Satapatha Bramhana Part 03

SR No.: 007679
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Julius Eggeling
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1894
Total Pages: 2382
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 45 MB

Page 2017

240
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
become initiated, nor are Soma-shoots' thrown down (to be pressed), how then does the Sautrâmani become a Soma-sacrifice ?'
4. He replied, “The observance of the fast, assuredly, is the head of the sacrifice, and the initiation its body. And the truth, doubtless, is of the form of the fast-observance, and faith of that of the initiation. And mind is of the form of the Sacrificer, and speech of that of the sacrifice.'
5. Thus, when he enters upon the fast-observance, he thereby restores the head to the body of the sacrifice, and he puts truth into faith, and the Sacrificer into the sacrifice.
6. Therefore at this sacrifice (the Sautrâmani) the fast-observance? is the initiation. Now, the fastobservance is a male, and the initiation a female; and the truth is a male, and faith a female; and the mind is a male, and speech a female; and the Sacrificer is the male to his wife, whence wherever there is a husband there is a wife: and at the very outset of the sacrifice he thus sets up couples with a view to production.
7. And, indeed, those (materials) are the Somashoots at this sacrifice,' they say, 'to wit, the malted rice, the malted barley, and the fried rice.'
8. The malted rice 3, indeed, is of the form of the
1 The Somâmsava iva' would seem to have here the force of Soma-shoots proper,' only substitutes (milk and liquor) being used instead.
That is to say, the observance of the fast-by which the Sacrificer during the four days of the performance of the Sautrâmani, lives solely on the remains of the Agnihotra-takes the place of the ordinary initiation of the Soma-sacrifice, there being no Diksha at the Sautrâmani.
The malted rice, malted barley, and fried rice, referred to in
Digitized by Google