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328
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
it even as this man is sharpened', and because he thereby sharpens (so) therefore it is called sastra.
4. Having turned round (so as to face the Hotri, the Adhvaryu) then responds: thereby he quickens 2 that implanted seed. On the other hand, were he to respond while standing with his face turned away (from the Hotri), that implanted seed would assuredly perish away, and would not be brought forth; but thus facing each other (the male and female) bring forth the implanted seed.
5. Now the strength of the metres was exhausted by the gods, for it was by the metres that the gods attained the world of heaven. And the response (song) is ecstasy (mada 3)—what ecstasy there is in the rik and that which there is in the Saman, that is sap: this sap he now lays into the metres, and thus makes the metres of restored strength; and with them of restored strength they perform the sacrifice.
6. Hence if (the Hotri) recites by half-verses, let (the Adhvaryu) respond at each half-verse; and if he recites by pâdas (hemistichs), let him respond at each pâda. For whenever, in reciting, he (the Hotri) draws breath, there the Asura-Rakshas rush into the sacrifice: there he (the Adhvaryu) closes it up by means of the response, so that the evil spirits, the Rakshas, cannot rush in; and thus he destroys the world of the sacrificer's enemies.
1 That is, fashions him, or makes him slender. A fanciful derivation of sastra sams, to recite, praise, cf. carmen), from the root så (so), to sharpen (? or from sas, to cut, carve). Yathấyam purovarti purushas tîkshnakritah, avaya(va)vibhāgena spashfikritas tatha sastrenaitad retah syati spashtam karoti,' Sây.
* Upanimadati, cheers ;' the Kanva text (W.) has 'upanivadati.'
3 Or, intoxication, intoxicating drink. See paragraph 10, and P. 330, note 1.
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| SR No. | 007678 |
| Book Title | Satapatha Bramhana Part 02 |
| 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 |