________________
III PRAPATHAKA, 10 KÂNDIKÂ, 31. 99 (the verse), 'What, O beasts, you think' (MB. II, 2, 5).
20. And after having sacrificed, he should recite over (the cow the verse), "May thy mother give leave to thee' (ibid. 6).
21. Let him sprinkle (the cow) with water in which barley is, with (the words), · Agreeable to the Ashtaka I sprinkle thee.'
22. Let him carry a fire-brand round it with (the verse), “The lord of goods, the sage (goes) round' (Sâma-veda I, 30).
23. Let him give it water to drink.
24. The remainder of what it has drunk he should pour out under (the feet of) the beast with (the formula), 'Away from the gods the Havis has been taken' (MB. II, 2, 7).
25. They then walk in a northerly direction (from the fire) and kill (the cow),
26. The head of which is turned to the east, the feet to the north, if the rite is sacred to the gods,
27. The head to the south, the feet to the west, if the rite is sacred to the Manes.
28. After it has been killed, he should sacrifice (Ågya) with (the verse), 'If the beast has lowed' (ibid. 8).
29. And (the sacrificer's) wife should get water and should wash all the apertures of the cow's body.
30. They lay two purifiers (i. e. grass-blades) on (the cow's body) near its navel, cut it up in the direction of its hairs, and draw the omentum out.
31. He should spit it on two pieces of wood, on one (simple) branch and on another forked branch, should besprinkle it (with water), and should roast it.
H 2
Digitized by Google
