________________
III KÂNDA, 3 ADHYAYA, 4 BRAHMANA, 14. 79
cart) and taken hold of the drag1, he says (to the Hotri), 'Recite to the bought Soma !' or,'-to Soma, now driven about!' whichever way he pleases.
14. He then makes (the sacrificer) say the text (Våg. S. IV, 34), 'Thou art gracious unto me, go forth, O Lord of the world-,' for he (Soma) is indeed gracious to him, wherefore he heeds no other but him. Even his (Soma's own) kings come (to
1 Apâlamba, a piece of wood fastened to the back part of the cart to prevent its running backwards when going up-hill; or, according to others, a rope used for retarding the progress of the cart in going down-hill. Kâty. VII, 9, 15 comm. The cart stands with the oxen towards the east; it is then wheeled round towards the right to the west and driven to the hall, in front of which it is turned towards the north; the Soma being then taken down. Ait. Br. I, 14.
See
The duties of the Hotri, while the Soma-cart is driven to the hall, are set forth Asv. Srautas. IV, 4: He stands three feet behind the cart between the two wheel tracks, and throws thrice dust towards the south with the fore-part of his foot without moving the heel, with the formula, 'Thou art wise, thou art intelligent, thou upholding all things: drive away the danger arising from men!' Thereupon, after uttering the sound 'Him,' he recites eight verses, or, the first and last being recited thrice each, in all twelve verses. Cf. Ait. Br. I, 13. He first remains standing in the same place and recites thrice the first verse. Then in following the cart he recites the five following verses. The cart having now stopped, he walks round it on its right (south) side, and while looking on the Soma follows it while it is placed on the throne. He then touches it and completes his recitation by the last two verses. The first of these two verses is the same which the sacrificer is to mutter (with the Adhvaryu) while Soma is carried into the hall, and which is given in paragraph 30.
While the Soma is driven to the hall, the sacrificer has to hold on to it from behind.
'Asya râgânah sabhâgâh ;'-Soma seems to be compared here with an emperor or overlord of kings (adhirâgo râgñâm, V, 4, 2, 2), who is holding a royal court (râgasabhâ), or a Darbar, to which the under-kings are flocking. Sâyana seems to interpret the passage differently: apy asya râgânah iti sabhâgâ ity anena râgñâm anatikra
Digitized by
Google
