1:19One MessageMany witnesses · one GOD
← Opening the book…
Plain text of Kanda 2 · ii. 6. 2

The two portions of the oblation are the eyes of the sacrifice. In that he offers the two portions of the oblation, he inserts the two eyes of the sacrifice. He offers in the front place; therefore the eyes are in front. He offers evenly; therefore the eyes are even. By the light of the Radiant the sacrificer discerns the world of the angels, by the provision the world of the ancestors; in the north part he offers to the Radiant, in the south to the provision, for these worlds are thus, as it were, to illumine these worlds. They are sacrificed to between the angels, to separate the angels. Therefore men are separated by the king. The theologians say, "What is it that the sacrificer does in the sacrifice to support both those animals which have incisors on one side only and those which have incisors on both?" When he has repeated a Rik, he makes an offering of the portion of the oblation with the Yajus formula; by that means he supports those with incisors on one side only. When he has repeated a Rik, he makes an offering of the sacrificial food with a Rik; by that means he supports those with incisors on both sides. The Puronuvakya contains the word "head"; thus he makes him head of his peers. He offers with a verse containing the word "team" (niyut); thus he appropriates (ni-yu) the cattle of his enemy. Keshin Satyakami said to Keshin Darbhya, "The seven-footed Shakvari I shall use for thee at the sacrifice tomorrow, by whose strength one defeats the enemies that have arisen and those that shall be, by the first half of whose strength the ox feeds, by the second half the cow." The Puronuvakya is marked in front; thus he defeats the enemies that have arisen; the Yajya is marked behind; thus he defeats the enemies that shall be. The Puronuvakya is marked in front; thus he places light in this world; the Yajya is marked behind; thus he places light in yonder world. Full of light become these worlds to him who knows thus. The Puronuvakya is marked in front; therefore the ox feeds with the first half. The Yajya is marked behind; therefore the cow feeds with the second half. Him who knows thus these two enjoy. The oblation is a bolt, the portions of the oblation are a bolt, the Vasat call is a bolt; thus he forges a threefold bolt and hurls it at his foe, so as not to make a failure. The Puronuvakya is the Gayatri, the Yajya the Tristubh; thus he makes the ruling class dependent on the scholars; therefore the scholar is the chief. The chief he becomes who knows thus. He proclaims him with the Puronuvakya, leads him forward with the Yajya, and makes him go with the Vasat call. He takes him with the Puronuvakya, he gives him with the Yajya, and establishes him with the Vasat call. The Puronuvakya has three feet; these worlds are three; thus he finds support in these worlds. The Yajya has four feet; thus he wins four-footed cattle. The Vasat call has two syllables, the sacrificer has two feet; thus afterwards he finds support in cattle. The Puronuvakya is the Gayatri, the Yajya the Tristubh, and this is the seven-footed Shakvari. Whatever the angels were fain to do by it, that they were able to do; one who knows thus can do whatever he is fain to do.