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 919

I KÂNDA, 3 ADHYAYA, Ž BRÂHMANA, 13.
87
it has been said by the seer (Våg. S. VII, 32), They spread the barhis continuously. He spreads it with the roots below (the tops); for it is with their roots below that those plants are firmly established in this earth: for this reason he spreads it with the roots below.
11. He spreads it, with the text (Våg. S. II, 2), I spread thee, soft as wool, pleasant to sit upon for the gods !'—when he says 'thee, soft as wool,' he thereby means to say agreeable to the gods;' and by 'pleasant to sit upon for the gods,' he means to say 'forming a good seat for the gods.'
12. He now trims the fire? The Åhavaniya, doubtless, is the head of the sacrifice, for the head is the fore-part 2: that fore-part of the sacrifice he thereby trims. He trims it while holding the prastara (which he has received back from the Brahman) close over it; for the prastara is the top-knot, and it is this which he thereby puts on it: for this reason he trims (the fire) while holding the prastara close over it.
13. He then lays the (three) enclosing-sticks (paridhi) around (the fire). The reason why he lays the enclosing-sticks around is this). When at first the gods chose Agni for the office of Hotri, he said: “Verily, I am not equal to this, that I should be your Hotri, and that I should carry your oblation. Already you have chosen three before,
other object) the heads of the preceding layer and push the roots of the succeeding one under them. Ib. 27 (schol.).
He takes one stick from the fuel and gets the fire ready for the oblations, either by throwing the stick into it, or by stirring it with the stick). Ib. 29.
The Âhavanîya is at the foremost or eastern end of the sacri. ficial ground.
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