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SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
mean time) have departed this life, others may officiate instead. It is because he offers to the same deities, and the same oblations, that the two arms are alike and of the same shape.
23. To five deities he offers at the Prầyaniya, and to five at the Udayaniya: hence there are five fingers here and five there. This (Prầyaniya offering) ends with the Samyu. They perform no Patnisamyâgas'. For the arms are on the fore-part of the body, and the fore-part of the sacrifice he perfects by this (opening ceremony). This is why it ends with the Samyu, and why no Patnisamyâgas are performed.
HIRAN YAVATI-ÂHUTI, OR OFFERING WITH GOLD;
AND HOMAGE TO THE SOMA-COW.
Fourth BRÂHMANA. 1. Now Soma was in the sky, and the gods were here on earth. The gods desired,—Would that Soma came to us : we might sacrifice with him, when come.' They created those two illusions, Suparnt and Kadra. In the chapter on the hearths (dhishnya?) it is set forth how that affair of Suparni and Kadrd came to pass.
2. Gayatri flew up to Soma for them. While she was carrying him off, the Gandharva Visvavasu stole him from her. The gods were aware of this,'Soma has indeed been removed from yonder (sky), but he comes not to us, for the Gandharvas have stolen him.'
For the Samyuvâka, see I, 9, 1, 24; for the Patnîsamyâgas, I, 9, 2, I seq.
? See III, 6, 2, 2 seq.
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