Yajur Sama Atharvan Vedas

THE YAJUR VEDA
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symbol of the sacrifice of cooked food, (and serves) for prosperity. Milk (is the drink) of the
Brahman, the Brahman is brilliance, milk is brilliance; verily by brilliance he endows himself with
brilliance and milk. Again by milk foetuses grow; the man who is consecrated is as it were a foetus;
in that milk is his drink, verily thus he causes himself to grow. Manu was wont thrice to take drink,
the Asuras twice, the gods once [3]. Morning, midday, evening, were the times of Manu's drinking,
the symbol of the sacrifice of cooked food, (serving) for prosperity. Morning and evening were those
of the Asuras, without a middle, a symbol of hunger; thence were they overcome. Midday and
midnight were those of the gods; thence they prospered and went to the world of heaven. Now with
regard to his drinking at midday and at midnight, it is in the middle that people feed themselves;
verily he places strength in the middle of himself, for the overcoming of his foes. He prospers himself
[4], his foe is overcome. Now the man who is consecrated is a foetus, the consecration-shed is the
womb (in which he is). If the man who is consecrated were to leave the consecration-shed, it would
be as when a foetus falls from the womb. He must not leave, to guard himself. The fire here is a tiger
to guard the house. Therefore if the man who is consecrated were to leave (the shed), he would be
likely to spring up and slay him. He must not leave, to protect himself. He lies on the right side; that
is the abode of the sacrifice; verily he lies in his own abode. He lies turned towards the fire; verily he
lies turned towards the gods and the sacrifice.
vi. 2. 6.
On a place of sacrifice where the sacrifice faces the east should he make him to sacrifice for whom he
wishes, 'May the higher sacrifice condescend to him, may he gain the world of heaven.' That is the
place of sacrifice where the sacrifice faces the east, where the Hotr as be recites the Prataranuvaka
gazes upon the fire, water, and the sun. To him the higher sacrifice condescends, he gains the world
of heaven. On a contiguous (aptá) place of sacrifice should he make him to sacrifice who has foes.
He should make it touch the road or a pit so that neither a wagon nor a chariot can go between [1].
That is a contiguous place of sacrifice. He conquers (apnoti) his foe, his foe conquers him not. On a
place of sacrifice which is elevated in one place he should make him to sacrifice who desires cattle.
The Angirases produced cattle from a place of sacrifice elevated in one place. It should be elevated
between the seat and the oblation-holders. That is a place of sacrifice elevated in one place; verily he
becomes possessed of cattle. On a place of sacrifice which is elevated in three places should he make
him to sacrifice who desires heaven. The Angirases went to the world of heaven from a place of
sacrifice elevated in three places. It should be elevated between the Ahavaniya fire and the oblation
holder [2], between the oblation-holder and the seat, and between the seat and the Garhapatya fire.
That is a place of sacrifice elevated in three places; verily he goes to the world of heaven. On a place
of sacrifice which is firm should he make him to sacrifice who desires support. That is a place of
sacrifice which is firm, which is level on all sides; verily he finds, support. Where diverse plants are
intertwined, there should he make him sacrifice who desires cattle. That is the form of cattle; verily
by the form he wins cattle for him [3]; verily be becomes possessed of cattle. On a place of sacrifice
seized by destruction should he make him to sacrifice for whom he desires, 'May I cause his sacrifice
to be seized by destruction.' That is a place of sacrifice seized by destruction where there is a bare
patch of level ground; verily he causes his sacrifice to be seized by destruction. On a place of
sacrifice which is distinctly marked should he cause him to sacrifice regarding whom they have
doubts as to (admitting him to) common meals or to marriage. It should be sloping east of the
Ahavaniya and west of the Garhapatya. That is a place of sacrifice which is distinctly marked, be is
distinguished from his evil foe, they doubt not of him for common meal or wedding. On a place of
sacrifice which is artificial should he make him sacrifice who desires wealth. Man must be made;
verily he prospers.
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