Satapatha Bramhana Part 02

SR No.: 007678
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Julius Eggeling
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1885
Total Pages: 2521
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 44 MB

Page 279

244
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
firm, remain firm, take strength!'—Surely, it is those two (pressing-)boards that are thereby meant,' so say some ;-what, then, if one were to break those two boards?? But, forsooth, it is these two, heaven and earth, that tremble for fear of that raised thunderbolt (the stone): hereby now he propitiates it for those two, heaven and earth; and thus propitiated it does not injure them. By 'Take strength!' he means to say, 'Take sap!'—'The evil is slain, not Soma!' he thereby slays every evil of his.
19. Thrice he presses?, thrice he gathers together,
1 That is to say, in that case the formula would prove to have been a failure. According to the Taitt. Kalpas., quoted to Taitt. S. I, 4, 1 (p. 590), he presses the skin down upon the two press-boards while muttering this formula. The Kanva text argues somewhat differently,—ime evaitat phalake âhur iti haika ahus tad u kim adriyeta yad athaite bhidyeyâtâm eveme haiva dyâvâprithivyâv etasmád vagrâd udyatât samregete, - Some say those two boards are thereby meant; but who would care if they should get broken; for it is rather those two, heaven and earth,' &c.?
The pressing of the Upâmsu-graha-also called the 'small' pressing, distinguished from the great pressing' (mahâbhishava) for the subsequent cups or libations (graha)-consists of three turns of eight, eleven, and twelve single beatings respectively. Before each turn Nigrâbhyâ water is poured upon the Soma plants by the sacrificer from the Hotri's cup. After each turn of pressing the Adhvaryu throws the completely-pressed stalks into the cup, and when they have become thoroughly soaked, he presses them out and takes them out again ; this being the gathering together referred to above. At the same time he mutters the Nigrabha formula (paragraph 21); after which the pressed-out juice, absorbed by the water, is poured into the Upâmsu vessel in the following manner. Before the pressing the Pratiprasthâtri had taken six Soma-stalks, and put two each between the fingers of his left hand. After each turn of pressing he takes the Upâmsu vessel with his right hand and holds one pair of the Soma-stalks over it (or, according to others, all six at the same time), through which (as through
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