14.023
brāhmaṇa uvāca॥
The Brāhmaṇa said.
atrāpyudāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। subhage pañcahotṝṇāṃ vidhānam iha yādṛśam॥14-23-1॥
Here too, they relate this ancient story, O fortunate one, about the arrangement of the five hotṛ priests as it is here. (14-23-1)
prāṇāpānāvadānaś ca samāno vyāna eva ca। pañcahotr̥n athaitān vai paraṃ bhāvaṃ vidur budhāḥ॥14-23-2॥
The wise know prāṇa, apāna, udāna, samāna, and vyāna as the five sacrificers; these indeed they recognize as embodying the supreme state. (14-23-2)
brāhmaṇyuvāca॥
The Brāhmaṇa said.
svabhāvāt sapta hotāra iti te pūrvikā matiḥ। yathā vai pañca hotāraḥ paro bhāvas tathocyatām॥14-23-3॥
It is from their own nature that there are said to be seven invokers; this is the earlier conception. Just as there are five invokers, likewise let the other state be stated thus. (14-23-3)
brāhmaṇa uvāca॥
The Brāhmaṇa said;
prāṇena sambhṛto vāyur apāno jāyate tataḥ। apāne sambhṛto vāyus tato vyānaḥ pravartate ॥14-23-4॥
The air gathered by prāṇa becomes apāna; from that, in apāna, the gathered air, from there vyāna moves (is set in motion). (14-23-4)
vyānena sambhṛto vāyus tatodānaḥ pravartate. udāne sambhṛto vāyuḥ samānaḥ sampravartate ॥14-23-5॥
Through vyāna, the gathered air generates udāna; in udāna, the collected air gives rise to samāna. (14-23-5)
te'pṛcchanta purā gatvā pūrvajātaṃ prajāpatim। yo no jyeṣṭhatamācakṣva sa naḥ śreṣṭho bhaviṣyati॥14-23-6॥
They once went to Prajāpati, who was born before, and asked: "Who among us is the eldest? Tell us; for us, the eldest will be considered the best." (14-23-6)
brahmovāca॥
Brahmā said.
yasmin pralīne pralayaṃ vrajanti; sarve prāṇāḥ prāṇabhṛtāṃ śarīre. yasmin pracīrṇe ca punaś caranti; sa vai śreṣṭho gacchata yatra kāmaḥ ॥14-23-7॥
He, in whom, upon dissolution, all the vital forces of living beings in their bodies merge, and in whom, having been scattered again, they operate anew—he indeed is the highest, to whom desire goes where. (14-23-7)
prāṇa uvāca॥
Prāṇa said.
mayi pralīne pralayaṃ vrajanti; sarve prāṇāḥ prāṇabhṛtāṃ śarīre. mayi pracīrṇe ca punaś caranti; śreṣṭho hy ahaṃ paśyata māṃ pralīnam. (14-23-8)
When all life-energies of living beings, within their bodies, dissolve in me, they enter into dissolution; when I am again diffused, they move forth once more. Indeed, I am the best—behold me as the absorbed one. (14-23-8)
brāhmaṇa uvāca॥
The Brāhmaṇa said.
prāṇaḥ pralīyata tataḥ punaś ca pracacāra ha। samānaś cāpy udānaś ca vaco 'brūtāṃ tataḥ śubhe ॥14-23-9॥
The life-breath dissolved, but then again he moved about indeed; then the samāna and udāna vital airs and speech spoke, O auspicious one. (14-23-9)
na tvaṁ sarvam idaṁ vyāpya tiṣṭhasi iha yathā vayam। na tvaṁ śreṣṭho'si naḥ prāṇa apānaḥ hi vaśe tava ॥ pracacāra punaḥ prāṇaḥ tam apānaḥ abhyabhāṣata ॥14-23-10॥
You do not abide here pervading all this as we do. You are not superior to us, prāṇa; for apāna is under your authority. Again, prāṇa moved about and apāna addressed him thus. (14-23-10)
mayi pralīne pralayaṃ vrajanti; sarve prāṇāḥ prāṇabhṛtāṃ śarīre. mayi pracīrṇe ca punaścaranti; śreṣṭho hyahaṃ paśyata māṃ pralīnam ॥14-23-11॥
When dissolved in me, all the vital airs of all living beings in their bodies enter dissolution; when I have spread forth, they move again. Truly, I am the supreme—see me merged thus. (14-23-11)
vyānaś ca tam udānaś ca bhāṣamāṇam athocatuḥ. apāna na tvaṃ śreṣṭho'si prāṇo hi vaśagās tava ॥14-23-12॥
Vyāna and Udāna, as he was speaking, then both said: 'Apāna, you are not the best; for Prāṇa is truly under your control.' (14-23-12)
apānaḥ pracacārātha vyānas taṃ punar abravīt। śreṣṭho'ham asmi sarveṣāṃ śrūyatāṃ yena hetunā॥14-23-13॥
Then apāna moved about; to him, vyāna spoke again: "I am the superior among all; let the reason for this be heard." (14-23-13)
mayi pralīne pralayaṃ vrajanti; sarve prāṇāḥ prāṇabhṛtāṃ śarīre. mayi pracīrṇe ca punaścaranti; śreṣṭho hyahaṃ paśyata māṃ pralīnam. ॥14-23-14॥
When all beings in whom the vital breaths reside, at the time of dissolution merge into me, and when I become diffused, again they move forth; I am indeed the best. See me absorbed. (14-23-14)
prālīyata tato vyānaḥ punaś ca pracakāra ha। prāṇāpānānudānaś ca samānaś ca tam abruvan ॥ na tvaṃ śreṣṭho 'si no vyāna samānaḥ hi vaśe tava ॥14-23-15॥
Then vyāna was withdrawn; but again, he functioned indeed. Prāṇa, apāna, udāna, and samāna said to him: "You are not the best among us, O vyāna; samāna is indeed under your control." (14-23-15)
pracacāra punarvyānaḥ samānaḥ punarabravīt। śreṣṭho'hamasmi sarveṣāṃ śrūyatāṃ yena hetunā॥14-23-16॥
Vyāna, having moved about again, and samāna again spoke: "I am the best of all; let it be heard for what reason." (14-23-16)
mayi pralīne pralayaṃ vrajanti; sarve prāṇāḥ prāṇabhṛtāṃ śarīre. mayi pracīrṇe ca punaścaranti; śreṣṭho hyahaṃ paśyata māṃ pralīnam ॥14-23-17॥
When I am dissolved, all the life-breaths of living beings in their bodies pass into dissolution. When I am spread out again, they move again; I am indeed the best—see me absorbed. (14-23-17)
tataḥ samānaḥ prālilye punaś ca pracacāra ha। prāṇāpānāvadānaś ca vyānaś caiva tam abruvan ॥ samāna na tvaṃ śreṣṭho'si vyāna eva vaśe tava ॥14-23-18॥
Then Samāna merged and again moved. Prāṇa, Apāna, Udāna, and Vyāna, indeed, said to him: "Samāna, you are not superior; indeed, Vyāna is under your control." (14-23-18)
samānaḥ pracacarātha udānas tam uvāca ha। śreṣṭho'ham asmi sarveṣāṃ śrūyatāṃ yena hetunā॥14-23-19॥
Then, as samāna moved about, udāna said to him: "I am the best of all; let it be heard for what reason." (14-23-19)
mayi pralīne pralayaṃ vrajanti; sarve prāṇāḥ prāṇabhṛtāṃ śarīre. mayi pracīrṇe ca punaścaranti; śreṣṭho hyahaṃ paśyata māṃ pralīnam. ॥14-23-20॥
When all is dissolved in me, all vital airs of embodied beings go to dissolution in me. When I am spread forth again, they move again; I am indeed supreme—behold me absorbed. (14-23-20)
tataḥ prālīyatodānaḥ punaśca pracacāra ha। prāṇāpānau samānaśca vyānaścaiva tam abruvan॥ udāna na tvaṃ śreṣṭho'si vyāna eva vaśe tava॥14-23-21॥
Then udāna became dissolved; yet again, it moved about. Prāṇa, apāna, samāna, and vyāna spoke to him: "O udāna, you are not the most excellent; vyāna is in fact under your command." (14-23-21)
tatas tān abravīd brahmā samavetān prajāpatiḥ। sarve śreṣṭhā na vā śreṣṭhāḥ sarve ca anyonya-dharmiṇaḥ॥ sarve sva-viṣaye śreṣṭhāḥ sarve ca anyonya-rakṣiṇaḥ॥14-23-22॥
Then Brahmā, the Lord of creatures, said to those assembled: All are excellent, and none is superior to others; all possess mutual qualities. Each is excellent in their own domain; all protect each other. (14-23-22)
ekaḥ sthiraś cāsthiraś ca viśeṣāt pañca vāyavaḥ। eka eva mamaiva ātmā bahudhā api upacīyate ॥14-23-23॥
The one vāyu (vital air), being both stable and unstable, becomes fivefold by distinction. Indeed, my own self is multiplied in many forms. (14-23-23)
parasparasya suhṛdo bhāvayantaḥ parasparam। svasti vrajata bhadraṃ vo dhārayadhvaṃ parasparam॥14-23-24॥
Cherish each other as friends. May there be welfare; go in goodness. Hold to one another. (14-23-24)
