Questions of King Milinda Part 01

SR No.: 007681
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T W Rhys Davids
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1890
Total Pages: 2695
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 47 MB

Page 1009

SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
12. To the king (râgan) doubtless belongs the Ragasûya; for by offering the Ragasûya he becomes king; and unsuited for kingship is the Brahmana. And, moreover, the Râgasûya is the lower, and the Vågapeya the higher (sacrifice).
13. For by offering the Râgasûya1 he becomes king, and by the Vagapeya (he becomes) emperor (samrâg); and the office of king is the lower, and that of emperor the higher: a king might indeed wish to become emperor, for the office of king is the lower, and that of emperor the higher; but the emperor would not wish to become king, for the office of king is the lower, and that of emperor the higher.
14. Thus that (king) who, by performing the Vâgapeya, becomes emperor, possesses himself of everything here. Previously to each performance (of an ishti 2) he offers that oblation to Savitri (the sun), with the text, 'O divine Savitri, impel (prosper) the sacrifice, impel Pragâpati for his portion!'
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1 Kâty. Sr. XV, 1, 1-2, lays down the ruie that the Râgasûya is to be performed by a king who has not yet performed the Vâgapeya. Asval. Sr. IX, 9, 19, on the other hand, rules: 'After performing it (the Vagapeya) let a king perform the Râgasûya, a Brahmana the Brihaspati-sava' (cf. V, 2, 1, 19). See also Kâty. XIV, 1, 2 seq. Cf. Lâty. Sr. VIII, II, I seq.
* During the bright fortnights (of the waxing moon) preceding and following the Vâgapeya ceremony proper, the sacrificer has to perform a number of so-called pariyaga ('surrounding or enclosing sacrifices') consisting of one-day Soma-sacrifices of different kinds, each of which is preceded by a special dîkshâ, or initiation ceremony (cf. III, 1, 2, 1 seq.; Lâty. Sr. VIII, 11, 2). It is to the ishtis (dîkshanîyeshti, prâyanîyeshti) of these pariyagñas that the above injunction regarding the performance of the Sâvitrî âhuti refers.
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