Vinaya Texts

SR No.: 007684
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T W Rhys Davids, Hermann Oldenberg
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1881
Total Pages: 2523
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 47 MB

Page 2338

XI, 37.
PENANCES; SACRIFICES.
437
36. Neither a girl, nor a (married) young woman, nor a man of little learning, nor a fool, nor a man in great suffering, nor one uninitiated, shall offer an Agnihotra.
37. For such (persons) offering a burnt-oblation sink into hell, as well as he to whom that (Agnihotra) belongs; hence the person who sacrifices (for another) must be skilled in the performance of) Vaitâna (rites), and know the whole Veda.
much with respect to the explanation of the first line. Vidhâta, the creator (of the world,' Medh., Nár.), means according to Gov. and Kull.'the performer of the prescribed rites;' according to Râgh. ‘able to do, to undo, and to change;' according to Nand. 'the performer of magic rites and so forth.' Sâsitâ, the punisher' (Medh. Kull., Râgh.), i.e. of others, of the king' (Medh.), or of his sons, pupils, and so forth' (Kull.), is interpreted by Nár. to mean 'the instructor in the sacred law,' by Nand. 'the instigator (of incantations).' Vakta, the teacher' (Gov., Nâr.), means according to Medh.the giver of good advice,' according to Kull. and Râgh. the expounder of the sacred law. The explanations of Gov. and Kull. allow also the translation adopted by Sir W. Jones, 'He who performs his duties .... is truly called a Brahmana.' As regards the second line Medh. offers two explanations. First he interprets it 'to him, i.e. when he uses magic, let no man say anything unpropitious, i. e. he must not punish him, nor use any harsh words, i.e. admonish or sharply reprimand him.' Gov. and Kull. agree with this explanation, but omit the specification when he uses magic. According to Medh.'s second rendering the line contains an advice, addressed to men of all castes, not to anger or disquiet a Brâhmana; and this view is adopted by Râgh. and Nand., who explain akusalam, ' unpropitious,' by anishtam, anything disagreeable.' Når.'s readings seem to have differed. He has kuryât instead of brüyât, and explains the first phrase, 'to him let no man do anything unpropitious,' i. e. anything unbecoming, such as a bodily injury. In the second clause he reads suktam (suktam, MS.), which he explains by paryushitam, stale,' but he does not give the remainder of his text.
36–37. Ap. II, 15, 18-19; Gaut. II, 4; Vas. II, 6: sce also above, II, 172; V, 155; 1X, 18. The Vaitâna rites are those performed in the vitâna, the three sacred fires. Hence it follows that the Agnihotra meant here is the Srauta Agnihotra.
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