Yajurveda (यजुर्वेदः)

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Yajurveda (Samskrit: यजुर्वेदः)

Talk on Yajurveda

परिचयः ॥ Introduction

Also, known as Adhvaryuveda. Has 18 Parishishtas. In the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad, vi. 4, 33, there is a reference to the śuklāni Yajūṃṣi, ‘white or pure Yajus,’ as promulgated by Vājasaneya Yājñavalkya, whence the Vājasaneyi Saṃhītā is popularly known as the ‘White Yajurveda.’

Puranic Encyclopedia

The Caturvedas are:--ṛgveda, yajurveda sāmaveda and Atharvaveda. viṣṇu purāṇa, Part 3, Chapter 5, mentions that vaiśampāyana, the disciple of vedavyāsa, divided yajurveda into twentyseven branches and taught them to his disciples. Among those disciples there was yājñavalkya, the son of Brahmarāta. It was vyāsa who divided the Vedas into four parts. After dīviding them, the sage vyāsa taught ṛgveda to paila, yajurveda to vaiśampāyana, sāmaveda to jaimini and Atharvaveda to sumantu.

The rules for japa, homa etc. of yajurveda were taught to vyāsa by Agnideva. If all the rules of yajurveda are correctly observed, all desires will be fulfilled. There are special rules for the observance of homa for the fulfilment of particular desires.

Apte

यजुस्. A text of the Yajurveda, or the body of sacredmantras in prose muttered at sacrifices; वृत्तगीतिवर्जितत्वेन प्रश्लिष्टपठिता मन्त्रा यजूंषि Sāyaṇ

वेदः the second of the three (or four, including the Atharvaveda) principal Vedas, which is a collection of sacred texts in prose relating to sacrifices; it has two chief branches or recensions: the तैत्तिरीय or कृष्ण- यजुर्वेद and बाजसनेयी or शुक्लयजुर्वेद.

Shabda Sagara

-जुः) The Yajur or Yajush, one of the four Ve4das; it is divided into two principal portions, the white and black, or Va4jasane4yi and Taittiri4ya, the former of which is attributed to the saint YA4JNAWALKYA, to whom it was revealed by the sun, in the form of a horse; and the latter to TAITTIRI, to whom it was communicated by YA4SKA, the first pupil of its original author, the sage VAIS4AMPA4YANA: according to the Pura4n4as the Taittiri4ya portion was named from Tittiri a partridge; the disciples of VAIS4AMPA4YANA being changed into those birds, to pick up the texts of the Ve4da as they were disgorged in a tangible shape by YA4JNAWALKYA, at the command of VAIS4AMPA4YANA: both portions of this Ve4da are very full on the subject of religious rites, and the prayers peculiar to it, are chiefly in measured and poetical prose. E. यज् to worship, Una4di aff. उसि ।

Mahabharata Cultural Index

Yajus : nt. (sg. or pl.): Sacrificial prose formula from the Yajurveda; when used in plural it stands also for the Yajurveda; when in plural, it mostly occurs with ṛcs and sāmans.

Gift of Āditya to Yājñavalkya: The sage Yājñavalkya told king Janaka that while he was practising the prescribed rite, (although) he was despised (? avamatena), he propitiated the god Sun with severe austerity; he then received from Āditya the yajuses (yathārṣeṇeha vidhinā caratāvamatena ha/mayādityād avāptāni yajūṁṣi mithilādhipa//mahatā tapasā devas tapiṣṭhaḥ sevito mayā) 12. 306. 2-3; when the pleased god Sūrya offered a boon to Yājñavalkya, the latter requested the god to grant him the yajuses which had not been used before (? yajūṁṣi nopayuktāni kṣipram icchāmi veditum) 12. 306. 4-5; the god agreed to Yājñavalkya's request; Sarasvatī then in the form of speech entered Yājñavalkya's mouth 12. 306. 6-7; the God said that as a result of that, the whole of Veda (i. e. the Yajurveda) together with its latter half and the khila would be established in him (Yājñavalkya) (pratiṣṭhāsyati te vedaḥ sottaraḥ sakhilo dvijā) 12. 306. 10 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 12. 318. 10: khilaṁ paraśākhīyaṁ svaśākhyāyām apekṣāvaśāt paṭhyate tat khilam ity ucyate/…sakhilam tatsahitam/ sottaraṁ sopaniṣatkam/); Yājñavalkya received fifteen yajuses from Arka (Sūrya) (daśa pañca ca prāptāni yajūṁṣy arkān mayānagha) 12. 306. 21; Sūrya gave the yajuses (to Yājñavalkya) in the east (atra (i. e. in the east) dattāni sūryeṇa yajūṁṣi) 5. 106. 11 (Nī on Bom. Ed. 5. 108. 11: yājñavalkyāyeti śeṣaḥ).

All about Hinduism - Swami Sivananda

The Veda is divided into four great books: the Rig-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, the Sama-Veda and the Atharva-Veda. The Yajur-Veda is again divided into two parts, the Sukla and the Krishna. The Krishna or the Taittiriya is the older book and the Sukla or the Vajasaneya is a later revelation to sage Yajnavalkya from the resplendent Sun-God.

The Rig-Veda is divided into twenty-one sections, the Yajur-Veda into one hundred and nine sections, the Sama-Veda into one thousand sections and the Atharva-Veda into fifty sections. In all, the whole Veda is thus divided into one thousand one hundred and eighty recensions.

The Yajur-Veda Samhita is mostly in prose and is meant to be used by the Adhvaryu, the Yajur- Vedic priest, for superfluous explanations of the rites in sacrifices, supplementing the Rig-Vedic Mantras.

The Satapatha Brahmana belongs to the Sukla Yajur-Veda. The Krishna-Yajur-Veda has the Taittiriya and the Maitrayana Brahmanas. Each of the Brahmanas has got an Aranyaka.

There are as many Upanishads to each Veda as there are Sakhas, branches or recensions, i.e., 21, 109, 1000 and 50 respectively to the four Vedas, the Rig-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, the Sama-Veda and the Atharva-Veda.

Among the Kalpa Sutras, The Katyayana and Paraskara belong to the Sukla Yajur-Veda. The Apastamba, Hiranyakesi, Bodhayana, Bharadvaja, Manava, Vaikhanasa and the Kathaka belong to the Krishna Yajur-Veda.

Ahilya Singh (2010), Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak Chapter 1.

Chapter 1

Yajurveda is the collection of yajus used by the Adhvaryus. The term yajus derived from yaj + usi is used in the sense of Yajniya prarthana or mantra. The mantras in Gadya (prose) uttered by the Adhvaryu while performing Yajna-vidhis are known as Yajus. The mantras different from Rk and Sama are designated as Yajus.

यजुर्वेदप्रवक्तारं वैशंपायनमेव च ।। ३४.१४ ।। Brahmanda Purana, Purvabhaga

Shakha Vibhaga

According to Muktikopanishad 109 shakhas

नवाधिकशतं शाखा यजुषो मारुतात्मज ॥ १२॥ Muktikopanishad

Currently, there are 5 Shakhas of Yajurveda viz.

1. Taittiriya
2. Katha-Kapishthala
3. Maitrayani
4. Vajasaneyi
5. Kanva

Vajasaneyi Samhita

It belongs to the Shukla Yajurveda branch. This Samhita was obtained by Yajnavalkya from a Vajin. Hence, the name. It comprises of 40 Adhyayas, 303 anuvakas, 1975 Kandikas. The mantras are in both Gadya and Padya.

Kanva Samhita

It belongs to the Shukla Yajurveda branch and comprises of 40 Adhyayas.

Taittiriya Samhita

It represents the Krishna Yajurveda branch. It was revealed through Rishi Tittiri, the disciple of Rishi Vaishampayana. Hence, the name. It comprises of 7 Kandas, 44 Prapathakas, 631 anuvakas, 2198 kandikas.

Maitrayani Samhita

It consists of 4 Kandas, 54 Prapathakas and 3144 mantras.

Katha Samhita

Katha Kapishthala Samhita

This Samhita is not available in entirety.

Speciality of Yajurveda:

It is the foundation of Karmakanda. It is a collection of mantra specifications and rules applicable in the performance of various yajnas.

व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology

Vachaspatyam

यजुषां ऋक्साममिन्नानां मन्त्राणां प्रतिपादकोवेदः। वेदभेदे स च शुक्लकृष्णभेदेन द्विधा तद्विवरणंचरणव्यूहे भाग॰

{@यजुस्@}¦ न॰ यज--उसि। ऋकसामभिन्ने पदच्छेदरहितेमन्त्रभेदे अमरः। तल्लक्षणम् “वृत्तगीतिवर्जितत्वेनप्रश्लिष्टपठिता मन्त्रा यजूंषि” सा॰ भा॰ उक्तम्।

Shabdakalpadruma

यजुर्व्वेदः, पुं, (यजुरेव वेदः । यजुषां वेद इति वा ।) वेदविशेषः । तस्याधिपतिर्यथा, -- “ऋग्वेदाधिपतिर्जीवः सामवेदाधिपः कुजः । यजुर्व्वेदाधिपः शुक्रः शशिजोऽथर्व्ववेदराट् ॥” इति ज्योतिषम् ॥ अस्य वक्ता वैशम्पायनः । स तु आदावेक एवासीत् । यथा, -- “ऋग्वेदंश्रावकं पैलं जग्राह स महामुनिः । यजुर्व्वेदप्रवक्तारं वैशम्पायनमेव च ॥ जैमिनं सामवेदस्य श्रावकं सोऽन्वपद्यत । तथैवाथर्व्ववेदस्य सुमन्तुमृषिसत्तमम् ॥ एक आसीद्यजुर्व्वेदस्तञ्चतुर्धा व्यकल्पयत् । चातुर्होत्रमभूद्यस्मिंस्तेन यज्ञमथाकरोत् ॥ अध्वर्यवं यजुर्भिः स्यादृग्भिर्होत्रं द्विजोत्तमाः । उद्गात्रं सामभिश्चक्रे ब्रह्मत्वञ्चाप्यथर्व्वभिः ॥ ततः स ऋच उद्धृत्य ऋग्वेदं कृतावान् प्रभुः । यजूंषि च यजुर्व्वेदं सामवेदञ्च सामभिः ॥ एकविंशतिभेदेन ऋग्वेदं कृतवान् पुरा । शाखानान्तु शतेनाथ यजुर्व्वेदमथाकरोत् ॥ सामवेदं सहस्रेण शाखानाञ्च विभेदतः । अथर्व्वाणमथो वेदं बिभेद नवकेन तु ॥” इति कौर्म्म्ये ४९ अध्यायः ॥

यजुः, [स्] क्ली, (इज्यतेऽनेनेति । यज् + “अर्त्ति- पॄवपियजीति ।” उणा० २ । ११८ । इति उसिः ।) वेदविशेषः । इत्यमरः । १ । ६ । ३ ॥ “इज्यतेऽनेनेति यजुः । यजै ञौ देवार्च्चादानसङ्ग- कृतौ । त्रासुसिस् इति उस् ।” इति भरतः ॥ * ॥ अपि च । यजुराह जैमिनिः । शेषे वा यजुः- शब्दः । शेषे ऋक्सामभिन्ने मन्त्रजाते ततश्च यन्मन्त्रजातं प्रश्लिष्य पठितं गानादिविच्छेद- रहितं तत् यजुरिति । इति तिथ्यादितत्त्वम् ॥ यजुर्व्वेदस्य षडशीतिर्भेदा भवन्ति । तत्र चरका नाम द्वादश भेदा भवन्ति । चरकाः १ आह्व- रकाः २ कठाः ३ प्राच्यकठाः ४ कपिष्ठलकठाः ५ औपमन्याः ६ आष्ठालकठाः ७ चाराय- णीयाः ८ वारायणीयाः ९ वार्त्तान्तवेयाः १० श्वेताश्वतराः ११ मैत्रायणीयाश्चेति १२ । तत्र मैत्रायणीया नाम सप्त भेदा भवन्ति । मानवाः १ दुन्दुभाः २ चैकेयाः ३ वाराहाः ४ हारिद्रवेयाः ५ श्यामाः ६ श्यामायनीया- श्चेति ७ । तेषामध्ययनमष्टौ शतम् । यजुः- महस्राण्यधीत्य शाखापारो भवति । तान्येव द्विगुणान्यधीत्य पदपारो भवति । तान्येव त्रिगु- णान्यधीत्य क्रमपारो भवति । षडङ्गान्यधीत्य षडङ्गविद्भवति । शिक्षा कल्पो व्याकरणं निरुक्तं च्छन्दो ज्योतिषमित्यङ्गानि । तत्र प्राच्योदीच्यां नैरृत्यां निरृत्यः । तत्र वाजसनेया नाम सप्त- दश भेदा भवन्ति । जाबालाः १ औधेघाः २ काण्वाः ३ माध्यन्दिनाः ४ शापीयाः ५ तापायनीयाः ६ कापालाः ७ पौण्ड्रवत्साः ८ आवटिकाः ९ पामावटिकाः १० पारा- शर्य्याः ११ वैधेयाः १२ वैनेयाः १३ औधेयाः १४ गालवाः १५ वैजवाः १६ कात्यायनीया- श्चेति १७ । प्रतिपदमनुपदं छन्दो भाषा धर्म्मो मीमांसा न्यायस्तर्क इत्युपाङ्गानि भवन्ति । उपज्योतिषम् १ साङ्गलक्षणम् २ प्रतिज्ञा ३ अनुवाक्यम् ४ परिसंख्या ५ चरणच्यूहम् ६ श्राद्धकल्पः ७ प्रवराध्यायश्च ८ शास्त्रम् ९ क्रतुः १० संख्या ११ अनुगमः १२ यज्ञम् १३ पाश्वानः १४ होत्रकम् १५ पशवः १५ उक्- थानि १७ कूर्म्मलक्षणम् १८ । इत्यष्टादशपरि- शिष्टानि । “द्बे सहस्रे शते न्यूने मन्त्रे वाजसनेयके । इत्युक्तं परिसंख्यातमेतत् सकलं सशुक्रियम् ॥ ग्रन्थांश्च परिसंख्यातं ब्राह्मणञ्च चतुर्गुणम् । आदावारभ्य वेदान्तं ब्रह्मव्याहृतिपूर्ब्बकम् । वेदमध्याय एतेषां होमान्ते तु समारभेत् ॥” तत्र तैत्तिरीयका नाम द्विभेदा भवन्ति । औख्याः खाण्डिकेयाश्चेति । तत्र खाण्डिकेया नाम पञ्च भेदा भवन्ति । आपस्तम्बी १ बौधा- यनी २ सत्याषाढी ३ हिरण्यकेशी ४ औधेया- श्चेति ५ । तत्र कठानान्तूपगानविशेषः । चतु- श्चत्वारिंशत्युपग्रन्थान् । “मन्त्रब्राह्मणयोर्वेदस्त्रिगुणं यत्र पठ्यते । यजुर्व्वेदः स विज्ञेयोऽन्ये शाखान्तराः स्मृताः ॥” यजुर्व्वेदस्य धनुर्व्वेद उपवेदः । यजुर्व्वेदस्य भार- द्वाजगोत्रम् । रुद्रदैवत्यम् । त्रैष्टुभं छन्दः । यजु- र्व्वेदः कृशः । दीर्घः । कपाली । ताम्रवर्णः । काञ्चननयनः । आदित्यवर्णः वर्णेन । पञ्चारत्नि- मात्रः । अस्य ध्यानम् । “वन्दे रौद्रं त्रैष्टभं ताम्रवर्णं भारद्वाजं रुक्मनेत्रं कृशाङ्गम् । यजुर्व्वेदं दीर्घमादित्यवर्णं कापालीनं पञ्च चारत्निमात्रम् ॥” य इदं दैवतं रूपं गोत्रं प्रमाणं छन्दो वर्णं वर्णयति स विद्यां लभते स विद्यां लभते । जन्मजन्मनि वेदपारो भवति । जन्मजन्मनि वेदधारो भवति । अव्रतो व्रती भवति । अप्रयतः प्रयतो भवति । अब्रह्मचारी ब्रह्म- चारी भवति । जातिस्मरो जायते । इति चरणव्यूहम् ॥ (ऋक्सामभिन्नो मन्त्रविशेषः । इति केचित् ॥)

Baldev Upadhyay (1955), Vaidik Sahitya, Kashi

The term Yajuh is variegatedly explained as follows:

अनियताक्षरावसानो यजुः । The one in which the number of syllables is not designated or fixed.

गद्यात्मको यजुः । and शेषे यजुः । suggest that the prosaic mantras apart from the rks and samans are termed as yajus.

शाखाः ॥ Recensions

The Yajurveda text includes Shukla Yajurveda of which about 16 recensions are known, while the Krishna Yajurveda may have had as many as 86 recensions. Only two recensions of the Shukla Yajurveda have survived, Madhyandina and Kanva, and others are known by name only because they are mentioned in other texts. These two recensions are nearly the same, except for few differences. In contrast to Shukla Yajurveda, the four surviving recensions of Krishna Yajurveda are very different versions.

The Krshna Yajurveda has survived in four recensions, while two recensions of Shukla Yajurveda have survived into the modern times.

Baldev Upadhyay (1955), Vaidik Sahitya, Kashi

There are two Sampradayas of the Vedas viz. Brahma Sampradaya and Aditya Sampradaya.

According to the Shatapatha Brahmana, Shukla Yajurveda narrated by Yajnavalkya represents the Aditya Sampradaya.

आदित्यानीमानि शुक्लानि यजूंषि वाजसनेयेन याज्ञवल्क्येनाख्यायन्ते १४.९.५.३३

Consequently, the Krshna Yajurveda represents the Brahma Sampradaya.

The differentiation of the Yajurveda into Krshna and Shukla is to do with their content.

The Shukla Yajurveda has a collection of only mantras essential for performing rituals like darshapurnamasa, etc. While the Krshna Yajurveda also includes the relevant brahmana portions therein. The combination of mantras and brahmanas defines the nature of Krshna Yajurveda and the unalloyed collection of mantras alone defines the nature of the Shukla Yajurveda.

Shukla Yajurveda

The samhita in the Shukla Yajurveda is called the Vajasaneyi Samhita. The name Vajasaneyi is derived from Vajasaneya, patronymic of sage Yajnavalkya, and the founder of the Vajasaneyi branch. There are two (nearly identical) surviving recensions of the Vajasaneyi Samhita (VS): Vajasaneyi Madhyandina and Vajasaneyi Kanva. The lost recensions of White Yajurveda, mentioned in other texts of ancient India, include Jabala, Baudhya, Sapeyi, Tapaniya, Kapola, Paundravatsa, Avati, Paramavatika, Parasara, Vaineya, Vaidheya, Katyayana and Vaijayavapa.

Adhyayas	Anuvakas	No. of Verses	Regional presence	Reference
40	303	1975	Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, North India
40	328	2086	Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu

Krishna Yajurveda

A total of eighty six recensions are mentioned to exist in Vayu Purana, however vast majority of them are believed to be lost. The Katha school is referred to as a sub-school of Carakas (wanderers) in some ancient texts of India, because they did their scholarship as they wandered from place to place.

No. of Sub-recensions	Kanda	Prapathaka	No. of Mantras	Regional presence	Reference
2	7	42		South India
6	4	54		Western India
12	5	40	3093	Kashmir, North India, East India
5	6	48		Haryana, Rajasthan

The Maitrayani saṃhita is the oldest Yajurveda Samhita that has survived, and it differs largely in content from the Taittiriyas, as well as in some different arrangement of chapters, but is much more detailed.

The Kāṭhaka saṃhitā or the Caraka-Kaṭha saṃhitā, according to tradition was compiled by Katha, a disciple of Vaisampayana. Like the Maitrayani Samhita, it offers much more detailed discussion of some rituals than the younger Taittiriya samhita that frequently summarizes such accounts. The Kapiṣṭhala saṃhitā or the Kapiṣṭhala-Kaṭha saṃhitā, named after the sage Kapisthala is extant only in some large fragments and edited without accent marks. This text is practically a variant of the Kāṭhaka saṃhitā.

Baldev Upadhyay (1955), Vaidik Sahitya, Kashi

The Taittiriya shakha is the prime shakha of the Krshna Yajurveda. There is a famous narrative about the same. It is said that fearing the curse of Guru Vaishampayana, Yajnavalkya vomitted the Yajus studied by him and as per the instructions of the Guru, other shishyas took the form of tittiris (birds) and consumed the vomitted yajus. And by the grace of Bhagavan Surya, Yajnavalkya obtained the Shukla Yajurveda.

Organization

Each regional edition (recension) of Yajurveda had Samhita, Brahmana, Aranyakas, Upanishads as part of the text, with Shrautasutras, Grhyasutras and Pratishakhya attached to the text. In Shukla Yajurveda, the text organization is same for both Madhayndina and Kanva shakhas.

In Krishna Yajurveda, each of the recensions has or had their Brahmana text mixed into the Samhita text, thus creating a motley of the prose and verses, and making it unclear, disorganized.

Contents

Samhitas

Structure of the mantras

The various ritual mantras in the Yajurveda Samhitas are typically set in a meter, and call on Vedic deities such as the Savita (Sun), Indra, Agni, Prajapati, Rudra and others. The Taittiriya Samhita in Book 4, for example, includes the following verses for the Agnicayana ritual recitation (abridged)

Brahmanas

Baldev Upadhyay (1955), Vaidik Sahitya, Kashi

There are two major brahmana texts of the yajurveda that are available viz.

1. Shatapatha Brahmana belonging to the Shukla Yajurveda.
2. Taittiriya Brahmana belonging to the Krshna Yajurveda.

The Shatapatha brahmana is available in both the Madhyandina and Kanva shakhas of the Shukla Yajurveda. Though their subject-matter is the same, there are slight variations in the order of description of Yajnas and the number of adhyayas.

The Madhyandina Shatapatha brahmana consists of 14 Kandas, 100 adhyayas, 68 Prapathakas, 438 brahmanas and 7624 kandikas. While the Kanva shatapatha brahmana is organised into 17 kandas, 104 adhyayas, 435 brahmanas and 6806 kandikas.

Upanishads

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

It is key scripture of Hinduism that has influenced all schools of Hindu philosophy. The text is a treatise on Ātman (Soul, Self), with passages on metaphysics, ethics and a yearning for knowledge that influenced various Indian religions, ancient and medieval scholars.

Isha Upanishad

The Isha Upanishad discusses the Atman (Soul, Self) theory of Hinduism, and is referenced by both Dvaita (dualism) and Advaita (non-dualism) sub-schools of Vedanta.

Taittiriya Upanishad

It is the seventh, eighth and ninth chapters of Taittiriya Aranyaka, which are also called, respectively, the Siksha Valli, the Ananda Valli and the Bhrigu Valli.

Katha Upanishad

The detailed teachings of Katha Upanishad have been variously interpreted as Advaita (non-dualistic).

पदकाराः ॥ Padapatha Authors

The padapatha of Yajurveda Samhitas are available though not all are published. While the padapatha of Madhyandina Samhita is published, the padapatha for Kanva Samhita is not published. However, there are no details available about their authors.

The author of the padapatha of Taittiriya Samhita is Atreya and this is mentioned by Bhatta Bhaskara in the beginning of his commentary on the Taittiriya Samhita.

उखश्चात्रेयाय ददौ येन पदविभागश्चक्रे ।

The Kandanukramani also mentions Atreya as the author of the Taittiriya padapatha.

यस्याः पदकृदात्रेयो वृत्तिकारस्तु कुण्डिनः ।

The Bodhayana Grhyasutra mentions tarpana for Padakara Atreya in the performance of Rishi tarpana c.f. आत्रेयाय पदकाराय ३.९.७

This Atreya is contemporary to the Rigveda Padakara Shakalya.

Baldev Upadhyay (1955), Vaidik Sahitya, Kashi

भाष्यकाराः ॥ Commentators

In the medieval times, the Vaidik scholars wrote commentaries on the Vaidik Samhitas in order to bring forth their meaning and make them more understandable. And they put to use knowledge of nirukta, grammar, puranas, itihasas, etc in this process of semantic pursuit.

The commentators of the Yajurveda Samhitas are as follows:

1. Taittiriya Samhita - Bhavasvami, Guhadeva, Kshura and Bhatta Bhaskara Mishra.
2. Madhyandina Samhita - Uvvata and Mahidhara

Swami Dayananda Saraswati has also written Samskrit commentaries on the Yajurveda.

Baldev Upadhyay (1955), Vaidik Sahitya, Kashi

Manuscripts and translations

Devi Chand published a re-interpreted translation of Yajurveda in 1965, reprinted as 3rd edition in 1980, wherein the translation incorporated Dayananda Saraswati's monotheistic interpretations of the Vedic text, and the translation liberally adds "O Lord" and "the Creator" to various verses, unlike other translators.

Sripad Damodar Satavlekar published the Yajuevedic Samhita with an index. A hindi translation of the Yajurveda Samhita by Acharya Shriram Sharma is available.

Baldev Upadhyay (1955), Vaidik Sahitya, Kashi

Rtvik

Apte

अध्वर्युः. Any officiating priest, technically distinguished from होतृ, उद्रातृ and ब्रह्मन्. His duty was "to measure the ground, build the altar, prepare sacrificial vessels, to fetch wood and water, to light the fire, to bring the animal and immolate it," and while doing this to repeat the Yajurveda; होता प्रथमं शंसति तमध्वर्युः प्रोत्साहयति Sk. See अच्छावाक also.

The Yajurveda Samhita was compiled keeping in mind the procedural principles of Yajnas. And among the four rtviks imperative to the fulfilment of Yajna-karmas, the Adhvaryu is of prime importance as he fulfils the prime rituals of the Yajna. And it is to aid the fulfilment of his specific duties known as the Adhvaryava that the Yajurveda Samhitas are compiled within different shakhas. The adhvaryu recites the prosaic mantras or yajus and performs the rituals.

Baldev Upadhyay (1955), Vaidik Sahitya, Kashi

Sociological reflections in Yajurveda

Agriculture

Shukla Yajurveda, Adhyaya 12.

12.67

सीरा युञ्जन्ति कवयो युगा वि तन्वते पृथक् ।

धीरा देवेषु सुम्नया ॥

12.68

युनक्त सीरा वि युगा तनुध्वं कृते योनौ वपतेह बीजम् ।

गिरा च श्रुष्टिः सभरा असन् नो नेदीयऽ इत् सृण्यः पक्वम् एयात् ॥

12.69

शुनꣳ सु फाला वि कृषन्तु भूमिꣳ शुनं कीनाशा ऽ अभि यन्तु वाहैः ।

शुनासीरा हविषा तोशमाना सुपिप्पला ऽ ओषधीः कर्तनास्मे ॥

12.70

घृतेन सीता मधुना सम् अज्यतां विश्वैर् देवैर् अनुमता मरुद्भिः ।

ऊर्जस्वती पयसा पिन्वमानास्मान्त् सीते पयसाभ्या ववृत्स्व ॥

12.71

लाङ्गलं पवीरवत् सुशेवꣳ सोमपित्सरु ।

तद् उद् वपति गाम् अविं प्रफर्व्यं च पीवरीं प्रस्थावद् रथवाहनम् ॥

Yajurveda taittiriya samhita mentions 3 types of land viz.

1. Urvara (shukla 16.33; Taittiriya 4.5.6) - fertile land
2. Irina (shukla 16.43; Taittiriya 4.5.9) - barren land
3. Shashpya (shukla 16.42; Taittiriya 4.5.8) - grass land

Yajurveda taittiriya samhita also mentions different types of mud/clay viz.

1. Mrd/Mrttika - मृत्तिका च मे (18.13)
2. Rajasa bhumi - रजस्याय च (16.45)
3. Ashma - अश्मा च मे (18.13)
4. Kimshila - किꣳशिलाय च (16.43)
5. Irinya - इरिण्याय च (16.43)
6. Urvara - उर्वर्याय च (16.33)
7. Sikata - सिकत्याय च (16.43)

Yajurveda mentions two types of Agriculture - वर्ष्याय चावर्ष्याय च ॥ 16.38

1. Varshya - dependent on rain
2. Avarshya - not dependant on rain; dependent on irrigation from wells, ponds, canals, etc.

Another classification of Agriculture in the Yajurveda is कृष्टपच्याश् च मे ऽकृष्टपच्याश् च मे 18.14

1. Krshta Pachya - Grains obtained through ploughing.
2. Akrshta Pachya - Wild grains, flowers and fruits obtained without ploughing.

Taittiriya Samhita also mentions the seasonal timeline for agricultural activities of specific crops.

2 यवं ग्रीष्मायौषधीर् वर्षाभ्यो व्रीहीञ् छरदे माषतिलौ हेमन्तशिशिराभ्याम् । तेनेन्द्रम् प्रजापतिर् अयाजयत् ततो वा इन्द्र इन्द्रो ऽभवत् तस्माद् आहुः । आनुजावरस्य यज्ञ इति स ह्य् एतेनाग्रे ऽयजत । एष ह वै कुणपम् अत्ति यः सत्त्रे प्रतिगृह्णाति पुरुषकुणपम् अश्वकुणपम् । गौर् वा अन्नम् । येन पात्रेणान्नम् बिभ्रति यत् तन् न निर्णेनिजति ततो ऽधि (Taittiriya 7.2.10.2)

Meaning: The grains that were cooked in summer were sown in rains and harvested in sharad.

Til and sem were sown in rains and harvested in winter (?)

The Taittiriya Samhita also mentions harvesting two crops in a year.

3 जनयस् ताभिर् एवैनाम् पचति षड्भिः पचति षड् वा ऋतवः । ऋतुभिर् एवैनाम् पचति द्विः पचन्त्व् इत्य् आह तस्माद् द्विः संवत्सरस्य सस्यम् पच्यते वारुण्य् उखाभीद्धा मैत्रियोपैति शान्त्यै देवस् त्वा सवितोद् वपत्व् इत्य् आह सवितृप्रसूत एवैनाम् ब्रह्मणा देवताभिर् उद् वपति । अपद्यमाना पृथिव्य् आशा दिश आ पृण ॥ (Taittiriya 5.1.7.3)

The Yajurveda mentions 12 kinds of grains viz.

1. Vrihi
2. Yava
3. Masha
4. Tila
5. Mudk
6. Khalva
7. Priyangu
8. Anu
9. Shyamaka
10. Nivara
11. Godhuma
12. Masura

Shukla Yajurveda 18.12

व्रीहयश् च मे यवाश् च मे माषाश् च मे तिलाश् च मे मुद्गाश् च मे खल्वाश् च मे प्रियङ्गवश् च मे ऽणवश् च मे श्यामाकाश् च मे नीवाराश् च मे गोधूमाश् च मे मसूराश् च मे यज्ञेन कल्पन्ताम् ॥

Taittiriya Samhita 4.7.4.2

2 मे प्रभु च मे बहु च मे भूयश् च मे पूर्णं च मे पूर्णतरं च मे ऽक्षितिश् च मे कूयवाश् च मे ऽन्नं च मे ऽक्षुच् च मे व्रीहयश् च मे यवाश् च मे माषाश् च मे तिलाश् च मे मुद्गाश् च मे खल्वाश् च मे गोधूमाश् च मे मसुराश् च मे प्रियंगवश् च मे ऽणवश् च मे श्यामाकाश् च मे नीवाराश् च मे ॥

The Vajasaneyi Samhita mentions Rice, Moong, Urad, Til and Masoor (18.12; 21.29)

Reference: Ahilya Singh (2010), Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak, Chapter 2.

Animal Husbandry

The term 'hastipa' features in the Vajasaneyi Samhita which is regarded as a reference to a mahout.

30.11

अर्मेभ्यो हस्तिपं जवायाश्वपं पुष्ट्यै गोपालं वीर्यायाविपालं तेजसे ऽजपालम्...

The Vajasaneyi Samhita mentions Ram as an animal giving wool.

13.50

इममूर्णायुं वरुणस्य नाभिं त्वचं पशूनां द्विपदांचतुष्पदाम् ।

त्वष्टुः प्रजानां प्रथमं जनित्रम् अग्ने मा हिꣳसीः परमे व्योमन् ।

उष्ट्रम् आरण्यम् अनु ते दिशामि तेन चिन्वानस् तन्वो नि षीद ।

उष्ट्रं ते शुग् ऋच्छतु यं द्विष्मस् तं ते शुग् ऋच्छतु ॥

13.51

अजो ह्य् अग्नेर् अजनिष्ट शोकात् सो ऽ अपश्यज् जनितारम् अग्रे ।

तेन देवा देवताम् अग्रम् आयꣳस् तेन रोहम् आयन्न् उप मेध्यासः ।

शरभम् आरण्यम् अनु ते दिशामि तेन चिन्वानस् तन्वो नि षीद ।

शरभं ते शुग् ऋच्छतु यं द्विष्मस् तं ते शुग् ऋच्छतु ॥

The Yajurveda clearly prohibits cruelty to animals. It says,

36.22

यतो-यतः समीहसे ततो नो ऽ अभयं कुरु ।

शं नः कुरु प्रजाभ्यो ऽभयं नः पशुभ्यः ॥

It elaborates saying Cows, Ox, two-feet animals, animals with one 'saph', four-legged animals, camels and sheep should not be killed.

13.47

इमं मा हिꣳसीर् द्विपादं पशुꣳ सहस्राक्षो मेधाय चीयमानः ।

मयुं पशुं मेधम् अग्ने जुषस्व तेन चिन्वानस् तन्वो नि षीद ।

मयुं ते शुग् ऋच्छतु यं द्विष्मस् तं ते शुग् ऋच्छतु ॥

13.48

इमं मा हिꣳसीर् एकशफं पशुं कनिक्रदं वाजिनं वाजिनेषु ।

गौरम् आरण्यम् अनु ते दिशामि तेन चिन्वानस् तन्वो नि षीद ।

गौरं ते शुग् ऋच्छतु यं द्विष्मस् तं ते शुग् ऋच्छतु ॥

13.49

इमꣳ साहस्रꣳ शतधारम् उत्सं व्यच्यमानꣳ सरिरस्य मध्ये ।

घृतं दुहानाम् अदितिं जनायाग्ने मा हिꣳसीः परमे व्योमन् ।

गवयम् आरण्यम् अनु ते दिशामि तेन चिन्वानस् तन्वो नि षीद ।

गवयं ते शुग् ऋच्छतु यं द्विष्मस् तं ते शुग् ऋच्छतु ॥

13.50

इममूर्णायुं वरुणस्य नाभिं त्वचं पशूनां द्विपदांचतुष्पदाम् ।

त्वष्टुः प्रजानां प्रथमं जनित्रम् अग्ने मा हिꣳसीः परमे व्योमन् ।

उष्ट्रम् आरण्यम् अनु ते दिशामि तेन चिन्वानस् तन्वो नि षीद ।

उष्ट्रं ते शुग् ऋच्छतु यं द्विष्मस् तं ते शुग् ऋच्छतु ॥

It also mentions killing of a horse as a punishable offense

यो ऽ अर्वन्तं जिघाꣳसति तम् अभ्य् अमीति वरुणः परो मर्तः परः श्वा ॥ 22.5

Reference: Ahilya Singh (2010), Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak, Chapter 3.

Textile

The Yajurveda mentions ladies who do

1. embroidery - पेशस्कारीꣳ (30.9)
2. dyeing - रजयित्रीम् (30.12)
3. basket maker - बिदलकारीं (30.8)

There is also mention of loom (वेम) and weaver's shuttle (तसरं) Shukla 19.83 and Kathaka 38.3

It also mentions woolen thread.

ऊर्णासूत्रेण कवयो वयन्ति । 19.80

It is seen that dyeing and embroidery of cloths was largely done by women.

Reference: Ahilya Singh (2010), Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak, Chapter 4.

Metallurgy

In the Yajurveda, we find the term श्यामेनायसा for iron and र्लोहितेनायसेति for copper (Maitrayani 4.2.9); it also mentions a goldsmith ie. हिरण्यकारं (30.17)

Reference: Ahilya Singh (2010), Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak, Chapter 4.

Vajasaneya Samhita mentions hiranya-gold, ayasa, shyama-iron, loha-copper, sisa-lead, trapu-tin.

Reference: Ahilya Singh (2010), Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak, Conclusion.

Wooden works

The Yajurveda also mentions carpentar ie. तक्षाणं (12.10) and a chariot-maker ie. रथकारेभ्यश्च वो नमो नमः (17.13). The Maitrayani Samhita enlists both these class of men under 'ratnins'. It is said that during coronation ceremony Raja himself used to visit them.

वैष्णवस्त्रिकपालस्तक्षरथकारयोर्गृहे... Maitrayani 2.6.5

The Maitrayani Samhita enlists different types of peyas like मासरं (3.11.2.9) and the maker of Sura is referred to as सुराकारं in the Vajasaneyi Samhita (30.11)

Reference: Ahilya Singh (2010), Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak, Chapter 4.

Trade and Commerce

There is mention of Vanijya, in the sense of son of a trader (businessman) in the Yajurveda.

30.17

बीभत्सायै पौल्कसं वर्णाय हिरण्यकारं तुलायै वाणिजं पश्चादोषाय ग्लाविनं विश्वेभ्यो भूतेभ्यः सिध्मलं भूत्यै जागरणम् अभूत्यै स्वपनम् आर्त्यै जनवादिनं व्यृद्ध्या ऽ अपगल्भꣳ सꣳशराय प्रच्छिदम् ॥

There is reference to traders praying to Indra and Agni for protection from wild animals and robbers during their travel.

4.29

प्रति पन्थाम् अपद्महि स्वस्तिगाम् अनेहसम् ।

येन विश्वाः परि द्विषो वृणक्ति विन्दते वसु ॥

Reference: Ahilya Singh (2010), Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak, Chapter 5.

Barter system

The Yajurveda mentions exchange of things of equal price.

3.50

देहि मे ददामि ते नि मे धेहि नि ते दधे ।

निहारं च हरासि मे निहारं निहराणि ते स्वाहा ॥

Reference: Ahilya Singh (2010), Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak, Chapter 6.

Transport

There is reference of traversing long distances by chariots.

Kathaka Samhita (37.14)

Reference: Ahilya Singh (2010), Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak, Chapter 5.

Land Ownership

Individual land ownership

The Taittiriya Samhita mentions that in case of a land dispute with a neighbour, offering is to be given to Indra and Agni. It also mentions the joint ownership of wealth between the father and the son.

2.6.1 अनुवाक 1 प्रयाजविधिः

1 समिधो यजति वसन्तम् एवर्तूनाम् अव रुन्द्धे तनूनपातं यजति ग्रीष्मम् एवाव रुन्द्धे । इडो यजति वर्षा एवाव रुन्द्धे बर्हिर् यजति शरदम् एवाव रुन्द्धे स्वाहाकारं यजति हेमन्तम् एवाव रुन्द्धे तस्मात् स्वाहाकृता हेमन् पशवो ऽव सीदन्ति समिधो यजत्य् उषस एव देवतानाम् अव रुन्द्धे तनूनपातं यजति यज्ञम् एवाव रुन्द्धे

Reference: Ahilya Singh (2010), Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak, Chapter 6.

Concept of Rna

It is said that the term Rna first occured in the Rgveda. And the concepts of Deva Rna and Pitr Rna took birth. In the Yajurveda, we find that the concept of Rshi Rna gets added and the number of Rnas become three.

5 उत्तमो हि प्राणो यदीतरं यदीतरम् उभयम् एवाजामि जायमानो वै ब्राह्मणस् त्रिभिर् ऋणवा जायते ब्रह्मचर्येणर्षिभ्यो यज्ञेन देवेभ्यः प्रजया पितृभ्य एष वा अनृणो यः पुत्री यज्वा ब्रह्मचारिवासी तद् अवदानैर् एवाव दयते तद् अवदानानाम् अवदानत्वम् । देवासुराः संयत्ता आसन् ते देवा अग्निम् अब्रुवन् त्वया वीरेणासुरान् अभि भवामेति । (Taittiriya Samhita 6.3.10.5)

Reference: Ahilya Singh (2010), Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak, Chapter 6.