Swaveda

Yajurveda (White / Śukla) · Chapter 35

Adhyāya 35: Pitṛmedha — funeral verses

Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1899, *The Texts of the White Yajurveda*, public domain), 1899. Public domain.

  1. 1

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    Beooitib the Panis, hence away, rebellioas, seomers of the ^ Gods!

  2. 2

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    Remains : the bones and ashes which are to be buried. Let the hulU be yoked : six in number, to a plough with which furrows are driven from the south or north side of the ground, to keep evil spirits at a distance.

  3. 3

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    Four furrows are drawn, with a formula for each.

  4. 4

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    Addressed to the various plants whose seeds he sows. The formtila, taken from R. Y X 97. 5, is repeated from XII. 79. Sacrificial vessels sod implements are made of the Asvattha or Ficus Religiosa and the Parna, PaUsa, or Butea Frondosa, which are therefore said to be the home of planti used in religious ceremonies.

  5. 5

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    Let Savitar lay down thy bones committed to the Mother's

  6. 6

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    Here in the God Prajikpati, near water, Man, flay thee down: May bis light drive mishap from us.

  7. 7

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    Go hence, Death, pursue thy special pathway apart from ^ that which Gods are wont to travel.

  8. 8

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    The deceased householder ie addressed. Ththrichi: three of ivhich ak*e Isid down towards eaoh quarter of the sky. Let them, not teorek thee :

  9. 9

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    Prosper for thee the regions and the waters, and let the seas for thee be most propitious.

  10. 10

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    R. y. X. 53 8. The original verse contains words of enoouragemeBt to the hearers who with the funeral proeeeeion are orossing ^ stream. e the natural atream is repreaanted hy » ditch cut for the purpiwe, filled with water And covered with aquatic plants a^d Kusa grass, into which stones are oast.

  11. 11

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    Purificatory and henedictive formulas follow, Apdmdrga: (from «tfV# to cleanse or wipe, witli apa-^d) Aohyranthea Aspera, a biennial plant frequently uaed in medicine^ ii» iooan^tiona or co»nterobarm8, and in s^- . rificea. See The Hymus of the Atha«va«veda, Index.

  12. 12

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    Repeated from yi. 22 and ZX. 19.

  13. 13

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    For our prosperity we touch the ox the son of Surnbhi. J Be bearer aud deliverer to us as India to the Gods.

  14. 14

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    Looking upon the lofbiest light, etc., as in XX. 21.

  15. 15

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    rampart: a mound of eai-th (or, according to some, a brand or

  16. 16

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    Agni, thou poureiit life, etc., as in XIX. 38.

  17. 17

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    Waxing with sacrifice live lotig» O Agni, with butter on tl^

  18. 18

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    These men have led about the ox, have duly carried Agni

  19. 19

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    1 drive Corpse-eating Agni to a distance : sin-laden let him

  20. 20

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    Carry the fat to Fathers, Jatavedas, where, far away, Uiou

  21. 22

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    Born art thou, Agni, from this man : let him again be bom

Commentary

Adhyāya 35 of the Vājasaneyī Saṃhitā (White / Śukla Yajurveda), Mādhyandina recension. 21 verses parsed from Griffith's 1899 English translation. The Yajurveda compiles mantras and ritual prose for sacrificial performance; the Black (Kṛṣṇa) recension — which interleaves brāhmaṇa-style commentary with the mantras — is a separate text not included here.