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350
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SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
saying, 'I grant a boon to the Brahman (priest) :' (this he does) with a view to his gaining and securing everything, for a boon is everything, and the Asvamedha is everything.
11. The gold ornament which is attached to his (neck) he then gives to the Adhvaryu : in giving it to the Adhvaryu he secures to himself immortal life, for gold means immortal life.
12. For the object of (gaining) the road, and in order not to lose the mouth (mukha) of the sacrifice, he then prepares an ishti-offering to Agni. For, indeed, all the deities have Agni for their mouth, and in the Asvamedha are (contained) all objects of desire: "Having, at the outset (mukhatah), gratified all the gods, may I obtain all my desires!' so he thinks.
13. For this (offering) there are fifteen kindlingverses 2; for fifteenfold is the thunderbolt, and the thunderbolt means vigour: with the thunderbolt (of) vigour the Sacrificer thus from the first repels evil. The two butter-portions relate to the slaying of Vritra S, with a view to the repelling of evil, for
i Viz. a cake (on eight kapalas) to Agni Pathikrit, the pathmaker'-or, according to Asv. Sr. X, 6, 3, to Agni Mardhanvat ( forming the head,' so called from the formulas used containing the word 'head).' For a similar special offering to the same deity see XII, 4, 4, 1 (cf. XI, 1, 5, 5).
• See part i, p. 95 seqq. (especially I, 3, 5, 5–7).
* The two Agyabhagas, or butter-portions to Agni and Soma. are said to be . Vritra-slaying' (vârtraghna), or to relate to the slaying of Vritra, when their anuvâkyâs, or invitatory formulas, are the two verses Rig-veda VI, 16, 34 (agnir vritrâni ganghanat, May Agni slay the Vritras'), and I, 91, 5 (tvam somâsi satpatis tvam rågota vritraha, 'Thou, O Soma, art the true lord, thou art the king and the slayer of Vritra,' &c.). This is the case at the Fullmoon sacrifice, whilst at the New-moon sacrifice the two butter
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