wilt edit, O foremost of regenerate
ones. After that, thy understanding will turn to the path of
Emancipation. Thou wilt also attain to that end which is desirable and
which is coveted by both Sankhyas and Yogins!"--Having said these words
unto me, the divine Surya proceeded to the Asta hills. Hearing his last
words, and after he had departed from the spot where I was, I came home
in joy and then remembered the goddess Saraswati. Thought of by me, the
auspicious Saraswati appeared instantly before my eyes, adorned with all
the vowels and the consonants and having placed the syllable Om in the
van, I then, according to the ordinance, offered unto the goddess the
usual Arghya, and dedicated another to Surya, that foremost of all
heat-giving deities. Discharging this duty I took my seat, devoted to
both those deities. Thereupon, the entire Satapatha Brahmanas, with all
their mysteries and with all their abstracts as also their appendices,
appeared of themselves before my mental vision, at which I became filled
with great joy.[1661] I then taught them to a hundred good disciples and
thereby did what was disagreeable to my high-souled maternal uncle
(Vaisampayana) with the disciples gathered round him.[1662] Then shining
in the midst of my disciples like the Sun himself with his rays, I took
the management of the Sacrifice of thy high-souled sire, O king. In that
Sacrifice a dispute arose between me and my maternal uncle as to who
should be permitted to appropriate the Dakshina that was paid for the
recitation of the Vedas. In the very presence of Devala, I took half of
that Dakshina (the other half going to my maternal uncle). Thy sire and
Sumantra and Paila and Jaimini and other articles all acquiesced in that
arrangement.[1663]

"'"'I had thus got from Surya the five times ten Yajushes, O monarch. I
then studied the Puranas with Romaharshan. Keeping before me those
(original) Mantras and the goddess Saraswati I, then, O king, aided by the
inspiration of Surya, set myself to compile the excellent Satapatha
Brahmanas, and succeeded in achieving the task never before undertaken by
any one else. That path which I had desired to take has been taken by me
and I have also taught it to my disciples. Indeed, the whole of those
Vedas with their abstracts have been imparted by me to those disciples of
mine. Pure in mind and body, all those disciples have, in consequence of
my instructions, become filled with joy. Having established (