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386
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA,
SECOND BRÂHMANA. 1. Having uttered these two (verses), he pronounces what remains of the Adhrigu. 'A cloth, an upper cloth, and gold,' this is what they spread out for the horse!: thereon they 'quiet' (slaughter) it. When the victims have been 'quieted,' the (king's) wives come up with water for washing the feet,-four wives, and a young maiden as the fifth, and four hundred female attendants.
2. When the foot-water is ready, they cause the Mahishi to lie down near the horse, and cover her up with the upper cloth, with 'In heaven ye envelop yourselves,'—for that indeed is heaven where they immolate the victim ..., 'May the vigorous male, the layer of seed, lay seed!' she says for the completeness of union.
3. Whilst they are lying there, the Sacrificer addresses the horse (Våg. S. XXIII, 21), ‘Utsakhya ava gudam dhehi!' No one replies to him, lest there should be some one to rival the Sacrificer.
4. The Adhvaryu then addresses the maiden, Hey hey maiden, that little bird ...'-The maiden replies to him, 'Adhvaryu ! that little bird ...'
5. And the Brahman addresses the Mahishi, *Mahishi, hey hey Mahishi, thy mother and father mount to the top of the tree...'--She has a hundred daughters of kings attending upon her : these
contrary, only the ribs of one horse (thus forming a kind of unit) are referred to; and if that verse were recited, along with the whole hymn, before the final formula which refers to all the victims, the necessary connection would be interrupted.
i See XIII, 2, 8, 1,
• Nirayatyasvasya sisnam mahisby upasthe nidhatte 'vrisbå vägi retodhå reto dadhâtv'iti mithunasyaiva sarvatvaya.
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