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SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
him, and therefore even one who has not performed the Soma-sacrifice, may offer the Sânnayya.
12. The full-moon oblation, assuredly, belongs to the Vritra-slayer, for by means of it Indra slew Vritra ; and this new-moon oblation also represents the slaying of Vritra, since they prepared that invigorating draught for him who had slain Vritra.
13. An offering in honour of the Vritra-slayer, then, is the full-moon sacrifice. Vritra, assuredly, is no other than the moon"; and when during that night (of new moon) he is not seen either in the east or in the west, then he (Indra) completely destroys him by means of that (new-moon sacrifice), and leaves nothing remaining of him. And, verily, he who knows this, overcomes all evil and leaves nothing remaining of evil.
14. Here now some people enter upon the fast when they (still) see (the moon, on the fourteenth day of the half-month), thinking, ‘To-morrow he will not rise: already, then, there is unfailing food for the gods in yonder heaven?, and to this we will offer them more from hence (to-morrow)!' - He, indeed, is in a prosperous state with whom, while the old food is still unfailing, fresh food is accruing; for such a one has indeed abundant food. However, he is not now offering Soma, but he is offering milk (i.e. the Sân nâyya), and that (milk) becomes king Soma: (in yonder world):
i See I, 6, 3, 17.
· Viz. in the form of Soma, i.e. the moon, still shining in the heavens during the night preceding the new moon.
& Who, as we saw, resides in the plants and waters at the time of new moon and consequently in the milk used for the Sånnayya. If, however, one were to enter upon the fast (and hence on the
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