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142
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
(for the chanting of the stotra): with the call draw near!' the Adhvaryu hands the sacrifice on to the Udgâtris (chanters).
13. The Udgâtris must not utter anything improper until the last (stotra-verse): 'this is the last one,' thus thinking, the Udgâtris hand on the sacrifice to the Hotri.
14. The Hotri must utter nothing improper until the vashat-call. With the vashat-call he pours it (the sacrifice) into the fire, as seed into the womb; for the fire is indeed the womb of the sacrifice, since from thence it is brought forth. .
15. If he whom the sacrifice approaches were to utter anything improper, he would waste the sacrifice, even as he might waste (water by spilling from) a full vessel. And where the officiating priests thus practice sacrifice with a perfect mutual understanding between them, there everything works regularly and no hitch occurs : therefore it is in this way that the sacrifice must be nursed.
16. Now there are here five utterances, viz. (1) * Bid (him, Agni, or them) hear!' (2) Yea, may he (or, one) hear!' (3) 'Pronounce the prayer to the kindling-sticks!' (4) 'We who pronounce the prayer ..i (5) May he bear (the sacrifice to the gods)*!' fivefold is the sacrifice, fivefold the animal victim, five are the seasons of the year: this is the one measure of the sacrifice, this its consummation.
i See IV, 2, 5, 7-8.
3 (1) O srâvaya (for å srâvaya), the Adhvaryu's call; (2) astu sraushat, the Âgnîdhra's response; (3) (samidho) yaga, the Adhvaryu's summons to the Hotri; (4) ye y agâmahe, the beginning of the Hotri's yag yâ, or offering-prayer (see p. 135 note); (5) vaushal, concluding formula of the yâgya.
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