Madhuvidya

SR No.: 006525
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: S D Laddu, T N Dharmadhikari, Madhvi Kolhatkar, Pratibha Pingle
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 762
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Philosophy
File Size: 17 MB

Page 366

TRACE OF AN OLD PALATAL IN SANSKRIT
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of 'conquering' them, but undoubtedly abandoning them, giving them away. To give some details about the procedure it may be mentioned that the seventeen Soma cups are drawn by the Adhvaryu seated in front of the axle of the Soma cart with his face westwards, while the Sură cups are drawn by the Nest (or Pratiprasthäty according to the Ap. S.S.) while sitting behind the axle with his face turned eastward (Sat. Br. 5.12.16). Then there are two separate earthern mounds (khara) erected for depositing the cups, one in front of the axle for the Soma cups and one behind the axle for the Sura cups. The purpose of erecting two mounds is stated as net somagrahamś ca surāgrahāmś ca saha sadayāma (5.1.2.15) "lest we should deposit together the cups of Soma, and the cups of Sura" (EGGELING). The Adhvaryu and the Nestr do not hold the Soma and the Sură cups beyond the axle nej jyotiá ca tamaś ca samsṛjāva (5.1.2.17) "lest we should confound light and darkness" (EGGELING). The Adhvaryu now says sampṛcau sthaḥ sam mã bhadrena priktam with reference to the Soma cups before. placing them on the mound. The Neştr, however, says, vi prcau stho vi må päpmanā priktami with reference to the Sura cups. The significance of the latter mantra is explained in the Sat. Br. 5.1.2.18 as-"Even as one might tear a single reed from a clump of reed-grass, so do they thereby tear him out of all evil: there is not in him so much sin as the point of a grassblade."12 (EGGELING). This passage as well as the following given below should leave no doubt about the interpretation of ujjayati with the Sura cups as coming from ujjhayati. In the following section we are told that the Somagrahas are offered and drunk at the evening pressing (S. B. 5.1.2.19). But about the Surägrahas we read-"And the Neshtri, taking the cups of Surâ, steps out by the back door. He walks round by the back of the hall, and placing one (of the cups) in the Vaisya's, or Råganya's, hand, he says, (SB. 5.1.5.28) 'With this I buy him of thee!'13 For the Soma is truth, prosperity, light; and the Surâ is untruth, misery, darkness: he thus imbues the Sacrificer with truth, prosperity, and light; and smites the Vaisya with untruth, misery, and darkness." (EGGELING).
11. VS. 9.4.
12. tad yatheşikām muñjād vivṛhed evam enam sarvasmāt pāpmano vivṛhatas tasmin na tăvac canaino bhavati yavat tṛṇasyāgram/
13. This refers to the taking of the Madhugraha from a Vaisya or a Sudra in exchange of the Suragrahas. The Madhugraha is then given to the Brahman priest (cf. also Katy. S.S. 14.4.15-17).
14. anena ta imam niskrīnāmīti.... satyam evaitac chriyam jyotir yajamāne dadhaty antena papmanā tamaad Valiyah vidhyati/.
It is worth noting that the Sura is not offered in the Ahavaniya. The Sură cups are taken to the Mārjālīya, shaken, and drunk by those who participated in the race. Cf. Ap. S.S. 18.7.2, 4, 8.
Madhu Vidya/341