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374
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
14. Verily, there are two kinds of gods: for the gods themselves, assuredly, are gods; and those priests who have studied, and teach Vedic lore, are the human gods. And in like manner as that is offered whereon the Vashat has been pronounced, so is that (offering of first-fruits consecrated by the feeding of the priests). Let him also, at this (sacrifice), give as much as is in his power, for no offering, they say, should be without a dakshinâ. At the Agnihotra (performed at the time of the Âgrayaneshti) let him not offer (milk obtained from the eating of new corn)1; for were he to offer such at the Agnihotra, he would cause a conflict (between the deities of the two offerings). The Âgrayana is one thing, and the Agnihotra is another: let him, therefore, not offer (new material) at the Agnihotra.
FOURTH BRAHMANA.
THE DAKSHAYANA SACRIFICE.
This peculiar modification of the new and full-moon sacrifice seems to have been originated and generally to have been practised among the Dâkshâyanas, a royal family which was evidently still flourishing at the time of our author'.
Here also two days were, as a rule, required for the performance, both at full and new moon; but while, at the ordinary sacrifice,
1 Kâty. has the rules IV, 6, 11: 'In the case of one, who only performs the Agnihotra (and no longer the Darsapurnamâsa), the evening and morning Agnihotra-oblation (at the time of the Agrayana) is performed with new (corn). 12, 'Or with the milk of (a cow) which has been fed with such (new corn).' The Kânva text has 'Now at the Agnihotra also some offer (milk obtained from new corn), but let him not do so; for he would raise a quarrel were he to offer (such milk).'
2 See Weber, Ind. Stud. I, p. 223; IV, p. 358; Ludwig, Rigveda III, p. 195.
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