Original Sanskrit Texts on the Origin and History of the People of India: Mythical and legendary accounts of the origin of caste, with an enquiry into its existence in the Vedic age. 1872John Muir |
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Agni aham Angiras Asuras asya atha austere fervour became Bhāgavata Bharata bhavati Bhrigu born Brāh Brāhmaṇa brāhmaṇāḥ Brahmans chaiva classes created creation creatures Daksha declared descendants devāḥ divine dvipa earth esha etad evam father four castes gods hymns idam Indra Kalpa Kasyapa katham king Krita age kshattram Kshattriyas Kusikas legend Mahābhārata mām Manu Manvantara naḥ Nahusha nāma Nirukta oblation passage prajāḥ Prajapati priests Prof Professor punaḥ punar purā Purana Purusha quoted race rājā rājan Rajanya Rāmāyaṇa regarding Rig-veda rishis Roth S'ūdras sacrifice sage sarvam sarve Sayana says Soma sons sprang Sudās Sudra tadā tāḥ Taitt tām tān tasmād tasya tataḥ tathā tato tatra tena teshām thee thou tvā tvam uvācha Vaisyas Varuna Vasishtha Vayu Veda Vedic verse Vishnu Purana Visvamitra Vivasvat wife word yaḥ yathā Yugas
Popular passages
Page 10 - From his navel arose the air, from his head the sky, from his feet the earth, from his ear the (four) quarters ; in this manner (the gods) formed the worlds.
Page 9 - When the gods performed a sacrifice with Purusha, as the oblation, the spring was its butter, the summer its fuel, and the autumn its (accompanying) offering. 7. This victim, Purusha, born in the beginning, they immolated on the sacrificial grass.
Page 10 - When (the gods) divided Purusha, into how many parts did they cut him up? What was his mouth? What arms (had he)? What (two objects) are said (to have been) his thighs and feet? The Brahman was his mouth; the Rajanya was made his arms; the being (called) the Vaisya, he was his thighs; the Sudra sprang from his feet.
Page 13 - Vidas and their scholia, 1 find occasion to amend one or two passages in the version of it formerly given : but for this I shall take another opportunity. That remarkable hymn is in language, metre, and style, very different from the rest of the prayers with which it is associated. It has a decidedly more modern tone ; and must have been composed after the Sanscrit language had been refined, and its grammar and rhythm, perfected.
Page 49 - Navajoes — that the earth was at first very small, a mere patch, and grew bigger after the animal fished it up. " Formerly this earth was only so large, of the size of a span. A boar called Emusha raised her up.
Page 237 - ... kavi, etc., and have denoted devout worshippers and contemplative sages who composed prayers and hymns which they themselves recited in praise of the gods. Afterwards when the ceremonial gradually became more complicated, and a division of sacred functions took place, the word was more ordinarily employed (2) for a minister of public worship, and at length came to signify (3) one particular kind of priest with special duties.
Page 40 - Manus and the deities of the period. At the close of this day of Brahma, a collapse of the universe takes place, which lasts through a night of Brahma, equal in duration to his day, during which period the three worlds are converted into one great ocean, when the...
Page 179 - I rescue thee.' (Manu asked). ' How (shall) thy preservation ' (be effected) ?' The fish said : ' So long as we are ' small, we are in great peril, for fish devours fish ; ' thou shalt preserve me first in a jar. When I grow ' too large for the jar, then thou shalt dig a trench, ' and preserve me in that. When I grow too large ' for the trench, then thou shalt carry me away to ' the Ocean, I shall then be beyond the reach of
Page 179 - By this means he passed over the northern mountain. The fish said, ' I have delivered thee ; fasten the ship to a tree. But lest the water should cut thee off whilst thou art on the mountain, as much as the water subsides, so much thou shalt descend after it.' He accordingly descended as much as the water subsided. Wherefore also this, viz., ' Manu's descent' is (the name) of the northern mountain.
Page 45 - ... spiritual being exists. The latter takes place at the end of every Kalpa or day of Brahma, and affects only the forms of inferior creatures, and lower worlds; leaving the substance of the universe entire, and sages and gods unharmed.