z:\ ambedkar\vol 04\vol4 05.indd MK SJ DK YS 23 9 2013/YS 8 11 2013 240
240 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
“Ye gods, Vajas, and Ribhukshans, come to our sacrifice by the path travelled by the gods, that ye, pleasing deities, may institute a sacrifice among these people of Manush on auspicious days.”
“The people of Manush praise in the sacrifices Agni the invoker.”
“Whenever Agni, lord of the people, kindled, abides gratified among the people of Manush, he repels all Rakshasas.”
Let us now turn to the writing called the Brahmanas and take note of what they have to say on this question.
The explanation given by the Sathapatha Brahmana is as follows [1] :
“(Uttering) ‘bhuh’, Prajapati generated this earth. (Uttering) ‘bhuvah’ he generated the air, and (uttering) ‘svah’, he generated 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.”
Besides this there is another explanation to be found in this Brahmans [2] :
“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 develope. It energetically created an excellent form, the Kshattra, viz, those among the gods who are powers (kshattrani), Indra, Varuna, Soma, Rudra, Parjanya, Yama, Mrityu, Issana. 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. 24. He did not develope. he created the Viz-Viz, those classes of gods who are designated by troops, Vasus, Rudras, Adityas, Visvedevas, Maruts; 25. He did not develope. He created the Sudra class, Pushan. This earth is Pushan; for she nourishes all that exists. 26. He did not develope. He energetically created an excellent form, Justice (Dharma). This is the ruler (kshattra) of the ruler (kshattra), namely Justice, hence nothing is
1 Quoted by Muir Sanskrit Texts Vol. I. p. 17.
2 Muir’s Sanskrit Texts. Vol. I p. 20.