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492
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
50. And, again, they say, “Seeing that at the sacrifice they lead forward the Pranità(water), wherefore do they not lead it forward on this occasion ?' Well, this—to wit, the Pranità (water)
- being the head of the sacrifice, and the Pravargya also being its head, (he does so thinking, 'Lest I cause the head to be overtopped by a head.
51. And, again, they say, 'Seeing that elsewhere there are fore-offerings and after-offerings, where fore are there not any on this occasion ?' Well, the fore-offerings and after-offerings being the vital airs, and so also the Avakåsas", and the pieces of wood, (it is so) lest he should cause the vital airs to be overtopped by vital airs.
52. And, again, they say, 'Seeing that elsewhere they offer two butter-portions, wherefore does he not offer them on this occasion ?' Well, those two-to wit, the butter-portions-being the eyes of the sacrifice, and so also the two Rauhina (cakes)—it is so) lest he should overtop eye by eye.
53. And, again, they say, 'Seeing that they make offering to the gods by means of wooden (vessels), wherefore does he offer this (Gharma) by means of one made of clay ?' When the Sacrifice had its head cut off, its life-sap flowed away and entered the heaven and the earth. Now this (earth) is clay, and yonder (sky) is water; and the Mahavira (vessels) are made of clay and water : thus he supplies and completes it (the Pravargya) with that
life-sap.
54. But if it were made of wood, it would be
See part i, p. 9, note.
See p. 469, nole 1.
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