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ÂPASTAMBA's YAGÑA-PARIBHASHA-SOTRAS.
syâmâlâmla ka nishpatra kshîrini tvaki mâmsala, sleshmala vamani vallî somåkhyå khágabhoganam. “The creeper called Soma is dark, sour, without leaves, milky, fleshy on the surface, producing phlegm and vomiting, food for goats.'
This passage, quoted from some Ayur-vedic text, is still the only one which gives an approximative description of the Soma-plant. Dr. Hooker says that the predicates' sour and milky' point to Sarcostemma, but the question is not decided yet. For further information see George Watt, The Soma Plant, an extract from the third volume of the Dictionary of Economic Products of India, and Hillebrandt, Vedische Mythologie, pp. 14 seq.
Sotra LIII. If one has performed an offering to Rudra, to the Râkshasas, to Nirriti, or to the Pitris, if one has cut or broken or thrown away anything, or rubbed oneself, &c., one should touch water.
Commentary. The touching of water is for the sake of purification. Nirasana is left out in some MSS. The ka, inserted after abhimarsanâni, is explained, as usual, as including other acts also, corresponding to our etc.
Sotra LIV. All priestly performances take place on the northern side of the Vihara.
Commentary. Uttarata-upakarah has to be taken as a compound. Vihara is explained as vihriyantesgnayah påtrani ka yasmin dese, i.e. the sacrificial ground. Upakara is explained as adhvaryvadinam samnkarah, and this samkara, according to Katyayana I, 3, 42, is the path between the Katvala and Utkara, the Utkara being on the west, the pranítás on the east of the Vihara. Katyayana I, 8, 26, expresses the same rule by uttarata-upakaro yagñah, the vihara being the place where the yagña takes place.
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