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Satapatha Brahmana Part V (SBE44), Julius Eggeling tr. [1900], at sacred-texts.com


13:1:5

FIFTH BRÂHMANA.

13:1:5:11. But, indeed, distinction, royal sway, departs from him who performs the horse-sacrifice; and when a man attains to distinction, the lute is played to him. Two Brâhmanical lute-players sing (and play) for a year; for that--to wit, the lute--is a form (attribute) of distinction: it is distinction they thus confer upon him.

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13:1:5:22. Concerning this they say, ‘Were both to be Brâhmanas who sing, noble rank (or political power) would depart from him; for he--to wit, a Brâhmana--is a form of the priestly office; and the nobility takes no delight in the priestly office (or priesthood).

13:1:5:33. ‘And were both to be Râganyas (nobles), spiritual lustre would depart from him; for he--to wit, the Râganya--is a form of noble rank, and spiritual lustre takes no delight in noble rank.' One of those who sing is a Brâhmana, and the other a Râganya; for the Brâhmana means priestly office, and the Râganya noble rank: thus his distinction (social position) comes to be guarded on either side by the priesthood and the nobility.

13:1:5:44. Concerning this they say, ‘Were both to sing by day, his distinction would be apt to fall away from him: for that--to wit, the day--is a form of the priestly dignity; and when the king chooses he may oppress (despoil) the Brâhmana, but he will fare the worse (or, become the poorer) for it.

13:1:5:55. 'And if both (were to sing) at night, spiritual lustre would fall away from him; for that--to wit, the night--is a form of the nobility, and spiritual lustre takes no delight in the nobility.' The Brâhmana sings by day 1, and the Râganya at night 2; and thus, indeed, his distinction comes to be guarded on either side by the priesthood and the nobility 3.

13:1:5:66. 'Such sacrifices he offered,--such gifts he gave!' such (are the topics about which) the

p. 287

[paragraph continues] Brâhmana sings 1; for to the Brâhmana belongs the fulfilment of wishes 2: it is with the fulfilment of wishes he (the Brâhmana) thus endows him (the Sacrificer). 'Such war he waged,--such battle he won!' such (are the topics about which) the Râganya sings; for the battle is the Râganya's strength: it is with strength he thus endows him. Three stanzas the one sings, and three stanzas the other, they amount to six,--six seasons make up a year: he thus establishes (the Sacrificer) in the seasons, in the year. To both of them he presents a hundred; for man has a life of a hundred (years), and a hundred energies: it is vitality and energy, vital power, he confers upon him.


Footnotes

286:1 Viz. at the fore-offerings of the three cake-offerings (ishtis) to Savitri; whilst staying in the south part of the sacrificial ground.

286:2 Viz. during the performance of the Dhritis after sunset.

286:3 The 'iti' at the end belongs to the following paragraph.

287:1 Cf. XIII, 4, 2, 8.


Next: XIII, 1, 6. Sixth Brâhmana