Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith
Contents
PREFACE.
THE YAJURVEDAderived from the roots yaj, to sacrifice or,
worship, and vid, to know,is the Knowledge of Sacrifice or
Sacrificial Texts and Formulas as distinguished from the Rigveda
or Knowledge of Recited Praise, the Sâmaveda or Knowledge
of Chanted Hymns, and the Atharva or Brahmaveda which is the Knowledge
of Prayer, Charm, and Spells.
Though ranking second in the Indian enumeration of the Vedas
and containing much that is of very ancient origin, its compilation
in its present form, exhibiting as it does the almost complete development
of castes and mixt castes and considerable advance in arts and sciences,
trades, handicrafts and occupations, is evidently of later date
than that even of the Atharva. The Samhitâ or Collection of
its hymns, texts, and formulas, constituting the hymn-book and prayer-book
of the Adhvaryu priests as distinguished from the Hotar, the Udgâtar,
and the Brahman, the special priests, respectively, of the three
other Vedas, owes its origin to the increasing multiformity and
complication of the Indian ritual and the recognized insufficiency
of the simple and unsystematically arranged Collection of Rigveda
Hymns to meet the requirements of the performers of various essentially
important rites and ceremonies.
The Yajurveda, owing to a schism among its earliest teachers
and their followers, was divided into two distinct Samhitâs
or Collections calledprobably from the names of the Rishis
or inspired Seers who, ate respectively their reputed compilersthe
Taittirîya and the Vâjasaneya or Vâjasaneyi; the
former and older being known also by the title Krishna or Blackprobably
from its dark or obscure appearance, the collection of sacrificial
texts and formulas being perplexingly intermingled with the Brâhmana
or exegetical portion which explains them and teaches their ritual
application, and the latter being called Sukla or White, the
revised, systematic and clear collection, containing the texts and
formulas by themselves with a totally distinct Brâhmana, the
Satapatha, as an appendix. In the two divisions, besides these essential
points of difference, are found occasional verbal and orthoepic
variations which are generally of little importance. The order of
rites and ceremonies is substantially identical, but the White contains
a few more texts than the Black.
The Samhitâ of the White Yajurveda consists of forty Adhyâyas
or Books containing, with frequent repetitions of the same text,
about two thousand verses. A large portion of these are Richas or
Strophes borrowedfrequently with variationsfrom the
Rigveda, and sometimes from the Atharva these, of course, are metrical.
Nearly equal in quantity are the Yajus texts or sacrificial formulasthe
most characteristic portion, from which the Veda derives its namecomposed
in measured prose 'which rises now and then,' as Professor Weber
observes, 'to a true rhythmical swing,' and long passages, such
as the lists of victims to be tied up and dedicated at the Asvamedha
and the Purushamedha, which are necessarily in the simplest prose.
For further information with regard to this Veda the reader should
consult Professor Weber's History of Indian Literature (English
Translation by John Mann and Theodor Zachariae: Trübner's Oriental
Series); Professor Max Müller's History of Ancient Sanskrit
Literature; Professor J. Eggeling's Introduction, Vol. XII. of the
Sacred Books of the East, or, for a briefer account, Mrs. Manning's
Ancient and Mediaeval India, Vol. I. pp. 107-109.
My translation follows the fine edition of the White Yajurveda
or Vâjasaneyi-Sanhitâ, in the two recensionsthe
Mâdhyandina and the Kânva, with Mahîdhara's
Commentary, the Vedadîpa, or Lamp of Knowledge, written towards
the close of the sixteenth century, published under the patronage
of the Honourable Court of Directors of the East India Company in
1849 at Berlin by Dr. Albrecht Weber, at that time Docent of the
Sanskrit language at that University. This excellent edition consisting
of three Parts the latter two of which contain the Satapatha-Brâhmana
in the Mâdhyandina recension with extracts from the Commentaries
of Sâyana, Harisvâmin, and Dvivedaganga, and the Srautra-Sûtra
of Kâtyâyana with extracts from the Commentaries of
Karka and Yâjñikadeva, has not been reprinted and is
now practically unobtainable. In India the text of the Mâdhyandina
recension with Mahîdhara's Commentary has been issued in a
cheap form at Calcutta by Pandit Jîbânanda Vidyâsâgara,
B. A., Superintendent of the Free Sanskrit College, of which a second
edition appeared in 1892; and a lithographed edition of the text
with a Hindi translation of Mahîdhara's Commentary was published
in 1874, at Besma in the North-Western Provinces, by Râjâ
Giriprasâdavarman of that place. A cheap edition of the text,
in unbound MS. form, has been published at Bombay.
No separate translation of the whole Samhitâ or Collection
of Texts and Formulas has appeared in any European language. It
was Professor Weber's intention, as signified in his History of
Indian Literature, to bring out a translation giving the ceremonial
belonging to each verse, together with a full glossary, but 'this
promise has not been fulfilled, owing to the pressure of other labours.'
This scholar had previously published a Latin translation, with
annotations in the same language, of Books IX. and X. in his Vâjasaneya-Sanhitae
Specimen (Breslau, 1846), and more recently a German version of
Book XVI. in Indische Studien II. pp. 14 ff., and of the list of
men and women to be dedicated at the Purushamedha in his treatise
on Human Sacrifice among Indians of the Vedic Age reprinted in his
Indische Streifen I. pp. 76-84. Of Book XL. as an Upanishad there
are several translations into English.
Moreover, nearly the whole of the first eighteen Books has been
incorporateddissected and explained clause by clausein
the first nine Books of the Satapatha-Brâhmana; and an admirable
translation of this vast work by Professor Julius Eggeling is now
nearly completed in the Sacred Books of the East, four volumes (XII,
XXVI., XLI., XLIII. of that series) having already appeared, and
the concluding volume (XLV) being in the press. From this translationwhich,
but for its bulk and costliness would make half of my work superfluousand
from Professor Eggeling's annotations, I have derived the greatest
assistance, and most gratefully record my obligations.
All that I have attempted to do is to give a faithful translation,
to the best of my ability, of the texts and sacrificial formulas
of the Veda, with just sufficient commentary, chiefly from Mahîdhara,
to make them intelligible. Much additional information way be found
in Professor A. Hillebrandt's Ritual-Litteratur, Vedische Opfer
and Zauber (Grundriss der Indo-Arischen Philologie and Altertumskunde),
Strassburg: 1897; and further minute details of the various sacrifices,
rites and ceremonies are given in the Satapatha-Brâhmana as
already mentioned, and in various articles, referred to in my notes,
by Professor A. Weber, the great authority on the Yajurveda and
all that is connected with it.
R. T. H. GRIFFITH.
KOTAGIRI, NILGIRIS
May, 1899.
INDEX OF HYMNS FROM THE RIGVEDA AND THE ATHARVA-VEDA.
Rigveda Book 1
HYMN & VERSE. |
PAGE. |
1. 7-9 |
19
|
1. 63 |
248
|
2. 4 |
52
|
2. 7 |
274
|
3. 3 |
274
|
3. 4-6 |
195
|
3. 7 |
57
|
3. 10-12 |
195
|
6. 1 |
210
|
6. 2 |
210
|
6. 3 |
251
|
9. 1 |
270
|
10. 3 |
65
|
11. 1 |
107,
156
|
14. 3 |
273
|
15. 3 |
233
|
15. 9 |
234
|
18. 1-3 |
20
|
18. 6 |
266
|
22. 3 |
13
|
22. 13 |
64,
118
|
22. 17 |
37
|
22. 19 |
44,
118
|
23. 6 |
273
|
23. 17 |
48
|
24. 11 |
168,
196
|
25. 10 |
84
|
26. 10 |
186
|
27. 7 |
49
|
30. 7 |
89
|
31. 1 |
286
|
31. 12 |
281
|
34. 11 |
285
|
35. 2 |
273
|
35. 8-11 |
282
|
36. 9 |
92
|
36. 13 |
53
|
40. 1, 5 |
287
|
40. 3 |
278
|
40. 15 |
283
|
44. 13 |
269
|
45. 6 |
136
|
50. 1 |
66,
271
|
50. 2 |
66
|
50. 4 |
272
|
50. 6 |
271
|
50. 10 |
183,
300
|
62. 1, 2 |
281
|
71. 8 |
268
|
75. 5 |
267
|
79. 4-6 |
136
|
82. 2,3 |
23
|
84. 2 |
65
|
84. 3 |
65
|
84. 19 |
50
|
86. 1 |
84
|
89. 1-10 |
226
|
90. 6-8 |
118
|
90. 9 |
291
|
91. 1 |
179
|
91. 16-18 |
113
|
91. 19 |
33
|
91. 20, 21, 23 |
282
|
92. 6 |
109
|
92. 13 |
284
|
95. 1 |
267
|
96. 5 |
100,
157
|
97. 1-8 |
288
|
98. 1 |
232
|
98. 3 |
11
|
102. 1 |
271
|
105. 1 |
278
|
107. 1 |
60
|
112. 24,25 |
283
|
114. 1 |
145
|
114. 7, 8 |
141
|
115. 1 |
56,
120
|
115. 4 |
272
|
115. 5 |
272
|
132. 6 |
68
|
147. 2 |
105
|
154. 1, 2 |
38
|
154. 4-6 |
44
|
162. |
220
|
162. 21 |
212
|
164. 31 |
296
|
164. 34 |
216
|
164. 49 |
297
|
165. 3 |
270
|
165. 4 |
276
|
165. 9 |
277
|
165. 15 |
285
|
186. 1 |
271
|
187. 1 |
280
|
189. 1 |
3,
42,
58
|
|
|
|
Rigveda Book 2
RigVeda Book 3
RigVeda Book 4
Rigveda Book 5
|
Rigveda Book 6
Rigveda Book 7
RigVeda Book 8
HYMN & VERSE. |
PAGE. |
3. 3, 4 |
277 |
3. 8 |
279 |
6. 1 |
58
|
6. 28 |
233 |
11. 1 |
29
|
11. 7 |
113
|
14. 13 |
182
|
19. 20 |
136
|
26. 21 |
238 |
27. 13 |
278 |
27. 14 |
279 |
42. 1 |
32
|
43. 4 |
267 |
43. 9 |
104
|
43. 13 |
113
|
44. 3 |
207 |
44. 16 |
18,
116,
134
|
45. 2 |
276 |
48. 13 |
180
|
49, 9 |
239 |
52. 12 |
273 |
58. 3 |
107
|
61. 12, 13 |
269 |
64. 1 |
119
|
64. 4 |
134
|
64. 15 |
97
|
65. 10 |
66
|
72. 7 |
273 |
73. 3 |
121
|
77. 1 |
232 |
78. 1 |
188
|
78. 2, 3 |
279 |
82. 4 |
272 |
88. 3 |
272 |
88. 5, 6 |
275 |
90. 1 |
278 |
90, 9 |
277 |
90. 11, 12 |
272 |
91. 20, 21 |
98
|
VÂLAKHILYA
HYMN & VERSE. |
PAGE. |
3. 7 |
21,
60
|
3. 9 |
277 |
4. 7 |
09 ??? |
Rigveda Book 9
|
RigVeda Book 10
HYMN & VERSE. |
PAGE. |
1. 1 |
102
|
1. 2 |
93
|
8. 6 |
116,
135
|
9. 1-3 |
94
|
13. 1 |
87
|
14. 6 |
179
|
14. 9, 16, 18 |
288 |
15. 1 |
179
|
15. 2 |
182
|
15. 3-5 |
180
|
15. 5 |
290 |
15. 6, 7 |
181
|
15. S |
179
|
15. 11 |
180
|
15. 12 |
181
|
15 13 |
182
|
13. 14 |
181
|
16. 11 |
181
|
16. 12 |
182
|
17. 4 |
212 |
17. 10 |
26
|
17. 11 |
114
|
17. 12 |
55
|
18. 1 |
288 |
36. 12 |
269 |
37. 1 |
33
|
45. 4 |
101
|
45. 8 |
100
|
46. 7 |
267 |
50. 1 |
270 |
53. 8 |
289 |
57. 3-6 |
23
|
61. 3 |
54
|
63. 10 |
196 |
64. 6 |
74
|
72. 2 |
151
|
74. 4 |
271 |
81. 1-7 |
150
|
82. 25-31 |
151,
152
|
87. 22 |
90
|
88. 15 |
179
|
91. 14, 15 |
194
|
97. 75-96 |
109-111
|
101. 4, 3 |
108
|
103. 1-13 |
152-154
|
110. 1-11 |
250 |
120. 1 |
277 |
121. 1, 3 |
210 |
121. 4 |
226 |
121. 5 |
264 |
121. 7, 8 |
237 |
121. 10 |
83
|
123. 1 |
53
|
128. 9 |
285 |
129. 5 |
276 |
130. 7 |
286 |
131. 2 |
84,
173
|
131. 4 |
86
|
139. 1 |
155
|
139. 2 |
156
|
139. 3 |
108
|
141. 1 |
76
|
141. 3 |
75
|
141. 4 |
277 |
141. 5 |
76
|
152. 4 |
67,
170
|
157. 1-3 |
230 |
170. 1 |
271 |
173. 1 |
101
|
180. 2 |
170
|
185. |
20
|
189. |
17
|
191. 1 |
135
|
Atharva Veda
HYMN & VERSE. |
PAGE. |
BOOK I. |
4. 4 |
72
|
13. 1 |
292 |
35. 1, 2 |
286 |
BOOK II. |
1. 2 |
265 |
6. 1-3 |
235 |
BOOK III. |
2. 6 |
154
|
17. 5, 8, 9 |
109
|
19. 1, 3 |
99
|
BOOK IV. |
1. 1 |
114
|
14. 3-5 |
157
|
BOOK V. |
27. 1 |
236 |
BOOK VI. |
53. 3 |
62
|
115. 3 |
188
|
123. 1, 2 |
169
|
BOOK VII. |
6. 2, 3 |
196 |
16. |
236 |
17. 4 |
62
|
25. 1 |
69
|
26. 8 |
38
|
69, 1 |
291 |
82. 3 |
235 |
82. 5 |
89
|
84. 1 |
235 |
89. 3 |
47
|
97. 1 |
63
|
97. 3, 4 |
62
|
BOOK IX. |
6. 17 |
139
|
BOOK X. |
8. 13 |
263 |
BOOK XII. |
2. 8 |
290 |
BOOK XIX. |
9. 14 |
292 |
47. 1 |
283 |
55. 1 |
98
|
|