The Appointment of the Sixteen Priests and the Commencement of Brahma's Sacrifice

Verse 1 (skanda.6.180.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । अत्यद्भुतमिदं सूत यत्त्वया समुदाहृतम् । ब्रह्मणा यत्कृतो यज्ञस्तत्र क्षेत्रे महात्मना

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ atyadbhutamidaṁ sūta yattvayā samudāhṛtam brahmaṇā yatkṛto yajñastatra kṣetre mahātmanā

The sages said: 'O Suta, this is most wondrous, what you have told — that in that field the great soul Brahma performed a sacrifice.'

Verse 2 (skanda.6.180.2)

अग्निष्टोमादयो यज्ञा ये वर्तन्ते धरातले । यष्टव्यस्तेषु यज्ञेषु स एव हि सुरेश्वरः

agniṣṭomādayo yajñā ye vartante dharātale yaṣṭavyasteṣu yajñeṣu sa eva hi sureśvaraḥ

'Whatever sacrifices, such as Agnishtoma, are performed on earth, it is that very lord of gods who is worshipped in those sacrifices.'

Verse 3 (skanda.6.180.3)

तेनैव यजता तत्र को हीष्टः प्रब्रवीहि नः । ऋत्विजः के स्थितास्तत्र यैस्तत्कर्म मखोद्भवम् । तत्प्रत्यक्षे कृतं सर्वमेतन्नः कौतुकं परम्

tenaiva yajatā tatra ko hīṣṭaḥ prabravīhi naḥ ṛtvijaḥ ke sthitāstatra yaistatkarma makhodbhavam tatpratyakṣe kṛtaṁ sarvametannaḥ kautukaṁ param

'When he himself performed the sacrifice, who then was the object of worship there — tell us. Who were the officiating priests there, by whom that sacrificial rite was carried out — all this is a matter of the greatest wonder to us.'

Verse 4 (skanda.6.180.4)

का चैव दक्षिणा दत्ता तेन तेषां द्विजन्मनाम् । कोऽध्वर्युर्विहितस्तत्र येन तद्यजनं कृतम्

kā caiva dakṣiṇā dattā tena teṣāṁ dvijanmanām ko'dhvaryurvihitastatra yena tadyajanaṁ kṛtam

'And what sacrificial fee did he give to those brahmins, and who was appointed as the Adhvaryu priest there, by whom that offering was made?'

Verse 5 (skanda.6.180.5)

को होता कश्च वाऽग्नीध्रः को ब्रह्मा तत्र संस्थितः । उद्गाता कः स्थितस्तत्र ह्याचार्यो यज्ञकर्मणि

ko hotā kaśca vā'gnīdhraḥ ko brahmā tatra saṁsthitaḥ udgātā kaḥ sthitastatra hyācāryo yajñakarmaṇi

'Who was the Hotr priest there, and who the Agnidhra? Who occupied the office of Brahma, and who was the Udgatr priest there, the preceptor of the sacrificial rite?'

Verse 6 (skanda.6.180.6)

सूत उवाच । अहं वः कीर्तयिष्यामि सर्वं यज्ञस्य संभवम् । वृत्तांतं यच्च तत्रस्थमाश्चर्यं द्विजपुंगवाः

sūta uvāca ahaṁ vaḥ kīrtayiṣyāmi sarvaṁ yajñasya saṁbhavam vṛttāṁtaṁ yacca tatrasthamāścaryaṁ dvijapuṁgavāḥ

Suta said: O foremost of the twice-born, I shall relate to you the entire account of the origin of that sacrifice, and the wondrous events that took place there.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.180.7)

ये सदस्याः स्थितास्तत्र ऋत्विजश्च द्विजोत्तमाः । दक्षिणा याः प्रदत्ताश्च तेभ्यस्तेन महात्मना

ye sadasyāḥ sthitāstatra ṛtvijaśca dvijottamāḥ dakṣiṇā yāḥ pradattāśca tebhyastena mahātmanā

The assembly members and officiating priests who were present there, O best of the twice-born, and the sacrificial fees that great soul gave them —

Verse 8 (skanda.6.180.8)

यजता देवदेवेन ब्रह्मणाऽमिततेजसा । यज्ञकामं चतुर्वक्त्रं ज्ञात्वा देवः शतक्रतुः

yajatā devadevena brahmaṇā'mitatejasā yajñakāmaṁ caturvaktraṁ jñātvā devaḥ śatakratuḥ

— all this I shall tell. When the god of gods, the boundlessly radiant Brahma, was performing the sacrifice, the hundred-sacrifice god Indra, learning of the four-faced one's wish to sacrifice —

Verse 9 (skanda.6.180.9)

सर्वैः सुरगणैः सार्धं साहाय्यार्थमुपागतः । तथा च भगवाञ्छंभुः सर्वदेवगणैः सह

sarvaiḥ suragaṇaiḥ sārdhaṁ sāhāyyārthamupāgataḥ tathā ca bhagavāñchaṁbhuḥ sarvadevagaṇaiḥ saha

— came there with all the hosts of gods to render assistance; and likewise the blessed Shambhu too came, together with all the hosts of gods.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.180.10)

तान्दृष्ट्वाऽभ्यागतान्ब्रह्मा मर्त्यधर्मसमाश्रितान् । प्रोवाच विनयोपेतः कृतांजलिपुटः स्थितः

tāndṛṣṭvā'bhyāgatānbrahmā martyadharmasamāśritān provāca vinayopetaḥ kṛtāṁjaliputaḥ sthitaḥ

Seeing them arrived, having assumed the conduct of mortals, Brahma, filled with humility, stood with joined palms and spoke.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.180.11)

स्वागतं वः सुरश्रेष्ठाः प्रसादः क्रियतां मम । निविश्यतां यथान्यायं स्थानेषु रुचिरेषु च

svāgataṁ vaḥ suraśreṣṭhāḥ prasādaḥ kriyatāṁ mama niviśyatāṁ yathānyāyaṁ sthāneṣu rucireṣu ca

'Welcome, O best of gods; show me your grace, and take your places, as is proper, in seats befitting you.'

Verse 12 (skanda.6.180.12)

धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि यद्यूयं स्वयमागताः । मंत्राहूता यथा कृच्छ्रात्सर्वसत्रेषु गच्छथ

dhanyo'smyanugṛhīto'smi yadyūyaṁ svayamāgatāḥ maṁtrāhūtā yathā kṛcchrātsarvasatreṣu gacchatha

'I am blessed, I am favored, that you have come of your own accord; when invoked with mantras, you come to sacrificial sessions only with such difficulty.'

Verse 13 (skanda.6.180.13)

देवा ऊचुः । येन यच्चात्र कर्तव्यं तच्छीघ्रं वद पद्मज । यज्ञे तव महाभाग तस्य तत्त्वं समादिश

devā ūcuḥ yena yaccātra kartavyaṁ tacchīghraṁ vada padmaja yajñe tava mahābhāga tasya tattvaṁ samādiśa

The gods said: 'O lotus-born one, tell us quickly what each of us must do here. O greatly fortunate one, give us the true directive for your sacrifice.'

Verse 14 (skanda.6.180.14)

ब्रह्मोवाच । विश्वकर्मन्द्रुतं गच्छ यज्ञमण्डपसिद्धये । पत्नीशालां ततश्चैव यज्ञवेदीस्तथैव च

brahmovāca viśvakarmandrutaṁ gaccha yajñamaṇḍapasiddhaye patnīśālāṁ tataścaiva yajñavedīstathaiva ca

Brahma said: 'O Vishvakarman, go quickly, for the construction of the sacrificial pavilion; and also the wives' chamber and the sacrificial altars.'

Verse 15 (skanda.6.180.15)

कुण्डानि चैव सर्वाणि यथास्थानेषु कारय । यज्ञपात्राणि सर्वाणि ग्रहाश्च चमसास्तथा

kuṇḍāni caiva sarvāṇi yathāsthāneṣu kāraya yajñapātrāṇi sarvāṇi grahāśca camasāstathā

'Have all the fire-pits made, each in its proper place; and all the sacrificial vessels, the soma-cups, and the ladles as well.'

Verse 16 (skanda.6.180.16)

यूपाश्च यत्प्रमाणेन कर्तव्याः सचषालकाः । पचनार्थं तथा गर्ताः कर्तव्या यत्प्रमाणतः

yūpāśca yatpramāṇena kartavyāḥ sacaṣālakāḥ pacanārthaṁ tathā gartāḥ kartavyā yatpramāṇataḥ

'Sacrificial posts, complete with their caps, should be made according to proper measure; and pits for cooking should likewise be made according to proper measure.'

Verse 17 (skanda.6.180.17)

इष्टिकानां सहस्राणि दश चाष्टशतानि च । कर्तव्यानि त्वया शीघ्रं चयनानीति सत्वरम्

iṣṭikānāṁ sahasrāṇi daśa cāṣṭaśatāni ca kartavyāni tvayā śīghraṁ cayanānīti satvaram

'Ten thousand eight hundred bricks should be swiftly gathered and prepared by you at once.'

Verse 18 (skanda.6.180.18)

तथा हिरण्मयश्चापि पुरुषः कार्य एव हि । तथेत्युक्ता ततस्त्वष्टा शीघ्राच्छीघ्रतरं ययौ

tathā hiraṇmayaścāpi puruṣaḥ kārya eva hi tathetyuktā tatastvaṣṭā śīghrācchīghrataraṁ yayau

'And a golden figure must also be fashioned.' Saying, 'So be it,' Tvashtar, Vishvakarman, then departed with utmost speed.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.180.19)

ततस्तु पद्मजः प्राह देवाचार्यं बृहस्पतिम् । बृहस्पते त्वमानीहि यज्ञार्हानृत्विजोऽखिलान्

tatastu padmajaḥ prāha devācāryaṁ bṛhaspatim bṛhaspate tvamānīhi yajñārhānṛtvijo'khilān

Then the lotus-born Brahma spoke to Brihaspati, preceptor of the gods: 'O Brihaspati, bring here all the priests fit for this sacrifice.'

Verse 20 (skanda.6.180.20)

यावत्षोडशसंख्याश्च नान्यस्यैतद्धि युज्यते । त्वया शक्र सदा कार्या शुश्रूषा च द्विजन्मनाम्

yāvatṣoḍaśasaṁkhyāśca nānyasyaitaddhi yujyate tvayā śakra sadā kāryā śuśrūṣā ca dvijanmanām

'A full sixteen in number, for this task suits no one else. O Shakra, you must always attend to the service of those brahmins.'

Verse 21 (skanda.6.180.21)

हस्तपादावमर्द्दश्च श्रांतानां पृष्ठमर्द्दनम् । धनाध्यक्ष त्वया देया दक्षिणा कालसंभवा

hastapādāvamarddaśca śrāṁtānāṁ pṛṣṭhamarddanam dhanādhyakṣa tvayā deyā dakṣiṇā kālasaṁbhavā

'You must massage the hands, feet, and backs of those who grow weary. O lord of wealth, Kubera, you must give the sacrificial fees appropriate to each occasion.'

Verse 22 (skanda.6.180.22)

सुवस्त्राणि हिरण्यं च तथान्यद्वापि वांछितम् । त्वया विष्णो सदा कार्यं कृत्याकृत्यपरीक्षणम्

suvastrāṇi hiraṇyaṁ ca tathānyadvāpi vāṁchitam tvayā viṣṇo sadā kāryaṁ kṛtyākṛtyaparīkṣaṇam

'Fine garments, gold, and whatever else is desired — all this you must give. O Vishnu, you must always oversee what is to be done and what is not.'

Verse 23 (skanda.6.180.23)

युक्तं कृतमथो नैव सावधानेन सर्वदा । लोकपालाश्च ये सर्वे रक्षंतु सकला दिशः । भूतप्रेतपिशाचानां प्रवेशं राक्षसोद्भवम्

yuktaṁ kṛtamatho naiva sāvadhānena sarvadā lokapālāśca ye sarve rakṣaṁtu sakalā diśaḥ bhūtapretapiśācānāṁ praveśaṁ rākṣasodbhavam

'Watch always, with vigilance, whether things are done properly or not. And let all the guardians of the directions protect every quarter, against the intrusion of bhutas, pretas, pishachas, and rakshasas.'

Verse 24 (skanda.6.180.24)

यो यं कामयते कामं किंचिद्वस्त्रं धनं च वा । विचार्य तस्य तद्देयं सर्वयज्ञाधिपेन तु

yo yaṁ kāmayate kāmaṁ kiṁcidvastraṁ dhanaṁ ca vā vicārya tasya taddeyaṁ sarvayajñādhipena tu

'Whatever anyone desires, be it some article, cloth, or wealth, let the lord of all sacrifices consider it and grant it accordingly.'

Verse 25 (skanda.6.180.25)

आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा विश्वेदेवा मरुद्गणाः । भवंतु परिवेष्टारो भोक्तुकामजनस्य च

ādityā vasavo rudrā viśvedevā marudgaṇāḥ bhavaṁtu pariveṣṭāro bhoktukāmajanasya ca

'Let the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the Vishvedevas, and the host of Maruts become the servers, attending to those who wish to be fed.'

Verse 26 (skanda.6.180.26)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तो विश्वकर्मा त्वरान्वितः । अब्रवीत्पंकजभवं संसिद्धो यज्ञमण्डपः

etasminnaṁtare prāpto viśvakarmā tvarānvitaḥ abravītpaṁkajabhavaṁ saṁsiddho yajñamaṇḍapaḥ

Meanwhile, Vishvakarman arrived with great speed and said to the lotus-born Brahma: 'The sacrificial pavilion is now fully completed.'

Verse 27 (skanda.6.180.27)

सर्वमन्यत्समादिष्टं यत्त्वयोक्तं चतुर्मुख

sarvamanyatsamādiṣṭaṁ yattvayoktaṁ caturmukha

'O four-faced one, everything else you commanded has also been accomplished.'

Verse 28 (skanda.6.180.28)

ततो बृहस्पतिः प्राह समभ्येत्य पितामहम् । समानीता मया देव ब्राह्मणा यज्ञकर्मणि

tato bṛhaspatiḥ prāha samabhyetya pitāmaham samānītā mayā deva brāhmaṇā yajñakarmaṇi

Then Brihaspati, coming before the Grandsire, said: 'O god, I have brought the brahmins for the sacrificial rite.'

Verse 29 (skanda.6.180.29)

विप्राः षोडशसंख्याश्च ऋत्विक्कर्मणि योजय । स्वयं परीक्ष्य देवेश यज्ञकर्मप्रसिद्धये

viprāḥ ṣoḍaśasaṁkhyāśca ṛtvikkarmaṇi yojaya svayaṁ parīkṣya deveśa yajñakarmaprasiddhaye

'O lord of gods, examine these sixteen brahmins yourself and appoint them to their priestly duties, for the accomplishment of the sacrificial rite.'

Verse 30 (skanda.6.180.30)

ततो ब्रह्मा स्वयं दृष्ट्वा तान्परीक्ष्य प्रयत्नतः । ऋत्विक्त्वे च नियोज्याथ ततश्चक्रे तदर्हणम्

tato brahmā svayaṁ dṛṣṭvā tānparīkṣya prayatnataḥ ṛtviktve ca niyojyātha tataścakre tadarhaṇam

Then Brahma himself, examining them carefully, appointed them to their priestly offices, and thereafter duly honored them.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.180.31)

ऋषय ऊचुः । ऋत्विजां चैव सर्वेषां सूत नामानि कीर्तय । येन यो विहितस्तत्र पदार्थः सूत तं वद

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ ṛtvijāṁ caiva sarveṣāṁ sūta nāmāni kīrtaya yena yo vihitastatra padārthaḥ sūta taṁ vada

The sages said: 'O Suta, tell us the names of all those officiating priests, and tell us, O Suta, to which office each was appointed.'

Verse 32 (skanda.6.180.32)

सूत उवाच । भृगुर्हौत्रे ततस्तेन वृतो ब्राह्मणसत्तमाः । मैत्रावरुणसंज्ञस्तु तथैव च्यवनो मुनिः

sūta uvāca bhṛgurhautre tatastena vṛto brāhmaṇasattamāḥ maitrāvaruṇasaṁjñastu tathaiva cyavano muniḥ

Suta said: O best of brahmins, sage Bhrigu was chosen for the office of Hotr; and likewise the sage Chyavana held the office called Maitravaruna.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.180.33)

अच्छावाको मरीचिश्च ग्रावस्तुद्गालवो मुनिः । पुलस्त्यश्च तथाऽध्वर्युः प्रस्थातात्रिश्च संस्थितः

acchāvāko marīciśca grāvastudgālavo muniḥ pulastyaśca tathā'dhvaryuḥ prasthātātriśca saṁsthitaḥ

Marichi became the Acchavaka; the sage Galava became the Gravastut; Pulastya took the office of Adhvaryu, and Atri that of Prastota.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.180.34)

तत्र रैभ्यो मुनिर्नेष्टा तत्रोन्नेता सनातनः । ब्रह्मा च नारदो गर्गो ब्राह्मणाच्छंसिरेव च

tatra raibhyo munirneṣṭā tatronnetā sanātanaḥ brahmā ca nārado gargo brāhmaṇācchaṁsireva ca

The sage Raibhya became the Neshtr; the eternal one, Sanatana, became the Unnetr; Narada held the office of Brahma, and Garga that of Brahmanachhamsin.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.180.35)

आग्नीध्रश्च भरद्वाजो होता पाराशरस्तथा । तथैव तत्र क्षेत्रे च उद्गाता गोभिलो मुनिः

āgnīdhraśca bharadvājo hotā pārāśarastathā tathaiva tatra kṣetre ca udgātā gobhilo muniḥ

Bharadvaja became the Agnidhra, and Parashara likewise the Hotr; and in that same field, the sage Gobhila became the Udgatr.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.180.36)

तथैव कौथुमो जज्ञे प्रस्तौता यज्ञकर्मणि । शांडिल्यः प्रतिहर्त्ता च सुब्रह्मण्यस्तथांगिराः

tathaiva kauthumo jajñe prastautā yajñakarmaṇi śāṁḍilyaḥ pratihartā ca subrahmaṇyastathāṁgirāḥ

Likewise Kauthuma became the Prastotr in that sacrificial rite; Shandilya became the Pratihartr, and Angiras took the office of Subrahmanya.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.180.37)

तस्य यज्ञस्य सिद्ध्यर्थमित्येते षोडशर्त्विजः । वस्त्राभरणशोभाढ्या विनयेन कृताश्च ते

tasya yajñasya siddhyarthamityete ṣoḍaśartvijaḥ vastrābharaṇaśobhāḍhyā vinayena kṛtāśca te

For the accomplishment of that sacrifice, these sixteen officiating priests were thus appointed; they were adorned with fine garments and ornaments, and honored with humility.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.180.38)

ततः कृत्वा स्वयं ब्रह्मा सर्वेषामर्हणक्रियाम् । गृह्योक्तेन विधानेन ततः प्रोवाच सादरम्

tataḥ kṛtvā svayaṁ brahmā sarveṣāmarhaṇakriyām gṛhyoktena vidhānena tataḥ provāca sādaram

Then Brahma himself performed the honoring rite for them all, according to the procedure prescribed in the Grihya texts, and then spoke with reverence.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.180.39)

एषोऽहं शरणं प्राप्तो युष्माकं द्विजसत्तमाः । अनुगृह्णीत मां सर्वे दीक्षायै यज्ञकर्मणः

eṣo'haṁ śaraṇaṁ prāpto yuṣmākaṁ dvijasattamāḥ anugṛhṇīta māṁ sarve dīkṣāyai yajñakarmaṇaḥ

'O best of the twice-born, I have come for refuge to you all; graciously bestow upon me the initiation for this sacrificial rite.'