Dhammapada

SR No.: 007674
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Max Muller
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1881
Total Pages: 2540
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 45 MB

Page 1094

SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
with a Yagus-text, let her do so with this one (Vâg. S. II, 21 a), 'The Veda art thou: whereby thou, O divine Veda, hast become Veda for the gods, thereby mayest thou become Veda for me1!'
24. (The Hotri) strews it (from the Gârhapatya) as far as (the east end of) the altar2; for the altar is female and the veda is male; and from behind the male approaches the female: from behind (i. e. west) he accordingly causes it (the altar) to be approached by that male, the veda. For this reason he strews (the grass of the veda) as far as (the east end of) the altar.
262
CONCLUDING CEREMONIES.
25. He (the Adhvaryu) now makes the samishtayagus-oblation, thinking, 'In the east my sacrifice shall be completed!' Were he to perform the samishtayagus-oblation first and then the patnisamyâgas, that sacrifice of his would be completed in the west (behind the sacrificer)3: hence he makes
1 According to Kâty. III, 8, 2, the lady thereupon unties the grass-cord with which she was girt (see I, 3, 1, 12), with the text, 'I free myself from Varuna's noose wherewith the gracious Savitri bound me; place me unscathed, together with my husband, in the lap of eternal law, in the world of righteousness!' Âsv. I, 11, 3, however, assigns this ceremony to the Hotri; and no doubt rightly, since it is not mentioned by our author, and the Vâg. S. does not give the formula. Thereby also the original form of the text (Rigveda X, 85, 24), 'I free thee,' &c., is preserved. Mahîdhara on Vâg. S. here takes 'veda' either in the sense of 'the Veda (Rik, &c.), or as 'the knower.' Perhaps it should rather be taken as 'the obtainer.'
Thus â vedeh is explained by Harisvâmin (according to comm. on Kâty. III, 8, 3). Others take it in the sense of 'up to where the barhis begins.'
The patnisamy âgas were performed in the Gârhapatya fire, and therefore west of the altar; and on their completion, the priests betake themselves back to the Âhavaniya.
Google
Digitized by