________________
II KÂNDA, 2 ADHYAYA, 1 BRÂHMANA, 4.
303
he performs the full-offering is that he thereby causes that Agni to become an eater of food for his own self; that he thereby offers food to him. Even as (a mother or cow) would offer the breast to a new-born child or calf, so does he thereby offer food to him.
2. And having been appeased by that food, he (Agni) waits patiently for the other oblations to be cooked. If, on the other hand, that oblation were not to be offered up in him, he would ere long burn either the Adhvaryu or the sacrificer, for these two pass nearest by him. This is the reason why he makes this offering.
3. He offers it (with a) full (spoon); for the full doubtless means the All (universe), so that he thereby appeases him with the All. He offers it with 'Svâhâ !' for the Svâhâ is undefined, and undefined also is the All, so that he thereby appeases him by means of the All.
4. The first offering which Pragâ pati made, he made with 'Svâhâ !' Now that offering) indeed is virtually the same as this one; and hence he (the sacrificer) also makes it with Svâhâ !' At this (offering) he grants a boon (to the priests)?; but
melt. Having then wiped the dipping-spoon (sruva) and offeringspoon (suhů) with sacrificial grass in the manner described at I, 3, 1, 6 seq., and taken the butter-pot off the fire, and strained the butter with the two stalks of darbha serving as strainers, he fills the guhů with the sruva. He now takes one stick, steps over to the north side of the Ahavanîya fire, strews grass around it, and puts the stick on the fire. He then sits down with bent right knee, and, while the sacrificer takes hold of him from behind, he pours the spoonful of butter into the fire with 'Svâhâ l' the sacrificer pronouncing the dedicatory formula (tyâga), This to Agnil'
After the full-offering the sacrificer breaks the silence, imposed on him, by the words, 'I give a boon,' Kâty. IV, 10, 6; presents,
Digitized by Google
