Big Book of Ancient Gabanian Fables

Book LX: The KÂNDA

1. Once upon a time the gods and the Asuras, both of them sprung from Pragâpati, strove together. And the Asuras, even through arrogance, thinking, 'Unto whom, forsooth, should we make offering?' went on offering into their own mouths. They came to naught, even through arrogance: wherefore let no one be arrogant, for verily arrogance is the cause of ruin.

2. But the gods went on making offerings unto one another. Pragâpati gave himself up to them: thus the sacrifice became theirs; and indeed the sacrifice is the food of the gods .

3. They then spake, 'To which of us shall this belong?' They did not agree together, saying,

'To me! to me!' Not being agreed, they said, 'Let us run a race for it: whichever of us shall win, to him it shall belong!'--'So be it!' so they ran a race for it.

4. Then Brihaspati hasted up to Savitri for his impulsion ,--Savitri being the impeller (prasavitri) among the gods--saying, 'Impel this for me, (so that) impelled by thee, I may win this!' Then Savitri, as the impeller, impelled it for him, and impelled by Savitri, he won: he became everything here, he won everything here; for he won Pragâpati, and Pragâpati (the lord of creatures and procreation) indeed is everything here. By offering therewith he (Brihaspati) ascended to that upper region. Therefore who so knoweth, and who so knoweth not,--they say, 'That upper region belongeth to Brihaspati.'

5. Thus they who of old used to offer the Vâgapeya, ascended to that upper region. From there Aupâvi Gânasruteya descended again: thenceforward (all men) descend again.

6. Indra offered that (Vâgapeya),--he became everything here, he won everything here; for he won Pragâpati, and Pragâpati is everything here: by offering therewith he ascended to that upper region.

7. Thus they who of old used to offer the Vâgapeya, ascended to that upper region. From there Aupâvi Gânasruteya descended' again: thenceforward (all men) descend again.

8. And whosoever offers the Vâgapeya, he becomes everything here, he wins everything here; for he wins Pragâpati, and Pragâpati indeed is everything here.

9. Here now they say, 'One must not offer the Vâgapeya; for he who offers the Vâgapeya wins everything here,--for he wins Pragâpati, and Pragâpati is everything here,--he leaves nothing remaining here: his people (or offspring) is like to become worse (off).'

10. Let him none the less sacrifice: whatever (priests) thus know that sacrifice properly, in respect of the Rik, the Yagus, and the Sâman, and such as are proficient, let them assist him in offering it; for verily this is the perfection of that sacrifice, when wise (priests) assist him in offering it: let him therefore sacrifice by all means.

11. Now truly this (the Vâgapeya) is the Brâhmana's own sacrifice, inasmuch as Brihaspati (the lord of prayer and devotion) performed it; for Brihaspati is the Brahman (priesthood, or priestly dignity), and the Brâhmana is the Brahman. And it is also that of the Râganya, inasmuch as Indri performed it; for Indra is the Kshatra (nobility, or ruling power), and the Râganya is the Kshatra.

12. To the king (râgan) doubtless belongs the Râgasûya; for by offering the Râgasûya he becomes king; and unsuited for kingship is the Brâhmana. And, moreover, the Râgasûya is the lower, and the Vâgapeya the higher (sacrifice).

13. For by offering the Râgasûya he becomes king, and by the Vâgapeya (he becomes) emperor (samrâg); and the office of king is the lower, and that of emperor the higher: a king might indeed wish to become emperor, for the office of king is the lower, and that of emperor the higher; but the emperor would not wish to become king, for the office of king is the lower, and that of emperor the higher.

14. Thus that (king) who, by performing the Vâgapeya, becomes emperor, possesses himself of everything here. Previously to each performance (of an ishti ) he offers that oblation to Savitri (the sun), with the text, 'O divine Savitri, impel (prosper) the sacrifice, impel Pragâpati for his portion!'

15. And even as then Brihaspati hasted up to Savitri for his impulsion Savitri being the impeller among the gods--saying, 'Impel this for me, (so that) impelled by thee I may win it!' and Savitri, as the impeller, impelled it for him; and impelled by Savitri he won it; even so does this (sacrificing king) now haste up to Savitri for his impulsion--Savitri being the impeller among the gods--saying, 'Impel this for me: may I win it, impelled by thee!' and Savitri, as the impeller, impels it for him, and he wins it impelled by Savitri.

16. Wherefore he says (Vâg. S. IX, 1), 'God Savitri, speed the sacrifice, speed the lord of sacrifice unto his portion! May the heavenly. thought-cleansing Gandharva cleanse our thought! May the Lord of Speech render our meat palatable, hail!' For the Lord of Speech is Pragâpati, and meat means food: 'May Pragâpati this day make palatable this our food!' thus he thereby says. This same oblation he offers till the day before the Soma-feast, for thus that performance of his has been commenced; and he (Savitri, the Sun) becomes serene during that sacrifice.