Satapatha Bramhana Part 05

SR No.: 007680
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Julius Eggeling
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1900
Total Pages: 2017
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 44 MB

Page 169

XI KÂNDA, 6 ADHYÂYA, 3 BRÂHMANA, 4. 115
be offered. The son who is born therefrom is the renascent world: this is the Agnihotra, Yagñavalkya, there is nothing higher than this.' Thus he spoke; and Yagñavalkya granted him a boon. He said, “Let mine be the (privilege of) asking questions of thee when I list, Yagñavalkya !' Thenceforth Ganaka was a Brahman.
THIRD BRAHMANA, 1. Ganaka of Videha performed a sacrifice accompanied with numerous gifts to the priests. Setting apart a thousand cows, he said, “He who is the most learned in sacred writ amongst you, O Brâhmanas, shall drive away these (cows) 1!'
2. Yâgñavalkya then said, 'This way (drive) them!' They said, 'Art thou really the most learned in sacred writ amongst us, Yagñavalkya ?' He replied, 'Reverence be to him who is most learned in sacred writ! We are but hankering after cows ?
3. They then said (to one another), Which of us shall question him?' The shrewd Såkalya said, 'I!' When he (Yagñavalkya) saw him, he said, 'Have the Brâhmanas made of thee a thing for quenching the firebrand, Sâkalya ?'
4. He said, 'How many gods are there, Yagñavalkya ?'—'Three hundred and three, and three thousand and three,' he replied.— Yea, so it is !' he said. "How many gods are there really, Yagñavalkya ?'—'Thirty-three.'— Yea, so it is !' he said.
* One might also construe,—These are yours, O Brahmanas: he who is the most learned in sacred writ shall drive (them) away. Cf. Delbrück, Altind. Syntax, pp. 251, 363.
* Gokama eva kevalam vayam smah bhavâmah, Sây. * See XIV, 6, 9, i seqq.
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