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XIII KÂNDA, 5 ADHYAYA, I BRAHMANA, 6.
379
Soma-sacrifice. And the Barhata Praüga and the Madhukhandasa one he recites both together in triplets-(this being done) for the obtainment of the objects of desire which may be contained) both in the Barhata and the Madhukhandasa Praüga. The morning-service is (thus) set right.
9. Then as to the midday-service. For the obtainment of the Asvamedha, the atikhandas (verse, II, 22, 1), 'In the three troughs the buffalo drank the barley-draught,' is the opening verse of the Marutvatiya (sastra); for outstanding, indeed, is this atikhandas (hypercatalectic verse) amongst metres, and outstanding is the Asvamedha amongst sacrifices. This (verse), being recited thrice, amounts to a triplet, and thereby he obtains the object of desire which (may be contained) in the triplet. “Here, O good one, is the pressed plant' (Rig-veda VIII, 2, 1-3) is the 'anukara' (sequent triplet): this same (triplet) is the constant
1 Viz. the Âgya-sākta, Rig-veda III, 13, forming the chief part of the Hotri's Âgya-sastra, or first Sastra of the Agnishtoma, for which see part i, p. 327 note.
? The Barhata Prauga, or Praüga-sastra in the Brihatî metre, being the one recited on the fifth day of the Prishthya-shadaha (Âsv. Sr. VII, 12, 7), and consisting of the seven different triplets, addressed to as many different deities,-is to be recited also on this occasion; and along with it (or rather, intertwined with it, triplet by triplet) the ordinary Prauga-sastra of the Agnishtoma, made up of the two hymns Rig-veda I, 2 and 3 which are ascribed to Madhukhandas, and consist of nine and twelve verses, or together seven triplets. I do not understand why Harisvåmin mentions Våyur agregâh' (? Våg. S. XXVII, 31) as being the first triplet of the Madhukhandasa Praüga, instead of I, 2, 1-3'vayav å yåhi darsata.'The Pratga is the Hotri's second Sastra of the morning-service, being preceded by the chanting of the first Âgya-stotra; see part ü, p. 325.
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