Satapatha-Brâhmana, Part 49

BY: SUN STAFF

A serial presentation of the Satapatha Brahmana, translated by Julius Eggeling in 1882.

First Kânda - The Darsapûrnamâsa-Ishtî or New And Full-Moon Sacrifices

Eighth Adhyâya – First Brâhmana, Part One

THE IDÂ

1:8:1:1 - 1. In the morning they brought to Manu [1] water for washing, just as now also they (are wont to) bring (water) for washing the hands. When he was washing himself, a fish came into his hands.

1:8:1:2 - 2. It spake to him the word, 'Rear me, I will save thee!' 'Wherefrom wilt thou save me?' 'A flood will carry away all these creatures [2]: from that I will save thee!' 'How am I to rear thee?'

1:8:1:3 - 3. It said, 'As long as we are small, there is great destruction for us: fish devours fish. Thou wilt first keep me in a jar. When I outgrow that, thou wilt dig a pit and keep me in it. When I outgrow that, thou wilt take me down to the sea, for then I shall be beyond destruction.'

1:8:1:4 - 4. It soon became a ghasha (a large fish); for that grows largest (of all fish) [3]. Thereupon it said, 'In such and such a year that flood will come. Thou shalt then attend to me (i.e. to my advice) by preparing a ship [1]; and when the flood has risen thou shalt enter into the ship, and I will save thee from it.'

1:8:1:5 - 5. After he had reared it in this way, he took it down to the sea. And in the same year which the fish had indicated to him, he attended to (the advice of the fish) by preparing a ship; and when the flood had risen, he entered into the ship. The fish then swam up to him, and to its horn he tied the rope of the ship, and by that means he [2] passed swiftly up to yonder northern mountain.

1:8:1:6 - 6. It then said, 'I have saved thee. Fasten the ship to a tree; but let not the water cut thee off [3], whilst thou art on the mountain. As the water subsides, thou mayest gradually descend!' Accordingly he gradually descended, and hence that (slope) of the northern mountain is called 'Alarm's descent [1].' The flood then swept away all these creatures, and Manu alone remained here.

1:8:1:7 - 7. Being desirous of offspring, he engaged in worshipping and austerities. During this time he also performed a pâka-sacrifice: he offered up in the waters clarified butter, sour milk, whey, and curds. Thence a woman was produced in a year: becoming quite solid [2] she rose; clarified butter gathered in her footprint. Mitra and Varuna met her.

1:8:1:8 - 8. They said to her, 'Who art thou?' 'Manu's daughter,' she replied. 'Say (thou art) ours,' they said. 'No,' she said, 'I am (the daughter) of him who begat me.' They desired to have a share in her. She either agreed or did not agree [3], but passed by them. She came to Manu.

1:8:1:9 - 9. Manu said to her, 'Who art thou?' 'Thy daughter,' she replied. 'How, illustrious one, (art thou) my daughter?' he asked. She replied, 'Those offerings (of) clarified butter, sour milk, whey, and curds, which thou madest in the waters, with them thou hast begotten me. I am the blessing (benediction): make use of me at the sacrifice! If thou wilt make use of me at the sacrifice, thou wilt become rich in offspring and cattle. Whatever blessing thou shalt invoke through me, all that shall be granted to thee!' He accordingly made use of her (as the benediction) in the middle of the sacrifice; for what is intermediate between the fore-offerings and the after-offerings, is the middle of the sacrifice.

1:8:1:10 - 10. With her he went on worshipping and performing austerities, wishing for offspring. Through her he generated this race, which is this race of Manu; and whatever blessing he invoked through her, all that was granted to him.

1:8:1:11 - 11. Now this (daughter of Manu) is essentially the same as the Idâ; and whosoever, knowing this, performs with (the) Idâ [1], he propagates this race which Manu generated; and whatever blessing he invokes through it (or her), all that is granted to him.

1:8:1:12 - 12. It (the idâ) consists of a fivefold cutting; for the idâ, doubtless, means cattle, and cattle consist of five parts [2]: for this reason it (the idâ) consists of a fivefold cutting.

1:8:1:13 - 13. When he (the Adhvaryu) has cut off the idâ piece by piece [3], and broken off the fore-part of the cake (for the sacrificer's portion), he puts it (the latter) down (on the barhis) before the dhruvâ-spoon. Having then handed over the former (the idâ) to the Hotri [1], he passes by him towards the south.

1:8:1:14 - 14. He anoints the Hotri here [2] (with clarified butter taken from the idâ); and with it the Hotri anoints his lips, with the text, 'Of thee, offered by the lord of the mind, I eat for sap, for out-breathing!'

1:8:1:15 - 15. He then anoints the Hotri here [2]; and with it the Hotri anoints his lips, with the text, 'Of thee, offered by the lord of speech, I eat for strength, for in-breathing!'