Upnishad

SR No.: 007670
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Max Muller
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1879
Total Pages: 1835
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 35 MB

Page 1376

xlvi
SATAPATHA-BRÂHMANA.
differences may be mentioned the form 'nililye,' which occurs once in the Mâdhyandina text (1, 2, 3, 1), and is otherwise only found in the Mahâbhârata ; while the Kanva recension has the periphrastic form (nilayam kakre), which the Mâdhyandina text also offers in the other two cases (I, 6, 4, 1; IV,1,3,1) in which the word occurs. On the other hand, the Kanvas seem to read invariably 'atmani (dhå or kri),' where the Madhyandinas have 'atman,' which is also (doubtless on metrical grounds) the more usual formation in the Rig-veda?. Of cases of material differences I can only at present adduce the passage I, 1, 4, 12 (M.), where the Madhyandina text is guilty of a transposition of the second and third castes, while that of the Kanvas gives them in the proper order. Though most of these points of difference between the two schools would seem to tell in favour of the higher antiquity of the Kanva text, there will always be great difficulty in deciding this question, as it is by no means impossible that these variations are entirely due to different local or family traditions. In favour of the latter alternative one or two other points may be mentioned. The Mâdhyandina text, as has already been remarked, offers not a few grammatical and other differences between the first five and the succeeding four kândas, or, as we may say, between the Yagñavalkya and the Sandilya books of the Shashtipatha. Though I cannot speak with confidence on this point, as I have not yet examined the Kanva text of the Såndilya kandas, I may refer here to at least two points in which the Kanvas, in the Yagñavalkya portion, agree with the Sandilya portion of the Madhyandina text, viz. the use of the imperfect (aspardhanta) instead of the perfect (paspridhire) in the opening clause of legends; and the frequent employment of the particle 'vava' in the place of vai.'
As regards the present translation of the first two kandas.
1 Another curious feature of the Kanva text is the frequent insertion of an ity uváka' in the middle of speeches, much like the colloquial says he. As an instance I may adduce K. IV, 2, 3, 3 (M. III, 2, 3, 5) :-Sâ hováka 'ham eva vo yagñam amûmuham iti hovâka yad eva mayi tanyânâ iti mâm yagħad antaragâta tenaiva vo yagnam amumuham iti te mahyam nu bhagam kalpayatety atha vo yagrah prarokishyata iti tatheti hokus, &c. The Kanvas also insert much more frequently an .iti' in the middle of speeches.
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