Yajurveda

Yajurveda (Sanskrit: यजुर्वेदः yajurveda, a tatpurusha compound of yajus "sacrificial formula" and veda "knowledge") is one of the four canonical texts of Hinduism, the Vedas. By some, it is estimated to have been composed between c. 1400–1000 BCE, the Yajurveda 'Samhita', or 'compilation', contains the liturgy (mantras) needed to perform the sacrifices of the Veda, and the added Brahmana and Shrautasutra add information on the interpretation and on the details of their performance.

• The four and thirty ribs of the strong steed,
  Kin of the gods, the axe meeteth;
  Skilfully do ye make the joints faultless;
  Declaring each part, do ye cut it asunder.
  • Taittiriya Sanhita (c. 4th–5th century BCE), IV, 6, 9g, as translated by A. B. Keith, The Veda of the Black Yajus School, Part II (1914), p. 379

• The birthplace of the horse, indeed, is the sea, its kindred is the sea.
  • The Yajur Veda, Kanda VII, vii. 5. 25.
  • From the Yajurveda, as translated by A. B. Keith, The Veda of the Black Yajus School, Part II (1914), p. 637

• Om, you for vigor, you for energy, you are breaths, may the God Savitar propel you to the most glorious action (SYV I.1).

• May you purify my speech. May you purify my breath. May you purify my eye. May you purify my ear ... May your mind be abundant. May your speech be abundant. May your breath be abundant (SYV Ill. 14-5).

• May your mind unite with the mind, your breath with the breath ... May the ruling Prana be placed in all your faculties. May the ruling Udana (upward moving breath) be placed in all your faculties (SYV III.18-9).

• About this time I also received a copy of the Yajur Veda from India, which I found, to my surprise since even Aurobindo hadn’t talked of it, to be as inspiring as the Rig Veda. The power of the mantras continued to unfold and new Vedic vistas arose.
  • David Frawley, How I Became A Hindu - My Discovery Of Vedic Dharma , 2000