Dhammapada

SR No.: 007674
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Max Muller
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1881
Total Pages: 2540
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 45 MB

Page 943

I KÂNDA, 4 ADHYAYA, I BRÂHMANA, 36.
111
harakshas", for the Asuras. She then followed Agni: he therefore recites, Agni we choose for messenger,' because he was the messenger of the gods. — As Hotri the all-knowing, him!'
35. Here now some people recite, 'He who is the Hotri of the all-knowing? ;' lest (in saying 'for Hotri, the all-knowing, him') one should say to oneself enough (i.e. have done)!' This, however, he should not do; for by (doing) so they do at the sacrifice what is human; and what is human, is inauspicious at a sacrifice. Therefore, lest he should do what is inauspicious at the sacrifice, he should recite, just as it is recited by the Rik, 'for Hotri, the all-knowing, him!' [He continues),
Performing well this sacrifice!' for he, Agni, is indeed a good performer of the sacrifice : for this reason he says, 'performing well this sacrifice.' She (gayatri, or the earth) sided with the gods, and the gods thereupon were victorious and the Asuras were defeated : and verily he for whom, knowing this, they recite this (verse), is himself victorious and his adversaries are defeated.
36. He therefore recites this, the eighth (sâmidheni). This, indeed, is peculiarly a gâyatri verse, since it is of eight syllables that the gâyatri (metre) consists : for this reason he recites the eighth (sâmidheni).
1 Cf. the corresponding passage in Taitt. S. II, 5, 11, 8, where Daivya is given as the name of the messenger of the Asuras.
. That is to say, instead of Hotâram visvavedasam,' they recite 'Hotâ yo visvavedasah;' for the reason that Hotaram (accusative of hotri) might be understood to be 'hotâ aram,' aram, enough,' being a particle implying a prohibition. Our author, however, promptly sets his face against this application of human reasoning to an inspired text.
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