Opening Aitareya Āranyaka — The Upanishads in Plato Scroll… Continue →
The Upanishads · F. Max Müller (1879–84)
NOW FOLLOWS the Mahâvrata ceremony. After having killed Vritra, Indra became great. When he became great, then there was the Mahâvrata (the great work). This is why the Mahâvrata ceremony is called Mahâvrata. Some people say: ‘Let the priest make two (recitations with the offering of the) âgya (ghee) on that day,’ but the right thing is one. He who desires prosperity should use the hymn, pra vo devâyâgnaye (Rv. III, 13, 1). He who desires increase should use the hymn, viso viso atithim (Rv. VIII, 74, 1). The people (visah) indeed are increase, and therefore he (the sacrificer) becomes increased. But (some say), there is the word atithim (in that hymn, which means a guest or stranger, asking for food). Let him not therefore take that hymn. Verily, the atithi (stranger) is able to go begging. ‘No,’ he said, ‘let him take that hymn. ‘For he who follows the good road and obtains …
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