________________
X KÂNDA, 4 ADHYÂYA, I BRAHMANA, 12. 345
11. And regarding this, Sândilya, having instructed Vâmakakshâyana', said, 'Thou wilt become eminent, famous, and an eater of food (rich); and, indeed, he who knows this becomes eminent, famous, and an eater of food.
12. And this Agni is no other than Pragâpati.
turned them out. In being turned out, they cried aloud, 'At a sacrifice of Ganamegaya, son of Parikshit, performed without the Kasyapas, the Asitamrigas from amongst the Kasyapas won the Soma-drink from the Bhutaviras (who were officiating). In them they had heroic men on their side: what hero is there amongst us who will win that Soma-drink?'-'Here is that hero of yours,' said Râma Margaveya. Râma Margaveya was a Syâparniya, learned in sacred lore. When they rose to leave, he said, 'O king, will they turn out of the sacrificial ground even one so learned as me?'-'Whoever thou art, what knowest thou, vile Brâhman?'— 'When the gods turned Indra away because he had outraged Tvashiri's son Visvarupa, and laid low Vritra, and thrown devotees before the jackals, and slain the Arurmaghas, and retorted on Brihaspati (the teacher of the gods)-then Indra was deprived of the Soma-cup; and along with him the Kshatriyas were deprived of the Soma-cup. By stealing the Soma from Tvashtri, Indra obtained a share in the Soma-cup, but to this day the Kshatriyas are deprived of the Soma-cup: how can they turn out from the sacrificial ground one who knows how the Kshatriya race can be put in possession of the Soma-cup from which they are deprived?' -'Knowest thou (how to procure) that drink, O Brahman?''I know it indeed.' 'Tell us then, O Brâhman?''To thee, O king, I will tell it,' he said. Ultimately the Syâparnas are reinstated in their sacrificial duties. Cf. R. Roth, Zur Litteratur und Geschichte des Weda, p. 118. At VI, 2, 1, 39, Syâparna Sâyakâyana was stated to have been the last who was in the habit of immolating five victims instead of two, as became afterwards the
custom.
1 In the succession of teachers of the doctrine of the fire-altar, given at the end of the present Kânda, Vâmakakshâyana is said to have received his instruction from Vâtsya, and the latter from Sândilya, who, in his turn, received it from Kusri. Cf. Weber, Ind. Stud. I, p. 259.
Digitized by
Google
