Yajur Sama Atharvan Vedas

THE YAJUR VEDA
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months. He should perform an awl-shaped intermediate consecration who wishes, 'May there be
prosperity for me in this world', (that is) one to begin with, then two, then three, then four; this indeed
is the awl-shaped intermediate consecration; verily there is prosperity for him in this world. He
should perform an intermediate consecration broader at the top than below who wishes, 'May there be
prosperity for me in yonder world', (that is) four to begin with, then three, then two, then one; this
indeed is the intermediate consecration broader at the top than below; verily there is prosperity for
him in yonder world.
vi. 2. 4.
They go to the world of heaven who perform the Upasads. Of them he who takes out (a little food) is
left behind; one must take out carefully, (thinking) 'I have not taken out anything.' He who is left
behind wearied among those who go on their own mission sticks behind and lives at (home).
Therefore after once taking out, one should not take out a second time. One should take out of curd,
that is the symbol of cattle; verily by the symbol he wins cattle [1]. The sacrifice went away from the
gods in the form of Visnu, and entered the earth. The gods sought him grasping hands. Indra passed
over him. He said, 'Who has passed over me?' 'I am he who smites in the stronghold; who art thou?' 'I
am he who brings from the stronghold.' He said, 'Thou art called he who smites in the stronghold.
Now a boar, stealer of the good, [2] keeps the wealth of the Asuras which is to be won beyond the
seven hills. Him smite, if thou art he who smites in the stronghold.' He plucked out a bunch of
Darbha grass, pierced the seven hills, and smote him. He said, 'Thou art called he who brings from
the stronghold; bring him.' So the sacrifice bore off the sacrifice for them; in that they won the wealth
of the Asuras which was to be won (védyam), that alone is the reason why the Vedi is so called. The
Asuras [3] indeed at first owned the earth, the gods had so much as one seated can espy. The gods
said, 'May we also have a share in the earth?' 'How much shall we give you?' 'Give us as much as this
Salavrki can thrice run round.' Indra taking the form of a Salavrki thrice ran round on all sides the
earth. So they won the earth, and in that they won it therefore is the Vedi so called [4]. All this earth
is the Vedi, but they measure off and sacrifice on so much as they deem they can use. The back crossline
is thirty feet, the eastern line is thirty-six feet, the front cross-line is twenty-four feet. These make
up tens; the Viraj has ten syllables; the Viraj is food; verily by the Viraj he wins food. He digs up (the
earth); verily he digs away whatever in it is impure. He digs up; therefore the plants perish. He
spreads the sacrificial strew; therefore the plants again revive. He spreads over the strew the upper
strew. The strew is the people; the upper strew is the sacrificer; verily he makes the sacrificer higher
than the man who does not sacrifice; therefore the sacrificer is higher than the man who does not
sacrifice.
vi. 2. 5.
If a weak man take up a burden, he breaks up into pieces. If there were twelve Upasads in the oneday
rite, and three in the Ahina, the sacrifice would be upset. There are three Upasads in the one-day
rite, twelve in the Ahina, to preserve the strength of the sacrifice; thus it is in order. One teat (of the
cow) is used for a child, for that is fortunate. So he takes one teat for his milk drink, then two, then
three, then four. That [1] is the razor-edged drink by which he drives away his foes when born and
repels them when about to be born; verily also with the smaller he approaches the greater. He takes
the four teats first for his drink, then three, then two, then one. That is the drink called 'of a beatific
back', full of fervour, and of heavenly character; verily also is he propagated with children and cattle.
Gruel is the drink of the Rajanya; gruel is as it were harsh; the Rajanya is as it were harsh [2], it is the
symbol of the thunderbolt, (and serves) for success. Curds (is the drink) of the Vaiçya, it is the
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