z:\ ambedkar\vol 04\vol4 05.indd MK SJ DK YS 23 9 2013/YS 8 11 2013 194
194 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
the sky. This Universe is co-extensive with these worlds. (The fire) is placed with the whole. Saying ‘ bhuh’, Prajapati generated the Brahman; (saying) ‘bhuvah’ he generated the Kshattra; (and saying) ‘ svah’ he generated the Vis. The fire is placed with the whole, (saying) ‘ bhuh’, Prajapati generated himself; (saying) ‘ bhuvah ’ he generated offspring; (saying) ‘ svah ’, he generated animals. This world is so much as self, offspring, and animals. (The fire) is placed with the whole.”
The Sathpatha Brahmana also gives another explanation. It reads as follows [1] :
“Brahma (here, according to the commentator, existing in the form of Agni, and representing the Brahman caste) was formerly this (universe), one only. Being one, it did not develop. It energetically created an excellent form, the Kshattra, viz., those among the gods who are powers (kshattrani), Indra, Varuna, Soma Rudra, Parjanya, Yama, Mrityu, Isana. Hence nothing is superior to the Kshattra. Therefore the Brahman sits below the Kshattriya at the Rajasuya-sacrifice; he confers that glory on the Kshattra (the royal power). This, the Brahma, is the source of the Kshattra; hence, although the king attains supremacy, he at the end resorts to the Brahma as his source. Whoever destroys him (the Brahman) destroys his own source. He becomes most miserable, as one who has injured a superior.
- He did not develop. He created the Vis, those classes of gods who are designated by troops, Vasus, Rudras, Adityas, Visvadevas, Maruts, 25. He did not develop. He created the Sudra class, Pushan. This earth is Pushan; for she nourishes all that exists. 26. He did not develop. He energetically created an excellent form, Justice (Dharma). This is the ruler (kshattra) of the ruler (kshattra), namely justice. Hence nothing is superior to justice. Therefore the weaker seeks (to overcome) the stronger by justice, as by a king. This justice is truth. In consequence they say of a man who speaks truth, ‘ he speaks justice;’ or of a man who is uttering justice, ‘he speaks truth.’ For this is both of these. 27. This is the Brahma, Kshattra, Vis and Sudra. Through Agni it became Brahma among the gods, the Brahman among men, through the (divine) Kshatriya a (human) Kshattriya, through the (divine) Vaisya a (human) Vaisya, through the (divine) Sudra a (human) Sudra. Wherefore it is in Agni among the gods and in a Brahman among men, that they seek after an abode.”
The Taittiriya Brahmana offers three explanations. First is in the following terms [2] :
1 Muir Sanskrit Text Vol. I p. 20.
2 Muir I p. 17.