athotāpy āhuḥ | sāma no bateti yat sādhu bhavati sādhu batety eva tad āhuḥ | asāma no bateti yad asādhu bhavaty asādhu batety eva tad āhuḥ
And they also say, truly this is Sâman for us, i.e. it is good for us, when it is good; and truly that is not Sâman for us, i. e. it is not good for us, when it is not good.
Let a man meditate on the fivefold Sâman as the five worlds. The hinkâra is the earth, the prastâva the fire, the udgîtha the sky, the pratihâra the sun, the nidhana heaven; so in an ascending line.
वृष्टौ पञ्चविधं सामोपासीत । पुरोवातो हिङ्कारः । मेघो जायते स प्रस्तावः । वर्षति स उद्गीथः । विद्योतते स्तनयति स प्रतिहारः
vṛṣṭau pañcavidhaṃ sāmopāsīta | purovāto hiṅkāraḥ | megho jāyate sa prastāvaḥ | varṣati sa udgīthaḥ | vidyotate stanayati sa pratihāraḥ
Let a man meditate on the fivefold Sâman as rain. The hinkâra is wind (that brings the rain); the prastâva is, 'the cloud is come'; the udgîtha is, 'it rains;' the pratihâra, 'it flashes, it thunders;'
सर्वास्व् अप्सु पञ्चविधं सामोपासीत । मेघो यत् संप्लवते स हिङ्कारः । यद् वर्षति स प्रस्तावः । याः प्राच्यः स्यन्दन्ते स उद्गीथः । याः प्रतीच्यः स प्रतिहारः । समुद्रो निधनम्
sarvāsv apsu pañcavidhaṃ sāmopāsīta | megho yat saṃplavate sa hiṅkāraḥ | yad varṣati sa prastāvaḥ | yāḥ prācyaḥ syandante sa udgīthaḥ | yāḥ pratīcyaḥ sa pratihāraḥ | samudro nidhanam
Let a man meditate on the fivefold Sâman in all waters. When the clouds gather, that is the hinkâra; when it rains, that is the prastâva; that which flows in the east, that is the udgîtha; that which flows in the west, that is the pratihâra; the sea is the nidhana.
Let a man meditate on the fivefold Sâman as the seasons. The hinkâra is spring, the prastâva summer (harvest of yava, &c), the udgîtha the rainy season, the pratihâra autumn, the nidhana winter.
Let a man meditate on the fivefold Sâman in animals. The hinkâra is goats, the prastâva sheep, the udgîtha cows, the pratihâra horses, the nidhana man.
Let a man meditate on the fivefold Sâman, which is greater than great, as the prânas (senses). The hinkâra is smell (nose), the prastâva speech (tongue), the udgîtha sight (eye), the pratihâra hearing (ear), the nidhana mind. These are one greater than the other.
parovarīyo hāsya bhavati parovarīyaso ha lokāñ jayati ya etad evaṃ vidvān prāṇeṣu pañcavidhaṃ parovarīyaḥ sāmopāste | iti tu pañcavidhasya
What is greater than great belongs to him, nay, he conquers the worlds which are greater than great, who knowing this meditates on the fivefold Sâman, which is greater than great, as the prânas (senses).
अथ सप्तविधस्य । वाचि सप्तविधम् सामोपासीत । यत् किंच वाचो हुम् इति स हिङ्कारः । यत् प्रेति स प्रस्तावः । यद् एति स आदिः
atha saptavidhasya | vāci saptavidh.am sāmopāsīta | yat kiṃca vāco hum iti sa hiṅkāraḥ | yat preti sa prastāvaḥ | yad eti sa ādiḥ
Next for the sevenfold Sâman. Let a man meditate on the sevenfold Sâman in speech. Whenever there is in speech the syllable hun that is hinkâra, pra is the prastâva, â is the âdi, the first, i. e. Om,
दुग्धे ऽस्मै वाग् दोहं यो वाचो दोहः । अन्नवान् अन्नादो भवति । य एतद् एवं विद्वान् वाचि सप्तविधं सामोपास्ते
dugdhe 'smai vāg dohaṃ yo vāco dohaḥ | annavān annādo bhavati | ya etad evaṃ vidvān vāci saptavidhaṃ sāmopāste
Speech yields the milk, which is the milk of speech itself, to him who knowing this meditates on the sevenfold Sâman in speech. He becomes rich in food, and able to eat food.
atha khalv amum ādityaṃ saptavidhaṃ sāmopāsīta | sarvadā samas tena sāma | māṃ prati māṃ pratīti sarveṇa samas tena sāma
Let a man meditate on the sevenfold Sâman as the sun. The sun is Sâman, because he is always the same (sama); he is Sâman because he is the same, everybody thinking he looks towards me, he looks towards me.
tasminn imāni sarvāṇi bhūtāny anvāyattānīti vidyāt | tasya yat purodayāt sa hiṅkāraḥ | tad asya paśavo 'nvāyattāḥ | tasmāt te hiṅkurvanti | hiṅkārabhājino hy etasya sāmnaḥ
Let him know that all beings are dependent on him (the sun). What he is before his rising, that is the hinkâra. On it animals are dependent. Therefore animals say hin (before sunrise), for they share the hinkâra of that Sâman (the sun).
अथ यत् प्रथमोदिते स प्रस्तावः । तद् अस्य मनुष्या अन्वायत्ताः । तस्मात् ते प्रस्तुतिकामाः प्रशंसाकामाः । प्रस्तावभाजिनो ह्य् एतस्य साम्नः
atha yat prathamodite sa prastāvaḥ | tad asya manuṣyā anvāyattāḥ | tasmāt te prastutikāmāḥ praśaṃsākāmāḥ | prastāvabhājino hy etasya sāmnaḥ
What he is when first risen, that is the prastâva. On it men are dependent. Therefore men love praise (prastuti) and celebrity, for they share the prastâva of that Sâman.
atha yat saṃgavavelāyāṃ sa ādiḥ | tad asya vayāṃsy anvāyattāni | tasmāt tāny antarikṣe 'nārambhaṇāny ādāyātmānaṃ paripatanti | ādibhājīni hy etasya sāmnaḥ
What he is at the time of the sangava, that is the âdi, the first, the Om. On it birds are dependent. Therefore birds fly about in the sky without support, holding themselves, for they share the âdi (the Om) of that Sâman.
atha yat saṃprati madhyaṃdine sa udgīthaḥ | tad asya devā anvāyattāḥ | tasmāt te sattamāḥ prājāpatyānām | udgīthabhājino hy etasya sāmnaḥ
What he is just at noon, that is the udgîtha. On it the Devas are dependent (because they are brilliant). Therefore they are the best of all the descendants of Pragâpati, for they share the udgîtha of that Sâman.
atha yad ūrdhvaṃ madhyaṃdināt prāg aparāhṇāt sa pratihāraḥ | tad asya garbhā anvāyattāḥ | tasmāt te pratihṛtā nāvapadyante | pratihārabhājino hy etasya sāmnaḥ
What he is after midday and before afternoon, that is the pratihâra. On it all germs are dependent. Therefore these, having been conceived (pratihrita), do not fall, for they share the pratihâra of that Sâman.
atha yad ūrdhvam aparāhṇāt prāg astam ayāt sa upadravaḥ | tad asyāraṇyā anvāyattāḥ | tasmāt te puruṣaṃ dṛṣṭvā kakṣaṃ śvabhram ity upadravanti | upadravabhājino hy etasya sāmnaḥ
What he is after the afternoon and before sunset, that is the upadrava. On it the animals of the forest are dependent. Therefore, when they see a man, they run (upadravanti) to the forest as a safe hiding-place, for they share the upadrava of that Sâman.
atha yat prathamāstamite tan nidhanam | tad asya pitaro 'nvāyattāḥ | tasmāt tān nidadhati | nidhanabhājino hy etasya sāmnaḥ | evaṃ khalv amum ādityaṃ saptavidhaṃ sāmopāste
What he is when he first sets, that is the nidhana. On it the fathers are dependent Therefore they put them down (nidadhati), for they share the nidhana of that Sâman. Thus a man meditates on the sevenfold Sâman as the sun.
Next let a man meditate on the sevenfold Sâman which is uniform in itself and leads beyond death. The word hinkâra has three syllables, the word prastâva has three syllables: that is equal (sama).
The word udgîtha has three syllables, the word upadrava has four syllables. With three and three syllables it should be equal. One syllable being left over, it becomes trisyllabic. Hence it is equal.
ekaviṃśatyādityam āpnoti | ekaviṃśo vā ito 'sāv ādityaḥ | dvāviṃśena param ādityāj jayati | tan nākam | tad viśokam
With twenty-one syllables a man reaches the sun (and death), for the sun is the twenty-first from here; with the twenty-second he conquers what is beyond the sun: that is blessedness, that is freedom from grief.
He obtains here the victory over the sun (death), and there is a higher victory than the victory over the sun for him, who knowing this meditates on the sevenfold Sâman as uniform in itself, which leads beyond death, yea, which leads beyond death.
The hinkâra is mind, the prastâva speech, the udgîtha sight, the pratihâra hearing, the nidhana breath. That is the Gâyatra Sâman, as interwoven in the (five) prânas.
sa ya evam etad gāyatraṃ prāṇeṣu protaṃ veda | prāṇī bhavati | sarvam āyur eti | jyog jīvati | mahān prajayā paśubhir bhavati | mahān kīrtyā | mahāmanāḥ syāt | tad vratam
He who thus knows this Gâyatra interwoven in the prânas, keeps his senses, reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes great with children and cattle, great by fame. The rule of him who thus meditates on the Gâyatra is, "Be not high-minded."
अभिमन्थति स हिङ्कारः । धूमो जायते स प्रस्तावः । ज्वलति स उद्गीथः । अङ्गारा भवन्ति स प्रतिहारः । उपशाम्यति तन् निधनम् । संशाम्यति तन् निधनम् । एतद् रथंतरम् अग्नौ प्रोतम्
abhimanthati sa hiṅkāraḥ | dhūmo jāyate sa prastāvaḥ | jvalati sa udgīthaḥ | aṅgārā bhavanti sa pratihāraḥ | upaśāmyati tan nidhanam | saṃśāmyati tan nidhanam | etad rathaṃtaram agnau protam
The hinkâra is, he rubs (the fire-stick); the prastâva, smoke rises; the udgîtha, it burns; the pratihâra, there are glowing coals; the nidhana, it goes down; the nidhana, it is gone out. This is the Rathantara Sâman as interwoven in fire.
sa ya evam etad rathaṃtaram agnau protaṃ veda | brahmavarcasy: annādo bhavati | sarvam āyur eti | jyog jīvati | mahān prajayā paśubhir bhavati | mahān kīrtyā | na pratyaṅṅ agnim ācāmen na niṣṭhīvet | tad vratam
He who thus knows this Rathantara interwoven in fire, becomes radiant and strong. He reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes great with children and cattle, great by fame. The rule is, 'Do not rinse the mouth or spit before the fire.'
उपमन्त्रयते स हिङ्कारः । ज्ञपयते स प्रस्तावः । स्त्रिया सह शेते स उद्गीथः । प्रति स्त्रीं सह शेते स प्रतिहारः । कालं गच्छति तन् निधनम् । पारं गच्छति तन् निधनम् । एतद् वामदेव्यं मिथुने प्रोतम्
upamantrayate sa hiṅkāraḥ | jñapayate sa prastāvaḥ | striyā saha śete sa udgīthaḥ | prati strīṃ saha śete sa pratihāraḥ | kālaṃ gacchati tan nidhanam | pāraṃ gacchati tan nidhanam | etad vāmadevyaṃ mithune protam
Sanskrit only: no published translation is held for this verse.
Rising, the sun is the hinkâra, risen, he is the prastâva, at noon he is the udgîtha, in the afternoon he is the pratihâra, setting, he is the nidhana. That is the Brihat Sâman as interwoven in the sun.
sa ya evam etad bṛhad āditye protaṃ veda | tejasvy: annādo bhavati | sarvam āyur eti | jyog jīvati | mahān prajayā paśubhir bhavati | mahān kīrtyā | tapantaṃ na nindet | tad vratam
He who thus knows the Brihat as interwoven in the sun, becomes refulgent and strong, he reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes great with children and cattle, great by fame. His rule is, 'Never complain of the heat of the sun.'
अभ्राणि संप्लवन्ते स हिङ्कारः । मेघो जायते स प्रस्तावः । वर्षति स उद्गीथः । विद्योतते स्तनयति स प्रतिहारः । उद्गृह्णाति तन् निधनम् । एतद् वैरूपं पर्जन्ये प्रोतम्
abhrāṇi saṃplavante sa hiṅkāraḥ | megho jāyate sa prastāvaḥ | varṣati sa udgīthaḥ | vidyotate stanayati sa pratihāraḥ | udgṛhṇāti tan nidhanam | etad vairūpaṃ parjanye protam
The mists gather, that is the hinkâra; the cloud has risen, that is the prastâva; it rains, that is the udgîtha; it flashes and thunders, that is the pratihâra; it stops, that is the nidhana. That is the Vairûpa Sâman, as interwoven in Parganya, the god of rain.
स य एवम् एतद् वैरूपं पर्जन्ये प्रोतं वेद । विरूपांश् च सुरूपंश् च पशून् अवरुन्धे । सर्वम् आयुर् एति । ज्योग् जीवति । महान् प्रजया पशुभिर् भवति । महान् कीर्त्या । वर्षन्तं न निन्देत् । तद् व्रतम्
sa ya evam etad vairūpaṃ parjanye protaṃ veda | virūpāṃś ca surūpaṃś ca paśūn avarundhe | sarvam āyur eti | jyog jīvati | mahān prajayā paśubhir bhavati | mahān kīrtyā | varṣantaṃ na nindet | tad vratam
He who thus knows the Vairûpa as interwoven in Parganya, obtains all kinds of cattle (virûpa), he reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes great with children and cattle, great by fame. His rule is, 'Never complain of the rain.'
The hinkâra is spring, the prastâva summer, the udgîtha the rainy season, the pratihâra autumn, the nidhana winter. That is the Vairâga Sâman, as interwoven in the seasons.
sa ya evam etad vairājam ṛtuṣu protaṃ veda | virājati prajayā | paśubhir brahmavarcasena | sarvam āyur eti | jyog jīvati | mahān prajayā paśubhir bhavati | mahān kīrtyā | ṛtūn na nindet | tad vratam
He who thus knows the Vairâga, as interwoven in the seasons, shines (virâgati) through children, cattle, and glory of countenance. He reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes great with children and cattle, great by fame. His rule is, 'Never complain of the seasons.'
The hinkâra is the earth, the prastâva the sky, the udgîtha heaven, the pratihâra the regions, the nidhana the sea. These are the Sakvari Sâmans, as interwoven in the worlds.
sa ya evam etāḥ śakvaryo lokeṣu protā veda | lokī bhavati sarvam āyur eti | jyog jīvati | mahān prajayā paśubhir bhavati | mahān kīrtyā | lokān na nindet | tad vratam
He who thus knows the Sakvaris, as interwoven in the worlds, becomes possessed, of the worlds, he reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes great with children and cattle, great by fame. His rule is, 'Never complain of the worlds.'
The hinkâra is goats, the prastâva sheep, the udgîtha cows, the pratihâra horses, the nidhana man. These are the Revati Sâmans, as interwoven in animals.
sa ya evam etā revatyaḥ paśuṣu protā veda | paśumān bhavati | sarvam āyur eti | jyog jīvati | mahān prajayā paśubhir bhavati | mahān kīrtyā | paśūn na nindet | tad vratam
He who thus knows these Revatis, as interwoven in animals, becomes rich in animals, he reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes great with children and cattle, great by fame. His rule is, 'Never complain of animals.'
The hinkâra is hair, the prastâva skin, the udgîtha flesh, the pratihâra bone, the nidhana marrow. That is the Yagñâyagñîya Sâman, as interwoven in the members of the body.
sa ya evam etad yajñāyajñīyam aṅgeṣu protaṃ veda | aṅgī bhavati | nāṅgena vihūrchati | sarvam āyur eti | jyog jīvati | mahān prajayā paśubhir bhavati | mahān kīrtyā | saṃvatsaraṃ majjño nāśnīyāt | tad vratam | majjño nāśnīyād iti vā
He who thus knows the Yagñâyagñîya, as interwoven in the members of the body, becomes possessed of strong limbs, he is not crippled in any limb, he reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes great with children and cattle, great by fame. His rule is, 'Do not eat marrow for a year,' or 'Do not eat marrow at all.'
The hinkâra is fire, the prastâva air, the udgîtha the sun, the pratihâra the stars, the nidhana the moon. That is the Râgana Sâman, as interwoven in the deities.
sa ya evam etad rājanaṃ devatāsu protaṃ veda | etāsām eva devatānāṃ salokatāṃ sarṣṭitāṃ sāyujyaṃ gacchati | sarvam āyur eti | jyog jīvati | mahān prajayā paśubhir bhavati | mahān kīrtyā | brāhmaṇān na nindet | tad vratam
He who thus knows the Râgana, as interwoven in the deities, obtains the same world, the same happiness, the same company as the gods, he reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes great with children and cattle, great by fame. His rule is, 'Do not speak evil of the Brâhmanas.'
trayī vidyā hiṅkāraḥ | traya ime lokāḥ sa prastāvaḥ | agnir vāyur ādityaḥ sa udgīthaḥ | nakṣatrāṇi vayāṃsi marīcayaḥ sa pratihāraḥ | sarpā gandharvāḥ pitaras tan nidhanam | etat sāma sarvasmin protam
The hinkâra is the threefold knowledge, the prastâva these three worlds, the udgîtha Agni (fire), Vâyu (air), and Âditya (sun), the pratihâra the stars, the birds, and the rays, the nidhana the serpents, Gandharvas, and fathers. That is the Sâman, as interwoven in everything.
tad eṣa ślokaḥ | yāni pañcadhā trīṇi trīṇi | tebhyo na jyāyaḥ param anyad asti
And thus it is said in the following verse: 'There are the fivefold three (the three kinds of sacrificial knowledge, the three worlds &c. in their fivefold form, i.e. as identified with the hinkâra, the prastâva, &c), and the other forms of the Sâman. Greater than these there is nothing else besides.'
yas tad veda sa veda sarvam | sarvā diśo balim asmai haranti | sarvam asmīty upāsita | tad vrataṃ tad vratam
He who knows this, knows everything. All regions offer him gifts. His rule is, 'Let him meditate (on the Sâman), knowing that he is everything, yea, that he is everything.'
The udgîtha, of which a poet said, I choose the deep sounding note of the Sâman as good for cattle, belongs to Agni; the indefinite note belongs to Pragâpati, the definite note to Soma, the soft and smooth note to Vâyu, the smooth and strong note to Indra, the heron-like note to Brihaspati, the dull note to Varuna. Let a man cultivate all of these, avoiding, however, that of Varuna.
Let a man sing, wishing to obtain by his song immortality for the Devas. 'May I obtain by my song oblations (svadhâ) for the fathers, hope for men, fodder and water for animals, heaven for the sacrificer, food for myself,' thus reflecting on these in his mind, let a man (Udgâtri priest) sing praises, without making mistakes in pronunciation, &c.
All vowels (svara) belong to Indra, all sibilants (ûshman) to Pragâpati, all consonants (sparsa) to Mrityu (death). If somebody should reprove him for his vowels, let him say, 'I went to Indra as my refuge (when pronouncing my vowels): he will answer thee.'
अथ यद्य् एनम् ऊष्मासूपालभेत । प्रजापतिं शरणं प्रपन्नो ऽभूवं स त्वा प्रति पेक्ष्यतीत्य् एनं ब्रूयात् । अथ यद्य् एनं स्पर्शेषूपालभेत । मृत्युं शरणं प्रपन्नो ऽभूवं स त्वा प्रति धक्ष्यतीत्य् एनं ब्रूयात्
atha yady enam ūṣmāsūpālabheta | prajāpatiṃ śaraṇaṃ prapanno 'bhūvaṃ sa tvā prati pekṣyatīty enaṃ brūyāt | atha yady enaṃ sparśeṣūpālabheta | mṛtyuṃ śaraṇaṃ prapanno 'bhūvaṃ sa tvā prati dhakṣyatīty enaṃ brūyāt
And if somebody should reprove him for his sibilants, let him say, 'I went to Pragâpati as my refuge: he will smash thee.' And if somebody should reprove him for his consonants, let him say, 'I went to Mrityu as my refuge: he will reduce thee to ashes.'
All vowels are to be pronounced with voice (ghosha) and strength (bala), so that the Udgâtri may give strength to Indra. All sibilants are to be pronounced, neither as if swallowed (agrasta), nor as if thrown out (nirasta), but well opened (vivrita), so that the Udgâtri may give himself to Pragâpati. All consonants are to be pronounced slowly, and without crowding them together, so that the Udgâtri may withdraw himself from Mrityu.