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ÂSVALAYANA-GRIHYA-SUTRA.
the gods. By the ancients thou hast been offered. Through the funeral oblation render the Fathers and these worlds propitious to us. Svadhâ! Adoration!' 12. (The different rites are performed) from the right to the left.
13. With (the part) of the other (i. e. left) hand between the thumb (and the fore-finger), because he wears the sacrificial cord over his left shoulder, or with the right hand which he seizes with the left (he offers the Arghya water to the Fathers with the words), ' Father, this is thy Arghya. Grandfather, this is thy Arghya. Great-grandfather, this is thy Arghya'-having first offered (ordinary) water (to the Fathers).
14. When he is going to hand over that (Arghya water to the Brâhmanas who represent the Fathers, he says once each time), 'Svadhâ! The Arghya
water!'
15. Over (the Arghya water) which has been
12. Comp. Sânkhâyana-Grihya IV, 4, 6.
13. The part of the hand above the thumb is called the 'Tîrtha belonging to the Manes;' see, for instance, Baudhâyana's Dharmasûtra I, 8, 16. The sacrificer is here understood to wear his sacrificial cord suspended over the left shoulder (he is 'yâgñopavîtin'). But as the oblation here treated of is directed to the Manes, it is required that he should be prâkînâvîtin. Now he is considered as prâkînâvîtin, according to Nârâyana, not only if the cord is suspended over his right shoulder (which is the ordinary meaning of prâkînâvîtin), but also if the hand with which he performs the rites, and the shoulder over which he wears the sacred cord, are either both right or both left. Thus here, acting with the left-hand and wearing the cord over the left shoulder, he becomes prâkînâvîtin.
The last word (appûrvam) is separated by Nârâyana from the rest, so that it forms a separate Sûtra.
15. The sacrificer gives the water to the Brahmanas, and these
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