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32
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
part of the sacrifice?; and he wishes her, thus coming forward, to propitiate the sacrifice. But impure is that part of woman which is below the navel, and pure are the plants of (Kusa) grass : thus having, by means of those plants of (Kusa) grass, made pure whatever part of her is impure, he causes her to propitiate the sacrifice, while coming forward. This is why the Neshtri, being about to lead up the wife, makes her wrap round herself, over the garment of consecration, a cloth, or skirt, made of Kusa grass.
9. He then leans a ladder (against the post). He may ascend either from the south northwards, or from the north southwards; but let him rather ascend from the south northwards (udak), for thus it goes upwards (udak).
10. Being about to ascend, he (the Sacrificer) addresses his wife, 'Come, wife, ascend we the sky!'-'Ascend we!' says the wife. Now as to why he addresses his wife: she, the wife, in sooth is one half of his own self; hence, as long as he does not obtain her, so long he is not regenerated, for so long he is incomplete. But as soon as he obtains her he is regenerated, for then he is complete.
Complete I want to go to that supreme goal,' thus (he thinks) and therefore he addresses his wife.
11. He ascends, with, 'We have become Pragapati's children;' for he who offers the Vâgapeya indeed becomes Pragâpati's child.
12. He then touches the wheat (top-piece) ?, with, 1 Viz. because her ordinary seat is at the back, or west, end of the altar.
. According to the ritual of the Black Yagus (Sây, on Taitt. S. I, 7, 9, vol. I, p. 1039), the Sacrificer, having ascended, lifts up his
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| SR No. | 007681 |
| Book Title | Questions of King Milinda Part 01 |
| 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 |