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114
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
unable to injure them and were foiled: for this reason the sacrifice is called adhvara ('not damaged, uninterrupted'); and for whomsoever, that knows this, they recite this tristich containing (the word) adhvara (cult, sacrifice'), his rival, though desirous of injuring him, is foiled; and he (the sacrificer), moreover, gains as much as one gains by offering a Soma-sacrifice
SECOND BRÂHMANA. 1. Now in former times the gods appointed Agni to the chief (office), namely, that of Hotri; and having appointed him to the chief (office) saying 'do thou carry this our oblation !' they cheered him up, saying, 'Surely, thou art vigorous; surely, thou art equal to this! thereby endowing him with vigour, even as in our own days, when they appoint any one from among their kinsmen to the chief (office), they cheer him up saying 'surely, thou art vigorous; surely, thou art equal to this !' thereby endowing him with vigour. By what, therefore, he recites after this, he eulogizes him, puts vigour into him?.
2. 'O Agni, thou art great! O priest (brâhmana), O Bharata !' for Agni, indeed, is the brahman
1 Saumya adhvara is the common designation of the solemn Soma-sacrifice; hence, our author argues, the word a dhvara is here used for sacrifice (yagña) with a view to insure to this offering the efficacy of a Soma-sacrifice.
The invocations he now proceeds to recite, on the termination of the sâmidhenis or kindling verses, belong to the class of formulas called nigada. In the present case, they consist of the pravara mantra-or formula by which Agni is invited to assist the sacrificer as Hotri or Invoker on the present occasion, as he has of old assisted his ancestors (cf. the following note)—and of short detached formulas called nivid. Sayana on Taitt. S. II, 5, 8.
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