Kāṇḍa 2 · Chapter Overview
From The Krishna Yajurveda — The Taittirīya Saṃhitā, taught by Acharya T Krishnatrey. This lesson is free to read.
<pre data-block="statement"> The second kāṇḍa turns to the kāmyeṣṭi — the "offerings of desire." Where Kāṇḍa 1 gave the regular calendar of rites, Kāṇḍa 2 gives the optional ones: sacrifices undertaken because a person wants something — safety in conflict, rain, cattle, offspring, forgiveness, a long and prosperous life. Much of the kāṇḍa is brāhmaṇa prose explaining which offering suits which wish. But at the close of each prapāṭhaka stands an anuvāka collecting the invitatory verses (puronuvākyā and yājyā) — and these are the poetry. From them come the mantras below: Indra called in the thick of battle; each great god paired with his own troop; Savitṛ the golden-handed; the celebrated Gaṇapati/Brahmaṇaspati invocation; Soma the guardian; the majestic Sūrya verse — "the eye of Mitra, Varuṇa and Agni"; and the All-Gods summoned to the strewn grass. Twelve of them follow — the Veda praying, frankly and without embarrassment, for the good things of life. </pre>