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Aitareya Aranyaka. I, 1, 1

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"The Upanishads, Part 1 (sbe01)\", by Max Mller, [1879],

p. 154 p. 155

Aitareya-ra
\"N"YAKA.

p. 156 p. 157

First Ra
\"N"Yaka.

First Adhyya.

First Kha
\"N"D"A.

1. Now follows the Mahvrata ceremony.

2.
After having killed V"ri"tra, Indra became great. When he became great, then there was the Mahvrata (the great work). This is why the Mahvrata ceremony is called Mahvrata.

3.
Some people say: 'Let the priest make two (recitations with the offering of the) "g"ya (ghee) on that day,' but the right thing is one 1.

4.
He who desires prosperity should use the hymn, pra vo devygnaye (Rv. Iii, 13, 1).

5.
He who desires increase should use the hymn, vi"s"o vi"s"o atithim (Rv. Viii, 74, 1).

p. 158

6.
The people (visa"h") indeed are increase 1, and therefore he (the sacrificer) becomes increased.

7.
But (some say), there is the word atithim (in that hymn, which means a guest or stranger, asking for food). Let him not therefore take that hymn. Verily, the atithi (stranger) is able 2 to go begging.

8.
'No,' he said, 'let him take that hymn.

9.
'For he who follows the good road and obtains distinction, he is an atithi (guest) 3.

10.
'They do not consider him who is not so, worthy to be (called) an atithi (guest).

11.
'Therefore let him by all means take that hymn.'

12.
If he takes that hymn, let him place the (second) tristich, ganma v"ri"trahantamam, 'we came near to the victorious,' first.

13.
For people worship the whole year (performing the Gavmayana sacrifice) wishing for this day (the last but one)--they do come near.

14.
The (next following) three tristichs begin with an Anush"t"ubh 4. Now Brahman is Gyatr, speech is Anush"t"ubh. He thus joins speech with Brahman.

15.
He who desires glory should use the hymn, abodhy agni"h" samidh gannm (Rv. V, 1, 1).

p. 159

16.
He who desires offspring and cattle should use the hymn, hot"g"anishta "k"etana"h" (Rv. Ii, 5, 1).

Footnotes

157:1
That it should be one only is proved from the types, i. e. from other sacrifices, that have to be followed in the performance of the Mahvrata. The first type is the Agnish"t"oma, where one "s"astra is enjoined as "g"ya"s"astra, viz. pra vo devygnaye. In the Vi"s"va"g"it, which has to follow the Agnish"t"oma, another hymn is put in its place, viz. agni"m" naro ddhitibhi"h". In the Mahvrata, which has to follow the Vi"s"va"g"it, some people recommend the use of both these hymns. But that is wrong, for there must be in the sacrifices which follow the Agnish"t"oma twelve "s"astras altogether; and if there were two here, instead of one, we should get a total of thirteen.

158:1
The word visa"h", which occurs in the hymn, means people. The commentator says that because the Vai"s"yas or tradespeople increase their capital, therefore they are called increase.

158:2
Able, or liable; cf. Ait. r. Ii, 3, 5, 7.

158:3
Atithi is here explained by yo bhavati, and bhavati is explained as walking on the good road. One expects yo v atati. The obtaining of distinction is probably derived from ati, above, in atithi.

158:4
In the first and second the Anush"t"ubh is followed by two Gyatrs.
veda sama veda atharva veda| veda sama veda atharva veda
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