As part of our annual series of discussions on Shatapatha-Brahmana, the first seminar was organised on January 31, 2026. The focus of the discussion was the chapter titled Vratopāyana from the work Shatapatha-Brahmana-Vijñāna-Bhāṣya, composed by Paṇḍit Motilal Shastri. The seminar was organised on the basis of various themes drawn from this Brāhmaṇa text.
Prof. Ramanuja Upadhyaya, Professor, Department of Veda, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, New Delhi, delivered a lecture on the topic of Vratopāyana. He stated that the discussion begins with acamana (ritual sipping of water). The Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa declares: “medhyā vā āpaḥ” (“waters are purifying”). In the Vijñāna-Bhāṣya, the term āpaḥ is interpreted as referring to the Soma principle. It is through the oblation of Soma that the Sun shines. The fiery Sun and the food-formed Moon are both described as dark in color; light emerges from the conjunction of these two principles. As proof regarding Soma, he cited the Ṛgvedic mantra: “tvaṃ jyotiṣā vitamo vavartha” (Ṛgveda 1.91.22).
Dr. Ashish Mishra, Assistant Professor, Department of Veda, Central Sanskrit University, Tripura Campus, stated that heaven is attained through yajña. Through the Jyotishtoma sacrifice, the sacrificer reaches heaven. This yajña is related to the solar annual cycle (saura-saṃvatsara-maṇḍala). By means of this sacrifice, the sacrificer leaves the earthly self and, becoming free from birth, death, and old age, is established in the solar year. The solar year-fire is fourfold: day-night (ahorātra), fortnight (śukla and kṛṣṇa pakṣa), season (ṛtu), and solstice (ayana). From the perspective of day-night it is divided into 720 units (days and nights). From the standpoint of fortnights it is divided into 24 parts, since each month has two fortnights, making 24 in twelve months. According to seasons it has six divisions. From the standpoint of solstices it is twofold—uttarāyaṇa and dakshiṇāyana. After the solstitial stage, the sacrificer proceeds into the annual cosmic sphere.
Dr. Patanjali Kumar Pandey, Assistant Professor, Department of Veda, Maharshi Panini Sanskrit and Vedic University, Ujjain, explained that Prajāpati has two forms—Satya and Vishva. The term Satya denotes the immortal, while Viśva denotes the mortal. The immortal is imperishable; the mortal is perishable. The principle of Satya is complete, peaceful, eternal, and blissful; the principle of Viśva is incomplete, restless, transient, and sorrowful. Though opposed like darkness and light, these two principles coexist. The mortal cannot exist without the immortal, nor the immortal without the mortal; they subsist in mutual relation. Just as water becomes hot when associated with fire—though their natures are opposed—so too these principles interact. In this context the Shatapatha Brahmaṇa states: “antaraṃ mṛtyor amṛtaṃ mṛtyāv amṛtam āhitam” (10.3.6.4).
Dr. Dharmendra Kumar Pathak, Assistant Professor, Department of Veda, Central Sanskrit University, Lucknow Campus, explained that the Darśeṣṭi sacrifice is performed after the new moon, and the Pūrṇamāseshthi sacrifice after the full moon. Darśeṣṭi is conducted on the first lunar day (pratipadā) of the bright fortnight, while Pūrṇamāseṣṭi is conducted on the first lunar day of the dark fortnight. Thus, iṣṭi-sacrifices are performed on the pratipadā tithi. On the new moon day, observances such as the Vratopāyana rules connected with yajña are followed; hence Darśeṣṭi is also referred to as Amāvāsyā-iṣṭi.
In his presidential address, Prof. Santosh Kumar Shukla, Professor, Institute of Sanskrit and Indological Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, remarked that all the speakers delivered clear and substantive lectures. The national seminar series on Śatapatha-Brāhmaṇa-Vijñāna-Bhāṣya will feature presentations by Vedic scholars from across the country. This year, each Brāhmaṇa section of the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa will be analyzed as a separate theme. Prajāpati was a central subject of the present session, described as the creator of the entire universe. According to this doctrine, Prajāpati has two forms—Satya and Viśva—symbolizing soul and body respectively. The four principal elements of creation are avyaya, akshara, kshara, and parātpara; together they constitute the sixteenfold Prajāpati (shodasi). Avyaya, akshara, and kshara each possess five kalās, while the sixteenth principle is parātpara. Such a cosmological structure, he noted, is not found in other philosophical systems and represents a distinctive feature of Vedic science.
Mr. Aniket Tripathi, research scholar, Department of Veda, Central Sanskrit University, Tripura, recited the Vedic maṅgalācaraṇa in traditional chant. The program was conducted by Dr. Lakshmi Kant Vimal, Research Officer at Shri Shankar Shikshayatan Vedic Research Institute. Professors, research scholars, and Sanskrit enthusiasts from universities and colleges across various regions participated enthusiastically, contributing to the success of the seminar.