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II KÂNDA, I ADHYÂYA, 3 BRÂHMANA, 4.
289
THIRD BRÂHMANA. 1. The spring, the summer, and the rains, these seasons (represent) the gods; and the autumn, the winter, and the dewy season represent the fathers.
That half-moon which increases represents the gods, and that which decreases represents the fathers. The day represents the gods, and the night represents the fathers. And, further, the forenoon represents the gods, and the afternoon the fathers.
2. Those seasons, then, are the gods and the fathers; and whosoever, knowing this, invokes them as the gods and fathers, with his invocation of the gods the gods comply, and with his invocation of the fathers the fathers comply. Him the gods favour at his invocation of the gods, and him the fathers favour at his invocation of the fathers, whosoever, knowing this, invokes (the seasons) as the gods and fathers.
3. Now when he (the sun) moves northwards, then he is among the gods, then he guards the gods; and when he moves southwards, then he is among the fathers, then he guards the fathers?
4. When he (the sun) moves northwards, then one may set up his fires ;--the gods have the evil dis
yadyu nakshatrakâmah syâd upo âsita nakshatram ahâsya bhavati no etasyânudayo 'sti tasmad v apy upaina(m â)sita, 'he need therefore not attend to any nakshatra ; but may set up his fires at any time when that (sun) rises, for he (the sun) is all the kshatras. Should he nevertheless be desirous of a nakshatra, let him approach (the sun) with veneration; for then there is a nakshatra for him, and that (sun) does not fail to rise : for this reason let him approach (the sun) with veneration.'
According to the Kanva text, it is the rising sun, that guards the god-seasons and father-seasons respectively.
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