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ANUGITA
CHAPTER XXIX
Page1
Brahman said :
I will state truly all about that which has a beginning, middle, and end 1, and about the means for its comprehension, together with names and characteristics 2. It is stated that day was first and then night; that months have the bright 3 first, the Nakshatras Sravana 4 as the first (among them), and the seasons the winter as the first (among them). The earth is the source 5 of smells, water of tastes, the light (of) the sun is the source of colours, the wind is stated to be the source of (the feelings of) touch; likewise space is the source of sound. These are the qualities of the elements. Now I shall proceed to state the highest and first of all entities. The sun is the first among shining bodies 6; fire is said to be the first of the elements 7; Savitri 8 of all branches of learning; Pragapati of deities; the syllable Om of all the Vedas; and the Prana life-wind, of all words 9; whatever is prescribed in this world, all that is called Savitri 10.
Footnotes :
1. Which has birth &c., Nilakantha, i.e. all the creation, I presume.
2. The names, that is to say, of the various elements, and their qualities.
3. This must mean fortnights.
4. This is specified, says Arguna Misra, as the six months of the northern solstice are caused by the sun being at this Nakshatra. As to those six months, cf. Gita. For the same reason, Arguna Misra adds, the winter season is mentioned as the best.
5. The word adi, literally beginning, is used in the whole of this passage in different senses; it means the source, it means the best, and it means the first in order.
6. This should be compared with the enumeration at supra, and that in the Gita there referred to.
7. Cf. supra. Nilakantha takes fire to mean the gastric fire, and bhuta, rendered by us elements, to mean the species of beings born from eggs and wombs.
8. The famous verse 'Tat savitur,' &c. See inter alia Brihadaranyaka, p. 999; Âpastamba I, 1, 1, 9; Manu II, 77 seq.
9. See supra.
10. Here he turns back to the Savitri, 'looking back in the manner of the lion,' says Nilakantha, and for purposes of upasana. He does not give up the thread of his discourse entirely, but simply interjects this little clause. Nilakantha adds, Savitri here includes every mode of worship prescribed for Brahmanas, &c., and even for Mlekkhas. Cf. note 3, and Gautama.(Bühler's ed.) note.
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