०८

अथ यदौदुम्बर्यासन्दी भवत्यौदुम्बरश्चमस उदुम्बरशाखोर्ग्वा अन्नाद्यमुदुम्बरः ।

(The Symbolical Meaning of the Different Implements and Liquids required for the Inauguration Ceremony. The Drinking of Spirituous Liquor (surâ) by the King.)

The reason that the throne-seat, the ladle, and the branch is of the Udumbara tree is because the Udumbara is vigour and a nourishing substance.

अथ यदौदुम्बर्यासन्दी भवत्यौदुम्बरश्चमस उदुम्बरशाखोर्ग्वा अन्नाद्यमुदुम्बरः ।

ऊर्जमेवास्मिंस्तदन्नाद्यं दधाति ।

The priest thus places vigour in him (the Kings) as his nourishing substance.

ऊर्जमेवास्मिंस्तदन्नाद्यं दधाति ।

अथ यद्दधि मधु घृतं भवत्यपां स ओषधीनां रसः ।

As to curds, honey, and melted butter, they represent the liquid (essence) in the waters and herbs.

अथ यद्दधि मधु घृतं भवत्यपां स ओषधीनां रसः ।

अपामेवास्मिंस्तदोषधीनां रसं दधाति ।

The priest, therefore, places the essence of the waters and the herbs in him.

अपामेवास्मिंस्तदोषधीनां रसं दधाति ।

अथ यदातपवर्ष्या आपो भवन्ति तेजश्च ह वै ब्रह्मवर्चसं चा ऽऽतपवर्ष्या आपः ।

The rain water fallen during sunshine, represents the splendour and lustre of sanctity,

अथ यदातपवर्ष्या आपो भवन्ति तेजश्च ह वै ब्रह्मवर्चसं चा ऽऽतपवर्ष्या आपः ।

तेज एवास्मिंस्तद्ब्रह्मवर्चसं च दधाति ।

which are in this way placed in him.

तेज एवास्मिंस्तद्ब्रह्मवर्चसं च दधाति ।

अथ यच्छष्पाणि च तोक्मानि च भवन्तीरायै तत्पुष्ट्यै रूपमथो प्रजात्या ।

The young grass and young barley represent provisions and the thriving by their means,

अथ यच्छष्पाणि च तोक्मानि च भवन्तीरायै तत्पुष्ट्यै रूपमथो प्रजात्या ।

इरामेवास्मिंस्तत्पुष्टिं दधात्यथो प्रजातिम् ।

which are thus placed in him for (producing) offspring, and consequently (provide him with) offspring.

इरामेवास्मिंस्तत्पुष्टिं दधात्यथो प्रजातिम् ।

अथ यत्सुरा भवति क्षत्त्ररूपं तदथो अन्नस्य रसः ।

The spirituous liquor represents the Kṣattra, and, further, the juice in the food;

अथ यत्सुरा भवति क्षत्त्ररूपं तदथो अन्नस्य रसः ।

क्षत्त्ररूपमेवास्मिंस्तद्दधात्यथो अन्नस्य रसम् ।

thus both the Kṣattra and the juice in the food, are placed in him.

क्षत्त्ररूपमेवास्मिंस्तद्दधात्यथो अन्नस्य रसम् ।

अथ यद्दूर्वा भवति क्षत्त्रं वा एतदोषधीनां यद्दूर्वा क्षत्त्रं राजन्यः ।

The Dûrvâ grass is Kṣattra; for this is the ruler of the herbs. The Kṣattra, viz., the princely race, is represented by it, as it were, spread everywhere;

अथ यद्दूर्वा भवति क्षत्त्रं वा एतदोषधीनां यद्दूर्वा क्षत्त्रं राजन्यः ।

नितत इव हीह क्षत्त्रियो राष्ट्रे वसन्भवति प्रतिष्ठित इव ।

the Kṣattriya becomes residing here (on this earth), in his kingdom, he becomes established, as it were, his rule extended, as it were.

नितत इव हीह क्षत्त्रियो राष्ट्रे वसन्भवति प्रतिष्ठित इव ।

निततेव दूर्वा ऽवरोधैर्भूम्यां प्रतिष्ठितेव ।

This is represented by the sprouts of the Dûrvâ, which have, as it were, a firm footing on the earth.

निततेव दूर्वा ऽवरोधैर्भूम्यां प्रतिष्ठितेव ।

तद्यद्दूर्वा भवत्योषधीनामेवास्मिंस्तत्क्षत्त्रं दधात्यथो प्रतिष्ठाम् ।

In this way, the Kṣattra of the herbs is placed in him (the king) and a firm footing thus given him.

तद्यद्दूर्वा भवत्योषधीनामेवास्मिंस्तत्क्षत्त्रं दधात्यथो प्रतिष्ठाम् ।

एतानि ह वै यान्यस्मादीजानाद्व्युत्क्रान्तानि भवन्ति तान्येवास्मिंस्तद्दधाति ।

All those things (the Brahma, sap, etc.), which had gone from the king after having performed a sacrifice, are in this way placed in him (again).

एतानि ह वै यान्यस्मादीजानाद्व्युत्क्रान्तानि भवन्ति तान्येवास्मिंस्तद्दधाति ।

तैरेवैनं तत्समर्धयति ।

By their (of curds, honey, etc.) means he makes him thus successful.

तैरेवैनं तत्समर्धयति ।

अथास्मै सुराकंसं हस्त आदधाति स्वादिष्ठया मदिष्ठया पवस्व सोम धारया इन्द्राय पातवे सुतः इति ।

Now he gives into his hand a goblet of spirituous liquor, under the recital of the verse, svādiṣṭhayā madiṣṭhayā, etc. (9, 1, 1) i.e., “Purify, O Soma! with thy sweetest, most exhilarating drops (the sacrificer), thou who art squeezed for Indra, to be drunk by him.”[11]

[11]This interpretation is given by Sâyaṇa, which, no doubt, is suitable to the occasion at which this mantra is used; and thus it certainly was interpreted even in ancient times. However, it does not appear to be the original meaning of the verse.

अथास्मै सुराकंसं हस्त आदधाति स्वादिष्ठया मदिष्ठया पवस्व सोम धारया इन्द्राय पातवे सुतः इति ।

आधाय शान्तिं वाचयति नाना हि वां देवहितं सदस्कृतं मा संसृक्षाथां परमे व्योमनि ।

After having put the spirituous liquor into his hand, the priest repeats a propitiatory mantra[12] (which runs thus): “To either of you (spirituous liquor and Soma!) a separate residence has been prepared, and allotted by the gods. Do not mix with one another in the highest heaven;

[12]It is with some variations to be found in the Vâjasaneyi Saṁhita (19, 7).

आधाय शान्तिं वाचयति नाना हि वां देवहितं सदस्कृतं मा संसृक्षाथां परमे व्योमनि ।

सुरा त्वमसि शुष्मिणी सोम एष राजा मैनं हिंसिष्टं स्वां योनिमाविशन्ताविति ।

liquor! thou art powerful; Soma! thou art a king. Do not harm him (the king)! May either go to his own place.”

सुरा त्वमसि शुष्मिणी सोम एष राजा मैनं हिंसिष्टं स्वां योनिमाविशन्ताविति ।

सोमपीथस्य चैषा सुरापीथस्य च व्यावृत्तिः ।

(Here is said), that the drinking of the Soma and that of liquor, exclude one another (they are not to be mixed).

सोमपीथस्य चैषा सुरापीथस्य च व्यावृत्तिः ।

पीत्वा यं रातिं मन्येत तस्मा एनां प्रयच्छेत् ।

After having drunk it, he should think, “the giver (the priest) of the goblet (to be his friend) and give him (the remainder of) this (liquor).”

पीत्वा यं रातिं मन्येत तस्मा एनां प्रयच्छेत् ।

तद्धि मित्रस्य रूपम् ।

This is the characteristic of a friend.

तद्धि मित्रस्य रूपम् ।

मित्र एवैनां तदन्ततः प्रतिष्ठापयति ।

Thus he finally places the liquor in his friend (gives him a share in it).

मित्र एवैनां तदन्ततः प्रतिष्ठापयति ।

तथा हि मित्रे प्रतितिष्ठति प्रतितिष्ठति य एवं वेद ।

And thus has he who possesses such a knowledge, a place in his friend (they are mutually connected).

तथा हि मित्रे प्रतितिष्ठति प्रतितिष्ठति य एवं वेद ।