________________
384
season, and autumn), viz. the Vaisvadeva generally on the full moon of Phalguna; the Varuna praghâsâh on that of Âshâdha;
and the Sâkamedhâh on that of Kârttika. As a fourth Kâturmâsya, ritual authorities add the Sunâsîrîya, though they are at variance as to the exact time of its performance; and neither is its true significance clearly indicated. It apparently marks merely the conclusion of the seasonal offerings (which, as a rule, are only performed once, cf. II, 6, 3, 12 seq.); but while the author of the Satapatha allows it to be performed at any time (within four months) after the Sâkamedhâh, other ritualists hold that its performance should take place on the fifth full moon after the Sâkamedhâh, or, in other words, exactly a year after the Vaisvadeva. See Weber, Nakshatra, II, p. 334 seq.
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
1. Verily, in the beginning, Pragâpati alone existed here1. He thought within himself, 'How can I be propagated?' He toiled and practised austerities. He created living beings 2. The living beings created by him passed away: they are those birds. Now man is the nearest to Pragâpati; and man is two-footed: hence birds are two-footed.
2. Pragâpati thought within himself, 'Even as formerly I was alone, so also am I now alone.' He created a second (race of beings); they also passed away: they are those small crawling reptiles other than snakes. He created a third (race), they say; they also passed away: they are those snakes. Yagnavalkya, on his part, declared them to be of two kinds only; but of three kinds they are according to the Rik.
3. While praising and practising austerities, Pragâ
1 Or, Pragâpati alone was this (universe). Cf. Muir, Original Sanskrit Texts, p. 70.
By pragâh, or (living) beings, mammalia-especially man and domestic animals-seem to be understood.
Digitized by
Google
