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 859

I KÂNDA, I ADHYAYA, 4 BRÂHMANA, II.
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9. Should he, however (by some accident), utter any human sound before this time, let him in that case mutter some Rik or Yagus-text addressed to Vishnu'; for Vishnu is the sacrifice, so that he thereby again obtains a hold on the sacrifice, and penance is thereby done by him (for not keeping silent). He adds: “For the pleasure of the gods I seize thee!' for the oblation is taken with the intention that it shall gladden the gods.'
10. He now takes the pestle, with the text (Vág. S. I, 14 b), 'A large, wooden stone art thou!' for it is a large stone, and made of wood, too. He thrusts it down, with the text (Våg. S. I, 14 c), 'Do thou prepare this oblation for the gods ?! do thou prepare it thoroughly!' thereby saying, 'Get this oblation ready for the gods! get it quite ready!'
11. He then calls the Havishkrits (preparer of the sacrificial food), Havishkrit, come hither! Havishkrit, come hither !' The Havishkrit * no doubt is speech, so that he thereby frees speech from
khadira wood (Acacia Catechu). The former is to be of the height of the knee, and the latter three aratnis (cubits) long. Schol. on Kâty. I, 3, 36; M. Müller, Die Todtenbestattung bei den Brahmanen, Zeitsch. der D. Morg. Ges. IX, p. xl.
1 Kâty. Sr. II, 2, 6-7 lays down the general rule, that if the Brahman or Adhvaryu (and according to some, the sacrificer also) by some slip were to utter any sound during the time for which restraint of speech (vâg-yama) is enjoined, they must atone for the transgression by muttering some mantra addressed to Vishnu, such as the couplet (Vâg. S. V, 38, 41), Widely, O Vishnu, stride l' &c., or the formula (ib. I, 4), O Vishnu, preserve the sacrifice l'
Or 'for the god,' 'for the goddess,' as the case may be.
Or, he pronounces the ha vishkrit formula, see next note. According to Kâty. Sr. II, 4, 13 he calls out three separate times.
• Havishkrit denotes not only the person that prepares the oblation, but also this formula by which that person is called.
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