Satapatha Bramhana Part 03

SR No.: 007679
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Julius Eggeling
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1894
Total Pages: 2382
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 45 MB

Page 1019

476
amulet of târkha1 is put on, an oblation (of ingida-oil, Kaus. 47, 3) is poured, and fagots (of vadhaka-wood, Kaus. 47, 13; cf. AV. VIII, 8, 3) are laid on the fire. The practice is based upon symbolic realisations of suggestions contained in the hymn 2.
HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA.
Previous translations: Grill, pp. 25, 161 ff.; Florenz, Bezzenberger's Beiträge, XII, 297. The Anukramanî,
kândramasam.
Stanza 1.
a. For the epithet 'thousand-eyed,' see the note on IV, 20, 4, and especially VI, 26, 3. Sâyana identifies it outright with Indra, indrah sapathah sâpakriyâyâh kartâ.
Stanza 2.
d. The sentiment of this Pâda and of the first hemistich of the next stanza are worked up anew in VII, 59. That mantra is accompanied, Kaus. 47, 37, by an interesting practice: wood from a tree struck by lightning is put on the fire, to symbolise the destruction of the enemy by lightning.
Stanza 3.
c. péshtram may mean 'flesh' rather than 'bone,' in accordance with our note on IV, 12, 2. Sâyana reads peshtam (pishtamayam khâdyam). For ávakshâmam (Padapâtha, áva-kshâmam) we have ventured a new interpretation, 'down upon the ground,' from ava and kshâman 'ground.' Sâyana, avadagdham; Pet. Lex., 'abfindung' ('sop'); Grill, 'brocken;' Florenz, 'knochenrest;' Böht
According to Dârila 'an amulet consisting of a bone' (? asthikamani; cf. pésh/ram in st. 3); according to Kesava and Sâyana 'an amulet of palâsa-wood.' Cf. the mantra in Kaus. 13, 12.
2 Sâyana thinks that st. 3 is referred to in Kaus. 47, 37 under the pratîka, yó nah sápât. But the lightning is not mentioned in st. 3, but rather in st. 2. Hence the little hymn VII, 59 is doubtless the one intended at Kaus. 47, 37: it consists of sentiments contained in VI, 37, 3 and 2, and begins also with the words, yo nah sápât.
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