________________
IX KANDA, 4 ADHYAYA, I BRAHMANA, 14. 233
his mates; Praises (stâvâ) by name,'-the offering-gifts are indeed praises, for the sacrifice is praised for offering-gifts; and whosoever gives an offering-gift (to priests) is praised; may he protect this our priesthood and nobility!' the meaning of this has been explained.
12. 'The lord of creatures, the all-worker,'Pragâpati (lord of creatures) is indeed the all-worker, for he has wrought all this (universe);—' Manas (the mind) is the Gandharva: his Apsaras are the hymn-verses and hymn-tunes,'- -as a Gandharva, the Mind indeed went forth, with the hymnverses and hymn-tunes as the Apsaras, his mates ;'Wishes (eshti) by name,'-the hymn-verses and hymn-tunes are indeed wishes, for by verses and tunes people pray, 'May this accrue unto us! may it fare thus with us!' may he protect this our priest and nobility!' the meaning of this has been explained.,
·
13. He then makes an offering on the Head of the Chariot;-this, indeed, is that very rite of consecration, and by that he is now consecrated,— which this (Sacrificer) is permitted to perform by those deities with whose permission he is consecrated; for he alone becomes king whom the (other) kings allow (to assume) the royal dignity, and not he whom (they do) not (allow to assume it). With ghee taken in five ladlings (he offers), and this is offered as five oblations: the significance of this has been explained.
14. On the head (or front part of the chariot the
1 The construction of the text (occurring again at IX, 4, 4, 8) is rather irregular.
Digitized by
Google
