________________
428
SATAPATHA-BRÂHMANA.
.
any other (trees) of evil name, so as to avoid (such) names from a desire of good luck.
17. Now as to the order of procedure. For an Agnikit (builder of a fire-altar) one makes the tomb after the manner of the fire-altar; for when a Sacri. ficer builds a fire-altar he thereby constructs for himself by sacrifice a (new) body for yonder world; but that sacrificial performance is not complete until the making of a tomb; and when he makes the tomb of the Agnikit after the manner of the firealtar, it is thereby he completes the Agnikitya.
18. One must not make it (too) large lest he should make the sin (of the deceased) large. 'Let him make it as large as the fire-altar without wings and tail,' say some, for like that of the fire-altar is this his (the Sacrificer's) body.'
19. But let him rather make it just of man's size : he thus leaves no room for another; -broader (variyas) behind, for what is (left) behind is offspring : he thus makes the (dead man's) offspring more excellent 3 (variyas);—and broader on the left (north or higher, uttara) side, for the later (uttara)
· The commentator, on Kâty. XXI, 3, 20, and Vag. S. XXXV, 1, instances the sleshmântaka (antiphlegmatic,' i.e. Cordia latifolia or myxa) and the kovidåra (bad for splitting,' Bauhinia variegala; which, according to Stewart and Brandis, shows vertical cracks in the bark).
• The grave being constructed in such a way that the four corners lie in the direction of the four quarters, the back, or west side of the grave would really mean the side facing the north-west.
* Or, perhaps, more extended, more numerous or prosperous.
• In reality, the north means here the side facing the north-east. The side of the tumulus is to form a quadrilateral, of which the two sides intersecting each other at the north corner, are to be longer than the two which intersect at the south corner ; viz each of the
Digitized by Google
