________________
496
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
(Vág. S. XXXVIII, 19), 'Thee (we will follow) for the protection of the Kshatra,'-for he who shines yonder is indeed the divine ruler : 'for the protection of this human ruler,' he thereby means to say ;-'guard thou the Brahman's body!'—that is to say, 'preserve thou the Brahman's person (atman); '-'Thee (we will follow) as a stay for the Vis,'—the Vis (people, clan) doubtless is the sacrifice : "for the safety of the sacrifice,' he thus means to say ;—'we will follow to new prosperity, -it is for the safety and the stability of the sacrifice that he says this.
10. He then says (to the Prastotri), 'Sing the Såman!' or "Recite the Saman!' but let him rather say, 'Sing the Saman!' for they indeed sing the Såman. When he sings the Såman it is in order that the fiends, the Rakshas, should not injure these
---
-
and followed by the others. According to Âpast. XV, 13, 4, the Pratiprasthâtri now leads the Sacrificer's wife within the enclosure; and whilst attendants carry away the objects not immediately connected with the Pravargya ceremony (post, peg, strings, sand, &c.), the Adhvaryu places the throne-seat (with the chief vessels) 90 as to stand with two feet on the Vedi; and with the other two outside it, and calls on the Prastotri to sing the Saman. This (as is usual in chanting) is done three times—the Adhvaryu, however, repeating his summons each time--and each time all of them (including the Patni) sing or utter a special finale,--the first time in the sâlâ, the second time midway between the sala and the Uttaravedi, and the third time when they have arrived behind the Uttaravedi; the finales corresponding to the formulas of this paragraph, viz.— For the protection (or protector) of heaven (wc follow thee 1'-'For the protection of the Brahman-thee I'For the protection of the self-thee!'
It should be borne in mind that the Mahavfra by which they are supposing themselves to be led now, is looked upon as a symbol of the sun.
Digitized by Google
