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I KÂNDA, 4 ADHYAYA, 5 BRÂHMANA, 1.
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the band of the fire-wood): he thereby harnesses it, thinking, ‘Now that it has been harnessed, may it convey the sacrifice to the gods!' for this reason he sweeps it. While sweeping it he moves around, since in harnessing they move around the team. He sweeps thrice each time (i.e. thrice along each of the three enclosing-sticks): threefold is the sacrifice.
15. He sweeps (once), with the text(Vag. S. II, 7 a), O Agni, food-gainer! I cleanse thee, the food-gainer, who art about to hasten to the food !' Whereby he says, 'I cleanse thee who art going to convey the sacrifice (to the gods), thee fit for the sacrifice!' He then sweeps thrice over the fire) silently: for just as, after harnessing (the animal), one urges it on, saying, 'Go on! pull!' so does he thereby strike it with the lash”, thinking, 'Go on and convey the sacrifice to the gods !' That is why he (sweeps) thrice over it silently; and in like manner as this act is performed between (the two sprinklings of butter), so this mind and speech, though forming one, thereby become, as it were, separatet 1181
Fifth BRAHMANA 1. When he (the Adhvaryu) is about to make the second libation with the offering-spoon (sruk), he (twice) lays his joined hands (añgali) on the ground before the two offering-spoons (guha and upabhrit), with the formulas (Vâg. S. II, 7b), 'Adoration to the gods!' 'Svadha to the fathers !' Thereby he propitiates the gods and the fathers, now that
1 The sweeping of the fire is performed with the straw-band with which the fire-wood was tied together (Kâty. III, 1, 13), and which is here compared with the lash of a whip.
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