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Yajur Sama Atharvan Vedas

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THE YAJUR VEDA<br />

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sacrifices. He who knows thus [4] is propagated with offspring, with cattle, with pairings. These<br />

deities were not sacrificed to by the gods; then the Asuras were fain to harm the sacrifice. The gods<br />

divided the Gayatri, five syllables in front and three behind. Then the sacrifice was protected, and the<br />

sacrificer. In that the fore- and after-sacrifices are offered, protection is afforded to the sacrifice and<br />

to the sacrificer, for the overcoming of the enemy. Therefore a covering is larger in front and smaller<br />

behind. The gods thought that the sacrifice must be completed (in the fore-sacrifice) before the<br />

Raksases [5] with the cry of 'Hail!' They completed it with the cry of 'Hail!' in the fore-sacrifices.<br />

They split the sacrifice who complete it with the cry of 'Hail!' in the fore-sacrifices. Having offered<br />

the fore sacrifices he sprinkles the oblations, for the continuity of the sacrifice; then verily he makes<br />

the oblation, and then he proceeds in order. The fore-sacrifices are the father, the after-sacrifices the<br />

son; in that having offered the fore-sacrifices he sprinkles the oblations, the father makes common<br />

property with the son [6]. Therefore they say, who know it or who know not, 'How is it the son's only,<br />

how is the father's common?' That which spills when the fore-sacrifices are offered is not really spilt.<br />

The Gayatri conceives through it, and produces offspring and cattle for the sacrificer.<br />

ii. 6. 2.<br />

The two portions of the oblation are the eyes of the sacrifice. In that he offers the two portions of the<br />

oblation, he inserts the two eyes of the sacrifice. He offers in the front place; therefore the eyes are in<br />

front. He offers evenly; therefore the eyes are even. By Agni the sacrificer discerns the world of the<br />

gods, by Soma the world of the Pitrs; in the north part he offers to Agni, in the south to Soma, for<br />

these worlds are thus, as it were, to illumine these worlds. Agni and Soma are the kings of the gods<br />

[1]. They are sacrificed to between the gods, to separate the gods. Therefore men are separated by the<br />

king. The theologians say, 'What is it that the sacrificer does in the sacrifice to support both those<br />

animals which have incisors on one side only and those which have incisors on both?' When he has<br />

repeated a Rc, he makes an offering of the portion of the oblation with the jusana formula; by that<br />

means he supports those with incisors on one side only. When he has repeated a Rc, he makes an<br />

offering of the sacrificial food (havis) with a Rc; by that means he supports those with incisors on<br />

both sides. The Puronuvakya contains the word 'head'; verily he makes him head of his peers [2]. He<br />

offers with averse containing the word 'team' (niyut); verily he appropriates (ni-yu) the cattle of his<br />

enemy. Keçin Satyakami said to Keçin Darbhya, 'The seven-footed Çakvari I shall use for thee at the<br />

sacrifice to-morrow, by whose strength one defeats the enemies that have arisen and those that shall<br />

be, by the first half of whose strength the ox feeds, by the second half the cow.' The Puronuvakya is<br />

marked in front; verily he defeats the enemies that have arisen; the Yajya is marked behind [3]; verily<br />

he defeats the enemies that shall be. The Puronuvakya is marked in front; verily he places light in this<br />

world; the Yajya is marked behind; verily he places light in yonder world. Full of light become these<br />

worlds to him who knows thus. The Puronuvakya, is marked in front; therefore the ox feeds with the<br />

first half. The Yajya is marked behind; therefore the cow feeds with the second half. Him who knows<br />

thus these two enjoy. The oblation is a bolt, the portions of the oblation are a bolt [4], the Vasat call is<br />

a bolt; thus forges be a threefold bolt and hurls it at his foe, so as not to make a failure. He utters the<br />

Vasat call in anger, to lay low his foe. The Puronuvakya is the Gayatri, the Yajya the Tristubh; verily<br />

he makes the ruling class dependent on the priestly class; therefore the Brahman is the chief. The<br />

chief he becomes who knows thus. He proclaims him with the Puronuvakya, leads him forward with<br />

the Yajya, and makes him go with the Vasat call. He takes him with the Puronuvakya, he gives him<br />

with the Yajya, and [5] establishes him with the Vasat call. The Puronuvakya has three feet; these<br />

worlds are three; verily he finds support in these worlds. The Yajya has four feet; verily he wins four<br />

footed cattle. The Vasat call has two syllables, the sacrificer has two feet; verily afterwards he finds<br />

support in cattle. The Puronuvakya is the Gayatri, the Yajya, the Tristubh, and this is the sevenfooted<br />

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