68. To accompany the act of shaving.
[Atharvan (?).—mantroktadevatyam. 1. purovirāḍ atiçakvarīgarbhā 4-p. jagatī; 2. anuṣṭubh; 3. atijagatīgarbhā triṣṭubh.]
Found also in Pāipp. xix. (in the verse-order 1, 3, 2), and in part in various Gṛhya-Sūtras, as noted under the several verses. ⌊Further, in MP. ii. 1. 1-3; and MGS. i. 21. 2, 3, 14, 6 (cf. also Knauer's Index, p. 148, s.v. uṣṇena, p. 146, and p. 154).⌋ The hymn is used by Kāuç., as was to be expected, in the godāna ceremony (53. 17-20), vs. 1 being addressed to the vessel of water used, vs. 2 accompanying the wetting of the youth, and vs. 3 the parting and cutting of the hair. Further, in the upanayana, at the beginning of the whole ceremony (55. 2), with the directions "do as directed in the text" etc.
Translated: Ludwig, p. 430; Griffith, i. 282.
1. Savitar here hath come with razor; come, O Vāyu, with hot water; let the Ādityas, the Rudras, the Vasus, wet [him] in accordance; do ye, forethoughtful, shave [the head] of king Soma.
'Wet,' corresponding to our 'lather.' Dignity is sought to be given to the operation by identifying the participants in it with various divinities. The second pāda is given, without variation, in AGS. i. 17. 6 and PGS. ii. 1. 6; the first and second are found in GGS. ii. 9. 10, 11, MB. i. 6. 1, 2, with agāt in a, and -kenāi ’dhi in b. Ppp. has, in b, vāyav udakena ehi, and omits undantu in c. The combination vāya ud- is quoted under Prāt. ii. 21, 24; iii. 35; -kené” ’ hi, under iii. 38, 66. ⌊Hillebrandt, Ved. Mythol., i. 472, may be consulted.⌋
2. Let Aditi shave the beard; let the waters wet [it] with splendor; let Prajāpati nurse (cikits) [it], in order to length of life, to sight.
Ppp's version of c, d is dhārayatu prajāpatiḥ punaḥ-punaḥ suvaptave. AGS. (i. 17. 7) has a, b, reading keçān for çmaçru, and varcase for -sā; PGS. (ii. 1. 6) has adite keçān vapa, parallel to our a.
3. With what razor the knowing Savitar shaved [the head] of king Soma, of Varuṇa, therewith, ye priests (brahmán), shave [it] now of this man; be he rich in kine, in horses, in progeny.
Ppp. reads, for d, açyāmodīyur ayam astu vīraḥ. AGS. (i. 17. 10) and PGS. (ii. 1. 11) have our a, b, c without variant, but add as d, āyuṣmāñ jaradaṣṭir yathā ’ sat. TB. (ii. 7. 172) also has the verse, differing only in d: ūrjé ’ máṁ rayyā́ várcasā sáṁ sṛjātha; and with this HGS. (ii. 6. 10) agrees throughout. The ÇGS. version ⌊i. 28⌋ differs throughout: yenā ’ vapat savitā çmaçrv agre kṣureṇa rājño varuṇasya vidvān: yena dhātā bṛhaspatir indrasya cā ’ vapac chiraḥ: tena brahmāṇo vapate ’ dam adyā ”yuṣmān dīrghāyur ayam astu vīraḥ (agreeing at the end with Ppp.). MB. (i. 6. 7) has a still other text: yena pūṣā bṛhaspater vāyor indrasya cā ’vapat: tena te vapāmi brahmaṇā jīvātave jīvanāya dīrghāyuṣṭvāya varcase. The verse (10 + 11: 11 + 12 = 44) contains no atijagatī element. ⌊Ppp. combines asyā ’çyāmodīyur; and R. notes that c, d appears in Ppp. ii.⌋
69. For glory etc.
[Atharvan (? varcaskāmo yaçaskāmaç ca).—bārhaspatyam utā ”çvinam. ānuṣṭubham.]
