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384
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
thing, for the seventeenfold is Pragàpati, and the seventeenfold (stoma) is everything, and the Asvamedha is everything ;—and sixteen at each of the other (stakes) in order that he may gain and secure everything, for everything here consists of sixteen parts, and the Asvamedha is everything. Thirteen wild (beasts) he seizes for each intermediate space, in order that he may gain and secure everything, for the year consists of thirteen months, and the Asyamedha is everything.
16. Now, prior to the (chanting of the) Bahishpavamâna, they (the assistants of the Adhvaryu) bring up the horse, after cleansing it; and with it they glide along for the Pavamâna: the mystic import of this has been explained. When the Bahishpavamâna has been chanted, they make the horse step on the place of chanting : if it sniffs, or turns away, let him know that his sacrifice is successful. Having led up that (horse), the Adhvaryu says, 'Hotri, sing praises!' and the Hotri sings its praises ? with eleven (verses, Rig-veda I, 163, 1-11),
17. "When, first born, thou didst neigh...thrice (he praises) with the first, and thrice with the last (verse), these amount to fifteen,-fifteenfold is the thunderbolt, and the thunderbolt means vigour : with that thunderbolt, vigour, the Sacrificer thus from the very first repels evil: thus, indeed, it is to the Sacrificer that the thunderbolt is given in
1 XIII, 2, 3, 1.
• The mode of recitation is similar to that of the kindlingverses (likewise eleven, brought up, by repetitions of the first and last, to fifteen), viz. by making a pause after each half-verse, but without adding the syllable 'om' thereto. Âsv. Sr. X, 8, 5.
• Harisvåmin explains tad vai' as standing for 'sa vai' (lingavyatyayena)-viz. that fifteenfold thunderbolt.
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