Section 1.10

1.10.1 When the Kurus had been stricken by hailstones, Ushasti Chakrayana lived in wretched poverty with his very young wife in a village of elephant keepers.

1.10.2 He begged from an elephant keeper who was eating cooked beans. The man told him, "There are none besides these that have been set before me."

1.10.3 "Give me some of these," he said. The man gave him some, then said, "Here is something to drink afterward." "Then I would be drinking your leftovers," he answered.

1.10.4 "But are these beans not leftovers too?" "I would not have lived had I not eaten them," he answered. "Drinking water was a matter of choice for me."

1.10.5 Having eaten, he brought the remainder to his wife. She had already eaten well. She took them and put them away.

1.10.6 Rising in the morning, he said, "If only we could obtain food, we could obtain a little wealth! That king is about to offer a sacrifice. He would choose me for all the priestly offices."

1.10.7 His wife said to him, "Here, husband, are these same beans." He ate them and went to the sacrifice that was being prepared.

1.10.8 There he sat near the Udgatris, who were about to sing praise at the chanting place. He said to the Prastotri:

1.10.9 "Prastotri, if you sing the Prastava without knowing the deity joined to the Prastava, your head will fall off."

1.10.10 He said the same to the Udgatri: "Udgatri, if you sing the Udgitha without knowing the deity joined to the Udgitha, your head will fall off."

1.10.11 He said the same to the Pratihartri: "Pratihartri, if you sing the Pratihara without knowing the deity joined to the Pratihara, your head will fall off." They stopped and sat in silence.

1.10.1 When the Kurus' crops had been destroyed by hailstones, Ushasti Chakrayana lived in extreme poverty with his young wife in a village of elephant keepers.

1.10.2 He begged from an elephant keeper who was eating beans. The man told him, "I have nothing except what has been put here in front of me."

1.10.3 "Give me some of those," Ushasti said. The man gave him some, then offered him a drink. "That would mean drinking what you have left over," Ushasti said.

1.10.4 "Aren't these beans leftovers too?" "I would not have stayed alive without eating them," he answered. "But I can choose where to get drinking water."

1.10.5 After eating, he brought the remaining beans to his wife. She had already found plenty to eat. She took them and put them away.

1.10.6 As he got up in the morning, he said, "If only we could get some food, we could earn some money. That king is going to offer a sacrifice. He might choose me for all the priestly duties."

1.10.7 His wife said, "Husband, here are those beans." He ate them and went to the sacrifice that was being prepared.

1.10.8 He sat down near the singers, who were about to sing praise at their place of chanting. He told the Prastava singer:

1.10.9 "If you sing the Prastava without knowing the god connected with it, your head will fall off."

1.10.10 He told the Udgitha singer the same thing: "If you sing the Udgitha without knowing the god connected with it, your head will fall off."

1.10.11 He also told the Pratihara singer, "If you sing the Pratihara without knowing the god connected with it, your head will fall off." They stopped and sat in silence.