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अत्यनूक्तम्
TWO VEDIC NOTES
M. A. MEHENDALE
(१) अत्यनूक्तम्
The following mantra is found in the Taittiriya Brahmana 3.7.11.1: अत्याश्रावितम् वषट्कृतम् अत्यनूक्तं च यज्ञे The meaning of the word अत्यनक्तम् is not immediately clear. Caland looks upon it as an adjective,qualifying and translates it as 'uttered too loud' (?) (der alzuweit gesagte Vaşatruf)'. Dumount has only followed Caland while translating it as 'the exclamation vasat (a)(if it is) excessively loud"."
The above rendering does not seem proper. Caland considers that in the above mantra only two acts, done improperly at the sacrifice, are referred to. But this is not correct. It refers to four such acts, as has been made clear by Sayana by using ufour times in his commentary on the Taittiriya Brahmaṇa. Moreover, Caland has neglected the prefix अनु in his translation of अत्यनूक्तम्.
In the mantra अत्यनूक्तम् comes after वषट्कृतम् In the ritual in the case of certain offerings - comes after aan. Therefore, it may appear at first sight that the prefix अनु in अत्यनूक्तम् is idicative of this अनुवषट्कार. In that case अत्यनूक्तम् might mean 'improperly uttered agar. But even this is not acceptable. In the first instance the mantra occurs among those formulas which accompany the expiation offerings offered to atone for the mistakes committed in the afgefare. And there is no offering with gauza prescribed in this isti. Hence the possibility of an arazor being improperly pronounced does not arise and, therefore no expiation is called for.
Secondly, अनूक्तम् is derived from अनु वच् and the prefix अनु in अनुवच् or अनु-ब्रू does not mean 'after' but 'agreeable to', 'suited for' (3). When the arag instructs the Hotr (a) priest with the words à fra 3 (Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 1.3.5.2) what he wants the priest to do is to recite such mantras as are suitable for the occasion. It is only when the priest recites the mantras are suitable for the occasion, that the sacrificial act becomes perfect in form. This has often been told in the Brahmanas as वै यज्ञस्य समृद्धं यद् रूपसमृद्धं यत् कर्म क्रियमाणम् ऋग् अभिवदति (Aitareya Brahmana, 1.4.etc. Sāyaa ते च (ऋचौ) कर्मानुकूल्येन रूपेण समृद्धे ) .
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