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XIII KANDA, 2 ADHYAYA, 8 BRAHMANA, 5. 323
indeed, they also fan1 it. Thrice they walk round 2; for three (in number) are these worlds: by means of these worlds they fan it. Thrice again they walk round3,-that amounts to six, for there are six seasons: by means of the seasons they fan it.
5. But, indeed, the vital airs depart from those who perform the fanning at the sacrifice. Nine times they walk round; for there are nine vital airs vital airs they thus put into their own selves, and the vital airs do not depart from them. I will urge the seed-layer, urge thou the seedlayer!' (the Mahisht says '); - seed, doubtless, means offspring and cattle: offspring and cattle she thus secures for herself. [Våg. S. XXIII, 20,] 'Let us stretch our feet,' thus in order to secure union. 'In heaven ye envelop yourselves' (the Adhvaryu says),-for that is, indeed, heaven where they immolate the victim: therefore he
1 Thus Harisvâmin :-dhuvate dhûnane(na) upavâgayanti, evam asvam râgânam iva vyaganair etat, they shake themselves,' St. Petersb. Dict.; and, indeed, it is doubtless by the flutter of the garments produced in walking round first one way and then another, that the fanning is supposed to be produced.
Viz. in sunwise fashion (pradakshinâ), that is so as to keep the object circumambulated on one's right side.
Viz. in the opposite, the 'apradakshinam' way, as is done in the sacrifice to the departed ancestors. They do so with the text, 'We call upon thee, the dear Lord of the dear ones, O my true lord!'
Viz. another three times in the sunwise way. Having completed their circumambulation, the king's wives cleanse the horse's apertures of the vital airs (mouth, nostrils, eyes, &c.), as the Sacrificer's wife did at the ordinary animal sacrifice (III, 8, 2, 4), which they do with the text, 'We call upon thee, the treasurelord of treasures, O my true lord!'
Cf. III, 5, 2, I seqq.
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