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XII KANDA, 5 ADHYAYA, I BRAHMANA, 11. 199
8. He does not cause the light (of a burning straw) to fall upon it, nor does he pour water to it; for were he to make the light fall on it, and to pour water to it, he would be doing (what is done) for the gods. He does not take it off thrice, setting it down each time1; for were he take it off thrice, setting it down each time, he would be doing (what is done) for the gods: only once he takes it off drawing it downwards2, and thus makes it to be sacred to the Fathers.
9. He does not say, 'I will ladle out!' nor does he ladle out (the milk) four times; for were he to say 'I will ladle out!' and were he to ladle out four times, he would be doing (what is done) for the gods: only once he silently turns it upside down (into the spoon), and thus makes it to be sacred to the Fathers.
10. He does not take it (to the Âhavaniya) whilst holding a kindling-stick over (the handle of the spoon); for were he to take it (there) whilst holding a kindling-stick over it, he would be doing (what is done) for the gods: he takes it whilst holding (a billet) underneath, and thus makes it to be sacred to the Fathers.
11. He does not pass along the north side of the Gârhapatya, for were he to pass along the north
1 When a spoonful of water has been added to the Agnihotramilk, and the light of a burning straw again thrown on it, the pot is taken up three several times and put down each time further north on the hot ashes; see part i, p. 331, note I.
That is, down from the ashes-towards the south (where the Fathers, or departed ancestors, are supposed to reside), whilst in the case of the ordinary Agnihotra he would be shifting the pot more and more upwards, or northwards. Cf. Kâty. XXV, 8, 10. See part i, p. 331, note 4.
See XII, 4, 2, 8.
• Possibly we ought to translate,-he does not go to the north side of the Gârhapatya (but to the south side)—that is, if he makes
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