he lays hold of the deities and the sacrifice; Agni is the lowest of the deities, Visnu the highest; in that he offers to Agni and Visnu on eleven potsherds, the sacrificer envelops the gods [4] on both sides and wins them.
By the cake the gods prospered in yonder world, by the oblation in this; he who desires, May I prosper in yonder world should offer a cake; verily he prospers in yonder world.
In that it is offered on eight pot sherds, it is connected with Agni, in that it is offered on three potsherds, it is connected with Visnu; (verily it serves) for prosperity.
He who desires, May I prosper in the world should offer an oblation; the ghee belongs to Agni, the rice grains to Visnu, therefore [5] an oblation should be offered; verily he prospers in this world.
It is (an offering) to Aditi; Aditi is this (earth); verily he finds support in this (earth); verily also be extends the sacrifice over this He who piles the fire without keeping it in the pan for a year (it is with him) as when an embryo is dropped prematurely would go to ruin; he should offer before (the others) on twelve potsherds to Vaisvanara; Agni Vaisvanara is the year; even as (an embryo) attaining a year s growth [61 is born when the due season is come, so he having obtained the year when the due season is come, piles the fire; he goes not to ruin.
Vaisvanara is the form dear to Agni; verily he wins the form dear to him.
These offerings are three; these worlds are three; (verily they serve) for the mounting of these worlds.
v. 5. 2.
Prajapati after creating creatures in affection entered into them; from them he could not emerge; he said, He shall prosper who shall pile me again hence.
The gods piled him; then they prospered; in that they piled him, that is why the piling has its name.
He who knowing thus piles the fire is prosperous.
For what good is the fire piled? they say.
May I be possessed of the fire [1], (with this aim) is the fire piled; verily be becomes possessed of the fire.
For what good is the fire piled? they say.
May the gods know me (with this hope) is the fire piled; the gods know him.
For what good is the fire piled? they say.
May I have a house (with this hope) is the fire piled; verily he becomes possessed of a house.
For what good is the fire piled? they say.
May I be rich in cattle (with this hope) is the fire [2] piled; verily he becomes rich in cattle.
For what good is the fire piled? they say.
May the seven men live upon me (with this hope) is the fire piled; three before, three behind, the self the seventh; so many live upon him in yonder world.
Prajapati desired to pile the fire; to him spake earth; Thou shalt not pile the fire on me; thou wilt burn me excessively, and I being burned excessively will shake you apart [3]; thou wilt fall into a sorry state.
He replied, So shall I act that it will not burn thee excessively.
He stroked it, (saying), May Prajapati seat thee; with that deity, in the manner of Angiras, do thou sit firm verily making his a brick he put it down, to prevent excessive burning.
That on which he is to pile the fire he should stroke, (saying), May Prajapati seat thee; with that deity in the manner of Angiras, do thou sit firm [4]; verily making this a brick he sets it down to prevent excessive burning.
Prajapati desired, Let me be propagated he saw this (fire) in the pan, he bore it for a year, then was he propagated.
Therefore for a year must it be borne, then is he propagated.
To him the Vasus said, Thou hast been propagated; let us be propagated.
He gave it to the Vasus, they bore it for three days, thereby [5] they created three hundred, three and thirty; therefore should it be borne for three days; verily is he propagated.
To them the Rudras said, Ye have been propagated, let us be propagated.
They gave it to the Rudras; they bore it for six days, thereby they created three hundred, three and thirty; therefore should it be borne for six days; verily is he propagated.
To them the Adityas said, Ye have been propagated; let us [6] be propagated
They gave it to the Adityas, they bore it for twelve days, thereby they created three hundred, three and thirty; therefore should it be borne for twelve days; verily is he propagated.
Thereby they created a thousand, the pan being the thousandth; he who knows thus the pan as the thousandth obtains a thousand cattle.
v. 5. 3.
With a Yajus it is made, with a Yajus it is cooked, with a Yajus it is set loose, this pan; it is therefore exhausted, it cannot be used again they say.
O Agni, yoke thy (steeds) Yoke them that best invoke the gods (with these words) he offers in the pan; verily he yokes it again and thereby is it not exhausted.
He, who yokes Agni where the yoking is to be performed, yokes him (best) among those who are yoking.
O Agni [1], yoke thy (steeds) Yoke them that best invoke the gods he says; this is the yoking of Agni; verily he yokes him, and yokes him (best) among those who are yoking.
The theologians say, Should the fire be piled up with face down, or face upwards? Now the fire is piled in the likeness of birds; if he were to pile it face downward, the libations would reach it behind; if upwards, it could not fly, it would not be heavenly for him; he puts down the human head towards the east, face upwards [2]; verily the libations reach it in the mouth; he does not pile it face upwards; verily it is heavenly for him.
He offers with (a verse) addressed to Surya; verily he bestows sight upon it; twice he offers, for there are two eyes; he offers with the same verse, for sight is the same, for prosperity.
The gods and the Asuras were in conflict, they deposited their desirable wealth; the gods appropriated it by means of the Vamabhrt (brick); that is why the Vamabhrt (supporting the desirable) has its name.
In that he puts down the Vamabhrt, the sacrificer by it ppropriates the desirable wealth of his foe.
It has a head of gold; gold is light, the desirable is light; verily by light he appropriates the desirable which is light; there are two Yajuses, for support.
v. 5. 4.
The waters were the wives of Varuna; Agni longed for them, he had union with them; his seed fell away, it became this (earth); what second fell away became yonder (sky); this is the Viraj, yonder the Svaraj; in that he puts down two Viraj (bricks) he puts down these two (worlds).
Now the seed which yonder (sky) impregnates, finds support in this (earth), it is propagated, it becomes plants [1] and shoots; them the fire eats.
He who knows thus is propagated, and becomes an eater of food.
If a man be full of seed, one should put both down in the first layer for him; verily these in accord pour seed for him; if a man have poured his seed, he should put one in the first layer for him and one in the last; verily he encloses by the two (worlds) the seed he has impregnated.
For a year to no man [2] should he descend in honour; for these two (worlds) descend in honour for no man; that is their rule.
He who piles the fire without a head, becomes headless in yonder world, he who piles it with a head becomes possessed of a head in yonder world.
To thought I offer with mind, with ghee, that the gods may come hither, delighting in the offerings, increasing holy order; on the path of the moving ocean I offer all the days to Visvakarman the undying oblation (with these words) he puts down the naturally perforated brick and offers [3]; that is the head of the fire; verily he piles the fire with its head.
He becomes possessed of a head in yonder world who know thus.
The fire is piled for the world of heaven; whatever is done out of order, that is not heavenly; the fire is heavenly; having put down the layer he should stroke it, (saying), May the wise discern wisdom and folly, like backs straight and crooked, like men; for wealth and good offspring, O god, grant us freedom, and keep bondage from us.
Verily he puts it down in order.
He piles (the fire) facing east; it becomes heavenly for him.
v. 5. 5.
Visvakarman, lord of the quarters, may he protect our cattle, may he protect us, to him homage! Prajapati; Rudra; Varuna; Agni; lord of the quarters; may he protect our cattle, may he protect us, to him homage! These are the deities, overlords of these animals; to them he is cut off who puts down the heads of the animals.
He puts down the gold bricks; verily he pays honour to these deities.
The theologians [1] say, In the fire he places the domesticated animals, with pain he afflicts the wild animals; what then does he leave? In that he puts down the golden bricks, and gold is immortality, by immortality he makes healing for the domesticated animals, he hurts them not.
The first naturally perforated brick is expiration, the second cross breathing, the third inspiration.
Having put down the first naturally perforated brick he should breathe out along it; verily he unites expiration with expiration; having put down the second [2] he should breathe across; verily he unites cross breathing with cross breathing; having put down the third, he should breathe in; verily he unites inspiration with inspiration; verily he kindles him with the breaths.
Bhuh, Bhuvah, Suvar (with these words) he puts down the naturally perforated bricks; the naturally perforated bricks are these worlds; with these exclamations Prajapati was propagated; in that he puts down the naturally perforated bricks with these exclamations, he puts down these worlds, and over these [3] worlds he is propagated.
For expiration, for cross breathing, for inspiration; for speech thee; for sight thee; with that deity, in the manner of Angiras, do thou sit firm.
By Agni the gods sought to go to the world of heaven, with him they could not fly; they saw these four naturally perforated bricks, they put them down in the quarters, with him with eyes on all sides they went to the world of heaven.
In that he puts down four naturally perforated bricks in the quarters, the sacrificer with Agni with eyes on all sides goes to the world of heaven.
v. 5. 6.
a O Agni, come to enjoy he says; verily he summons him.
b Agni we choose as envoy he says; verily having called he chooses him.
c By Agni Agni is kindled he says; verily he kindles him.
d May Agni slay the foes he says; verily he confers power on him when kindled.
e O Agni, we exalt the praise he says; verily he exalts him.
These are the forms of the days [1]; verily each day he piles him, and wins the forms of the days.
The theologians say, For what reason are other bricks exhausted, the space filler not? Because it is connected with Indra and Agni and with Brhaspati he should say, for Indra and Agni and Brhaspati are those among the gods who are not exhausted.
It has a follower to avoid monotony.
He follows it with an Anustubh; the space filler is the body, the Anustubh the breath; therefore breath comes through all the limbs.
They of him, streaming with milk [2], he says; therefore there is sap in every joint; the dappled mix the Soma he says; the dappled (cow) is food; verily he wins food; Agni is praise, food is praise; verily he wins food; the clans in the birthplace of the gods, in the three realms of sky he says; verily he makes these worlds full of light for him.
He who knows the support of the bricks finds support.
With that deity, in the manner of Angiras, do thou sit firm, he says; this is the support of the bricks; he who knows thus finds support.
v. 5. 7.
The fire is piled up for the world of heaven; the set of eleven stakes is a thunderbolt; if he were to set up eleven stakes in the fire, he would shut it off from the world of heaven with the thunderbolt; if he were not to set it up, he would sever the animals from the chips; one stake he sets up; verily he does not shut it off from the world of heaven, nor sever the animals from the chips.
He who piling the fire steps down on it is deprived of power and strength; he should, with a verse addressed to Indra [1], put down a brick opposite his step; verily he is not deprived of power and strength.
The fire is Rudra, his are three missiles, one that comes straight on, one that strikes transversely, and one that follows up.
To them he is cut off who piles the fire; having piled the fire he should give (a bow) with three arrows to a Brahman, unasked; verily to them he pays homage, and also he ransoms himself from them.
The bow of thine, O Rudra, in the east [2], may the wind blow after it for thee, to thee, O Rudra, with the year I pay homage.
The bow of thine, O Rudra, on the south, may the wind blow after it for thee, to thee, O Rudra, with the full year I pay homage.
The bow of thine, O Rudra, on the west, may the wind blow after it for thee, to thee, O Rudra, with the Ida year I pay homage.
The bow of thine, O Rudra, on the north, may the wind blow after it for thee [3], to thee, O Rudra, with the Idu year I pay homage.
The bow of thine, O Rudra, above, may the wind blow after it for thee, to thee, O Rudra, with the year I pay homage.
Agni is Rudra; just as a tiger stands in anger, so he also (stands); when piled with these he reverences him; verily with homage he soothes him.
The fires [4] of the dust That have entered within the earth, Of them thou art the highest; Do thou instigate us to life.
Thee, O Agni, with the mind have I obtained; thee, O Agni, with the fervour have I obtained; thee, O Agni, with the consecration have I obtained; thee, O Agni, with the observances have I obtained; thee, O Agni, with the pressing day have I obtained; thee, O Agni, with the sacrificial fees have I obtained; thee, O Agni, with the concluding bath have I obtained; thee, O Agni, with the barren cow have I obtained; thee, O Agni, with the cry of Godspeed I have I obtained he says; I this is the obtaining of Agni verily therewith he obtains him.
v. 5. 8.
He pays reverence in front with the Gayatra Saman(); verily he confers breath upon him.
(He reverences) the wings with the Brhat and the Rathantara; verily he confers might upon him.
(He reverences) the tail with the seasonal Yajnayajniya; verily he finds support in the seasons.
He pays reverence with the Prstha Stotras(); the Prsthas are brilliance; verily he confers brilliance upon him.
Prajapati created Agni; he, created, went away from him; him he checked (avarayata) by the Varavantiya, and that is why the Varavantiya has it name.
By the Syaita he congealed him, and that is why the Syaita has its name [1].
In that he reverences, with the Varavantiya, he restrains him, and by the Syaita he congeals him.
At the joinings of the wings he reverences with the heart of Prajapati; verily he attains his affection.
With the eastern quarter I place thee, with the Gayatri metre, with Agni as the deity; with the head of Agni I put down the head of Agni.
With the southern quarter I place thee, with the Tristubh metre, with Indra as the deity; with the wing of Agni I put down the wing of Agni.
With the western quarter I place thee [2], with the Jagati metre, with Savitr as the deity; with the tail of Agni I put down the tail of Agni.
With the northern quarter I place thee, with the Anustubh metre, with Mitra and Varuna as the deity; with the wing of Agni I put down the wing of Agni.
With the upright quarter I place thee, with the Pankti metre, with Brhaspati as the deity, with the back of Agni I put down the back of Agni.
He who piles the fire without its body is without a body in yonder world; he who piles it with its body is with his body in yonder world.
He puts down the body bricks; this is the body of the fire; verily he piles the fire with its body; he has his body in yonder world who knows thus.
v. 5. 9.
a O Agni, the ocean, thy arrow called the young, with it be gentle to us; homage to this of thine; may we prosper, living on this of thine.
b O Agni, the boisterous; c the abysmal; d the strong; e the desirable; thy arrow called young, with it be gentle to us; homage to this of thine; may we prosper, living on this of thine.
f The layers are the five Agnis, the first is the ocean by name, the second the boisterous [1], the third the abysmal, the fourth the strong, the fifth the desirable; if he were not to offer libations to them they would burn the Adhvaryu and the sacrificer; in that he offers these libations, verily he soothes them with their proper portion; neither Adhvaryu nor sacrificer goes to ruin.
g May speech be mine in the mouth, breath in the nostrils, sight in the eyes, hearing in the ears, might in the arms, force in the thighs, may all my members be uninjured; may thy body [2] be with my body; homage to thee; harm me not.
h The breaths depart from him who piling the fire steps down on it; May speech be mine in the mouth, breath in the nostrils he says; verily he bestows the breaths on himself.
i The Rudra in the fire, in the waters, in the plants, the Rudra that hath entered all beings, to that Rudra be homage.
k Some Rudras have shares in the libations (ahuti), others have shares in the oblations (havis) [3]; having offered the Satarudriya, he should put down on the last brick an oblation of Gavidhuka; verily he soothes him with his portion.
For him indeed is the Satarudriya offered in truth they say, for whom this (oblation) is made on the fire.
l May the Vasus, with the Rudras, protect thee on the east; may the Pitrs whose lord is Yama, with the Pitrs, protect thee on the south; may the Adityas, with the All gods, protect thee on the west; may Dyutana Maruta, with the Maruts, protect thee on the north [4]; may the gods, whose chief is Indra, protect thee from below and from above.
m It is not purified, nor made worthy of sacrifice, nor really anointed, if it is anointed before this point; in that he anoints it with ghee after it has been piled, thereby is it purified, made worthy of sacrifice and really anointed.
v. 5. 10.
a Thou art the eastern quarter, the favourable by name; of thee as such Agni is the overlord, the black (snake) the guardian; the overlord and the guardian, to them homage; may they be gentle to us; him whom we hate and who hateth us I place within the jaws of you two.
Thou art the southern quarter, the mighty by name; of thee as such Indra is the overlord, the scorpion, &c.
Thou art the western quarter, the forward by name; of thee as such [1] Soma is the overlord, the viper, &c.
Thou art the northern quarter, the stable by name; of thee as such Varuna is overlord, the striped snake, &c.
Thou art the great quarter, the lady paramount by name; of thee as such Brhaspati is overlord, the white, &c.
Thou art this quarter, the powerful by name; of thee as such Yama is the overlord, the spotted necked (snake) the guardian; the overlord and the guardian, to them homage; may they be gentle to us; him whom we hate and [2] who hateth us I place within the jaws of you two.
b These deities guard the fire when kindled; if he were not to offer libations to them, they would suck the Adhvaryu and the sacrificer; in that he offers these libations he soothes them with their proper portion; neither Adhvaryu nor sacrificer goes to ruin.
c Ye are missiles by name; your houses are in the east; your arrows are Agni; the water, &c.
Ye are smearers by name [3]; your houses are in the south, your arrows are the fathers; the ocean, &c.
Ye are the bearers of the bolt by name; your houses are in the west, your arrows are sleep; the cleft, &c.
Ye are the stable by name; your houses are in the north; your arrows are the waters; the sea, &c.
Ye are overlords by name; your houses are above; your arrows are the rain; the helper, &c.
Ye are the raw flesh eaters by name, of the earth; your houses are bore [4]; your arrows are food; winking is the name of the wind; to you homage; be ye gentle to us; him whom we hate and who hateth us I put in your jaws.
d Some gods eat the offerings, others do not; verily the piler of the fire delights both sets.
He offers these libations with curds mixed with honey; verily he delights them with their proper portion.
Or rather they say, The gods who eat not the oblations are the bricks [5].
He offers going round in order; verily he delights them completely.
e Suck this mighty breast of the waters, Filled in the midst of the flood, O Agni; Rejoice in the spring of sweetness, O ocean, Enter thy seat of the sea.
f If one having yoked the fire does not set it free, then just as a horse yoked and not set free in hunger is overcome, so his fire is overcome, and with it being overcome the sacrificer is overcome; he having piled the fire becomes aheat [6]; Suck this mighty breast of the waters (with these words) he offers a ladle full of butter; this is the freeing of the fire; verily setting it free he gives it food.
Therefore they say, both he who knows and he who knows not.
A horse well loaded carries well the horse is Agni; verily he delights him, he delighted delights him; he becomes richer.
The Horse Sacrifice (continued)
v. 5. 11.
To Indra, the king, a boar; to Varuna, the king, a black (antelope); to Yama, the king, a deer; to the bull, the king, a Gayal; to the tiger, the king, a Bos Gavaeus; to the king of men a monkey; for the swift falcon a quail; for the Nilangu (snake) a worm; for Soma, the king, a gazelle; for the ocean a crocodile; for the snowy mountain an elephant.
v. 5. 12.
The ape is for Prajapati; the owl, the Haliksna the cat, are for Dhatr; to Sarasvati the white starling, of human speech; the wild goat, the ichneumon, the Saka, these are for Pusan; the curlew to speech.
v. 5. 13.
To the offspring of waters a fish; the crocodile, the dolphin, the Kulikaya are for the ocean; to speech the Paingaraja; to Bhaga the sea crow; the swan, the Vahasa, the woodpecker, these are for Vayu; to the quarters the Cakravaka.
v. 5. 14.
To might, a boa constrictor; the mole, the Srjaya, the lizard, these are for Mitra; to death the dark (serpent); to wrath the viper; the pot nosed, the lotus sitter, the copper snake, these are for Tvastr; to the echo the Vahasa.
v. 5. 15.
The human beast to the moon; the lizard, the Kalaka, the woodpecker, these are for the trees; the dappled (deer) to day; the black (antelope) to night; the cuckoo, the Ksvinka, the black headed, these are (to be offered) to Aryaman; the crab for Dhatr.
v. 5. 16.
For the sun the crane; the deer, the peacock, the hawk, these are for the Gandharvas; for the Vasus the francolin partridge; for the Rudras the partridge; the red doe, the Kundrnaci, the Golattika, these are for the Apsarases; to the wood the Srmara.
v. 5. 17.
The dappled (deer) is for the All gods; the Pitva, Nyanku, the Kasa, these are (to be offered) to Anumati; the cuckoo is for the half months; the tortoise for the months; the Kvayi, the Kutaru, the gallinule, these are (to be offered) to Sinivali; to Brhaspati the cat.
v. 5. 18.
The Saka, is for earth; the field rat, the Kasa, the flying fox, these are for the fathers; the pole cat for the seasons; the quail to the year; the pigeon, the owl, the hare, these are for Nirrti; the cock for Savitr.
v. 5. 19.
The deer for Rudra; the chameleon, the bird, the Pippaka, these are (to be offered) to the arrow shot; the gazelle for the Maruts; the Sarga to the Brahman; the hyena, the black (deer), the dog of four eyes, the ass, these are for other men; to Agni the crow.
v.5.20.
The Alaja is for the atmosphere; the otter, the diver, the swimmer, these for the waters; to Aditi the Hansasaci; to Indrani the Kirsa; the vulture, the white breasted, the Vardhranasa, these are for the sky; the hedgehog is for sky and earth.
v. 5. 21.
The eagle for Parjanya; the swan, the wolf, the cat, these are for Indra; the otter for the waters; the jackal is (to be offered) to Aryaman; the lion, the ichneumon, the tiger, these are (to be offered) to great Indra; the rhinoceros to desire.
v. 5. 22.
For Agni the black necked; for Sarasvati the ewe; the brown one for Soma; the dark for Pusan; the white backed for Brhaspati; the variegated for the All gods; the ruddy one for Indra; the speckled one for the Maruts; the mixed one for Indra and Agni; the one spotted below for Savitr; the ram for Varuna.
v. 5. 23.
The horse, the hornless one, the Gayal, these are for Prajapati; for Agni the two with black necks; for Tvastr the two with hairy thighs; the two white backed for Brhaspati; to Dhatr the speckled bellied one; for the sun the white ram.
v. 5. 24.
To Agni of the front the red limbed ox; the two spotted below for Savitr; the two red navelled for Pusan; the two hornless tawny ones for the All gods; the speckled for the Maruts; the black goat for Agni the ewe for Sarasvati; the black ram with one white foot for Varuna.
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