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MEHENDALE Asus
When one takes into account these points one is inclined to refer this verse to a particular procedure which is enjoined in the sacrifice of a barren cow (vaid), called anйbándhya, to Mitra and Varuna after the concluding rite (udayaniya isti) of a Soma sacrifice." When the cow has been immolated it is necessary that the priests. make sure that the cow is, indeed, barren. Her barrenness cannot be taken for granted. Therefore, when the cow is quieted the adhvaryu asks the amity to pull out the omentum and search for an embryo. If no embryo is found then nothing is required to be done, but if an embryo is found then a special procedure for its disposal has to be gone through.
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It will be clear that the verse in the AV 10. 10. 23 refers to the sight of this gårth when a supposed barren cow is sacrificed and, on examination, is found to contain an embryo. This is a surprise and an event which calls for atonement. That is the reason why the onlookers tremble at the sight of the embryo of a cow who was deemed to be barren. They tremble and exclaim "the vasd has given birth."
The word asust, applied to the mother cow, is taken to mean 'giving birth to a sterile calf'. This may be justified when the calf later proves to be sterile But how can one say this right at the birth of the embryo ? From what has b:en said above regarding the sacrificial procedure, the word can be interpreted in a different way. As an adjective it can mean 'a barren and a not barren (asuś ca sa si cu) and will apply to the sacrificed cow who was deemed to be barren but was, in fact, found to be not barren. Even the old meaning can be understood in the present context in the following way. It will refer to a cow who gives birth to one who, being in au embryonic stage, is not going to beget or give birth to any one.
6. diha yada ná káscana rásaḥ parydsisyata táta esa maitravarunt vasi sámabhavat tasmad esá ná prájayate. Sat.Br. 4.5.1.9.
The same
7. The procedure is described in the Sat.Br. 4. 5. 2. 1-18. procedure is also adopted when a pregnant cow (vícitragarbha prajñatagdrbha according to the comm.) is offered to Aditi towards the end of a Rajasuya (Sat. Br. 5.5.2.8).
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8. As mentioned in the Sat.Br. 4.5.2.10, the embryo may be one that can be ascertained as male, or as female, or may be indistinguishable.
Madhu Vidya/99
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