Report
Shri Shankar Shikshayatan organised a national seminar through an online platform on Saturday, 31 October 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The seminar focused on the section entitled Patra-nirnejana and Purodasha-Sampadana from Shatapatha Brahman Vijnana Bhashya, authored by Pandit Motilal Shastri. The seminar was part of a series devoted to the study of various subjects discussed in the Shatapatha Brahmana.
Dr. Vishva Bandhu, Associate Professor, Department of Sanskrit, Tripura University, Tripura, delivered a lecture on his assigned topic. He said that the Shatapatha Brahmana contains the statement: “Chaturdha vihito va agneh agnih asa.” The Hindi Vijnana Bhashya offers a new perspective in its interpretation of this statement. Purusha is Agni, Prakriti is Agni, Virat is Agni, and Samvatsara is Agni.The Imperishable (Akshara) Agni itself is called Purusha Agni. This is the first form of Agni and is also the principle that governs the universe. The second is Prakrita Agni, the Agni that gives form to things. The third Agni is Hiranyagarbha. Within this Agni called Hiranya resides the Arsheya Agni known as Rishi-Prana, which is Virat Agni. The fourth Agni is the presiding solar Agni of the Chayana yajna. This solar Agni is the Agni called Samvatsara. (Shatapatha Brahman Vijnana Bhashya, p. 710.)
Dr. Satyendra Kumar Yadav, Assistant Professor, Department of Veda, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi, presented his views on Patra-nirnejana. He said that the Bhashya provides a logical resolution of the question of animal violence in its treatment of pashu-alambhana-vijnana. Just as consciousness exists in the human being, consciousness also exists in the animal body. It therefore follows that wherever the alambhana of an animal is described, alambhana means the touching of the animal. (Ibid., p. 737.)
Dr. Akhilesh Kumar Mishra, Assistant Professor, Department of Veda, Maharshi Valmiki Sanskrit University, Kaithal, said that five animals are described in this context. The third among these animals is the cow. The source of the principle of the cow (go-tattva) is Parameshthi. The world of Parameshthi is the Soma world. The deity of Parameshthi is Vishnu. The Saumya Prana is the soul of the principle of the cow, while the solar Agni is its body. The Sun has one thousand rays. From this perspective, the number of the go-tattva is one thousand. Of the go-tattva divided into one thousand parts, 333 parts are associated with the earthly Vasu deities, 333 parts with the atmospheric Rudra deity, and 333 parts with the celestial Sun. The remaining one is well known by the name Kamaga vi. In the language of the Puranas, this Kamaga vi is referred to as Kamadhenu. (Ibid., p. 753.)
Dr. Satyavrat Pandey, Assistant Professor, Department of Veda, Central Sanskrit University, Maharaja Shri Ranvir Singh Campus, Jammu, delivered a lecture on Aptya in Patra-nirnejana. He explained that Aptya is of three kinds: Ekatā, Dvitā, and Tritā. The morning pressing (Pratah-savana) has Ekatā Aptya for the Vasu deities, with Agni as the principal deity. The midday pressing (Madhyandina-savana) has Dvitā Aptya for the Rudra deities, with Vayu as the principal deity. The evening pressing (Sayam-savana) has Tritā Aptya for the Aditya deities, with Indra as the principal deity. (Ibid., p. 724.)
Prof. Santosh Kumar Shukla, Professor, Centre of Sanskrit and Indic Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, presided over the programme. He said that Agni-tattva, Vayu-tattva and Aditya-tattva have a central place in Vedic science. The same Agni assumes these three forms because of its dense, liquid and subtle states. In essence, these three principles are one and the same Agni. (Ibid., p. 724.)
Shri Umesh Shastri, Vaidika, Department of Veda, Maharshi Valmiki Sanskrit University, Kaithal, recited the Vedic Mangala-charana in the traditional intonation.
The programme was conducted by Dr. Lakshmi Kant Vimal, Research Officer, Shri Shankar Shikshayatan Vaidik Shodh Sansthan. Scholars, teachers, and research students from universities and colleges in several states, along with scholars interested in Sanskrit learning, participated enthusiastically in the seminar and contributed to its successful completion.
Correct the series title and focusClarify technical terms for general readers
National Seminar
Shatapatha Brahman Vijnana Bhashya: Patra-nirnejana and Purodasha-Sampadana Vimarsha
Series 10
Report
Shri Shankar Shikshayatan Vaidik Shodh Sansthan organised a national seminar through an online platform on Saturday, 31 October 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The seminar focused on the section entitled Patra-nirnejana and Purodasha-Sampadana from Shatapatha Brahman Vijnana Bhashya, authored by Pandit Motilal Shastri. The seminar was part of a series devoted to the study of various subjects discussed in the Shatapatha Brahmana.
Dr. Vishva Bandhu, Associate Professor, Department of Sanskrit, Tripura University, Tripura, delivered a lecture on his assigned topic. He said that the Shatapatha Brahmana contains the statement: “Chaturdha vihito va agneh agnih asa.” The Hindi Vijnana Bhashya offers a new perspective in its interpretation of this statement. Purusha is Agni, Prakriti is Agni, Virat is Agni, and Samvatsara is Agni. The Imperishable (Akshara) Agni itself is called Purusha Agni. This is the first form of Agni and is also the principle that governs the universe. The second is Prakrita Agni, the Agni that gives form to things. The third Agni is Hiranyagarbha. Within this Agni called Hiranya resides the Arsheya Agni known as Rishi-Prana, which is Virat Agni. The fourth Agni is the presiding solar Agni of the Chayana sacrifice. This solar Agni is the Agni called Samvatsara. (Shatapatha Brahman Vijnana Bhashya, p. 710.)
Dr. Satyendra Kumar Yadav, Assistant Professor, Department of Veda, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi, presented his views on Patra-nirnejana. He said that the Bhashya provides a logical resolution of the question of animal violence in its treatment of pashu-alambhana-vijnana. Just as consciousness exists in the human being, consciousness also exists in the animal body. It therefore follows that wherever the alambhana of an animal is described, alambhana means the touching of the animal. (Ibid., p. 737.)
Dr. Akhilesh Kumar Mishra, Assistant Professor, Department of Veda, Maharshi Valmiki Sanskrit University, Kaithal, said that five animals are described in this context. The third among these animals is the cow. The source of the principle of the cow (go-tattva) is Parameshthi. The world of Parameshthi is the Soma world. The deity of Parameshthi is Vishnu. The Saumya Prana is the soul of the principle of the cow, while the solar Agni is its body. The Sun has one thousand rays. From this perspective, the number of the go-tattva is one thousand. Of the go-tattva divided into one thousand parts, 333 parts are associated with the earthly Vasu deities, 333 parts with the atmospheric Rudra deity, and 333 parts with the celestial Sun. The remaining one is well known by the name Kamaga vi. In the language of the Puranas, this Kamaga vi is referred to as Kamadhenu. (Ibid., p. 753.)
Dr. Satyavrat Pandey, Assistant Professor, Department of Veda, Central Sanskrit University, Maharaja Shri Ranvir Singh Campus, Jammu, delivered a lecture on Aptya in Patra-nirnejana. He explained that Aptya is of three kinds: Ekatā, Dvitā, and Tritā. The morning pressing (Pratah-savana) has Ekatā Aptya for the Vasu deities, with Agni as the principal deity. The midday pressing (Madhyandina-savana) has Dvitā Aptya for the Rudra deities, with Vayu as the principal deity. The evening pressing (Sayam-savana) has Tritā Aptya for the Aditya deities, with Indra as the principal deity. (Ibid., p. 724.)
Prof. Santosh Kumar Shukla, Professor, Institute of Sanskrit and Oriental Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, presided over the programme. He said that Agni-tattva, Vayu-tattva and Aditya-tattva have a central place in Vedic science. The same Agni assumes these three forms because of its dense, liquid and subtle states. In essence, these three principles are one and the same Agni. (Ibid., p. 724.)
Shri Umesh Shastri, Vaidika, Department of Veda, Maharshi Valmiki Sanskrit University, Kaithal, recited the Vedic Mangala-charana in the traditional intonation.
The programme was conducted by Dr. Lakshmi Kant Vimal, Research Officer, Shri Shankar Shikshayatan Vaidik Shodh Sansthan. Scholars, teachers, and research students from universities and colleges in several states, along with scholars interested in Sanskrit learning, participated enthusiastically in the seminar and contributed to its successful completion.