________________
See
Introd.
j.xcvi.
AITAREYA-ARANYAKA.
FIRST ÅRANYA KA.
FIRST ADHYÅYA.
First KHANDA. 1. Now follows the Mahâvrata ceremony.
2. After having killed Vritra, Indra became great. When he became great, then there was the Mahâvrata (the great work). This is why the Mahâvrata ceremony is called Mahâvrata.
3. Some people say: 'Let the priest make two (recitations with the offering of the) âgya (ghee) on that day,' but the right thing is one!
4. He who desires prosperity should use the hymn, pra vo devâyâgnaye (Rv. III, 13, 1).
5. He who desires increase should use the hymn, viso viso atithim (Rv. VIII, 74, 1).
1 That it should be one only is proved from the types, i.e. from other sacrifices, that have to be followed in the performance of the Mahâvrata. The first type is the Agnishtoma, where one sastra is enjoined as ágyasastra, viz. pra vo devâyâgnaye. In the Visvagit, which has to follow the Agnishloma, another hymn is put in iis place, viz. agnim naro dîdhitibhih. In the Mahâvrata, which has to follow the Visvagit, some people recommend the use of both these hymns. But that is wrong, for there must be in the sacrifices which follow the Agnishtoma twelve sastras altogether; and if there were two here, instead of one, we should get a total of thirteen.
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