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II KÂNDA, 4 ADHYAYA, I BRÂHMANA, II.
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goods : 0 Agni, sovereign lord, bestow on us lustre and strength!' Having then sat down he sweeps the blades of grass ? (into the fire).
9. Thereupon he approaches the Gârhapatya, with the text, 'He, Agni Gårhapatya, is the lord of the house, the most liberal dispenser of goods to our offspring : 0 Agni, lord of the house, bestow on us lustre and strength!' Having then sat down, he sweeps off the blades of grass. In this way (householders) mostly approach the fires with muttered
prayer.
10. However, one may also approach the fires silently,—and that for this reason :- If in the place (where one lives), a Brâhman or noble-in short, a better man-resides, one dares not say to him, 'I am going on a journey, take care of this (property) of mine !' Now in this (sacrificial ground) one's betters indeed reside, viz. the divine Agnis : who, then, would dare to say to them, 'I am going on a journey, take ye care of this (property) of mine!'
11. The gods assuredly see through the mind of man: that (Agni) Gârhapatya therefore knows that he (the householder) now approaches in order to give
According to Kâty. IV, 12, 18-19 he [after performing ablutions, and lustrating the Ahavanîya and Dakshina fire-places, and taking out these fires from the Gârhapatya) approaches the Ahavaniya, while holding pieces of fire-wood in his hand, and mutters the formula given above. He then sits down and silently puts on the fire a piece of wood and the grass that has fallen around the fire. According to the Kanva text he mutters the second half of the formula (O Agni,' &c.) while sweeping the grass (into the fire).
' In Taitt. Br. I, 1, 10, 6, a householder who is about to start on a journey is apparently recommended to entrust his house to a Brâhman, who may be staying in it.
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