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SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
offering, and whereof oblative portions have been distributed all round; for he who performs the Agnihotra eats only what remains of the offering.
13. Here now they say,—All other sacrifices come to an end, but the Agnihotra does not come to an end. Although that which lasts for twelve years is indeed limited, this (Agnihotra) is nevertheless unlimited, since, when one has offered in the evening, he knows that he will offer in the morning; and when one has offered in the morning, he knows that he will again offer in the evening. Hence that Agnihotra is unlimited, and in consequence of this its unlimitedness, creatures are here born unlimited. And, verily, he who thus knows the unlimitedness of the Agnihotra, is himself born unlimited in prosperity and offspring.
14. Having milked 1 he puts that (milk) on (the Garhapatya fire), because it has to be cooked. Here now they say, 'When it rises to the brim, then we shall offer it!' He must not however let it rise to the brim, since he would burn it, if he were to let it rise to the brim; and unproductive indeed is burnt seed: he must not, therefore, let it rise to the brim.
15. He should not offer it without having put it on the fire; for since this is Agni's seed, therefore it is hot (srita, 'cooked'); and by putting it on the
1 For other ceremonies preceding those above, see I, 3, 3, 13 seq. According to Katy. IV, 14, 1 he has the Agnihotra cow
-standing south of the sacrificial ground and facing the east or north--milked by anybody except a Sadra. The vessel to be used is of earthenware, and must have been made by an Arya. The Adhvaryu then takes the vessel, and having entered the Ahavanîya house by the east door and passed over to the Garhapatya, puts it there on coals previously shifted northwards from the fire.
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