IV, 5, 5. Fifth Brâhma<I>n</I>a

Satapatha Brahmana Part II (SBE26), Julius Eggeling tr. [1885], at sacred-texts.com

4:5:5

FIFTH BRÂHMANA.

4:5:5:11. Pragâpati, forsooth, is that sacrifice which is performed here, and from which these creatures have been produced: and in like manner are they produced thereafter even to this day.

4:5:5:22. After the Upâmsu cup goats are produced. Now that (cup) is again employed in the sacrifice: hence creatures are here produced again and again.

4:5:5:33. After the Antâryama cup sheep are produced. Now that (cup) is again employed at the sacrifice: hence creatures are here produced again and again.

p. 407

4:5:5:44. And because of those two (cups) which are together he offers the Upâmsu first, therefore, of goats and sheep when they are together ¹, the goats go first, and the sheep behind them.

4:5:5:55. And because, having offered the Upâmsu, he wipes (the vessel) upwards, therefore these goats walk like nimbly ² climbing spokes.

4:5:5:66. And because, having offered the Antaryâma, he wipes (the vessel) downwards, therefore these sheep walk with their heads down, as if digging. Now they, the goats and sheep, are most conspicuously Pragâpati-like: whence, bringing forth thrice in the year, they produce two or three ³ (young ones).

4:5:5:77. After ⁴ the Sukra cup men are produced. Now that (cup) is again employed at the sacrifice: hence creatures are here produced again and again. But the Sukra (bright) is the same as he that burns yonder, and he indeed is Indra; and of animals, man is Indra-like ⁵: whence he rules over animals.

4:5:5:88. After the Ritu cup the one-hoofed species is produced. Now that (cup) is again employed in the sacrifice: hence creatures are here produced again and again. And such-like is the Ritu cup ⁶, and suchlike the head of the one-hoofed. The Âgrayana

p. 408

cup, the Ukthya cup, and the Âditya cup,--after them cows are produced. Now, these are again employed in the sacrifice: hence creatures are here produced again and again.

4:5:5:99. And because goats are produced after the fewest cups, therefore, though bringing forth thrice in a year, producing two or three, (they are) very few, for they are produced after the fewest cups.

4:5:5:1010. And because cows are produced after the most cups, therefore, though bringing forth once in a year, and producing one each time, (they are) most numerous, for they are produced after the most cups.

4:5:5:1111. Then, in the Dronakalasa (trough) he finally draws the Hâriyogana graha. Now, the Dronakalasa is Pragâpati;--he turns unto these creatures, and fosters them, and kisses them ¹: he fosters them in that he produces them.

4:5:5:1212. Now, these same cups after which creatures are produced, are five,--those of the Upâmsu and Antaryâma (counting as) one and the same, the Sukra cup, the Ritu cup, the Âgrayana cup, and the Ukthya cup; for there are five seasons in the year, and Pragâpati is the year, and the sacrifice is Pragâpati. But if there be six seasons in the year, then the Âditya cup is the sixth of them.

4:5:5:1313. But indeed there is only that one cup after which creatures are produced here, to wit, the Upâmsu cup; for the Upâmsu is breath, and Pragâpati is breath, and everything here is after Pragâpati.

Footnotes

407:1 That is, in mixed flocks. In the compound 'agâvika' (Kânv. agâvayah, αἶγες καὶ ὄϊες) also the goats come first.

407:2 Perhaps 'ara' has to be taken in the sense of 'quick, nimble,' instead of 'spokes,' and 'dîtara' might mean 'flying up,' 'popping up their heads,' as opposed to 'avâkînasîrshan.'

407:3 ? Or, three (times) two, 'dvau trîn iti;' the Kânva text reads (of goats alone) 'trîms trîn.'

407:4 Or, along with, correspondingly with, anu.

407:5 Or, connected with Indra, Indra's own (aindra).

407:6 The two Ritupâtras are shaped like spoon-bowls, with spouts on both sides.

408:1 Or, smells, sniffs at them (as a cow does the calf).