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II KÂNDA, 4 ADHYÂYA, 2 BRÂHMANA, 16.
365
being in lieu of the altar: only one line he draws, because the fathers have passed away once for all.
14. He then lays down a firebrand at the farther (south) end (of the line). For were he to present that (food) to the fathers, without having laid down a firebrand, the Asuras and Rakshas would certainly tamper with it. And thus the Asuras and Rakshas do not tamper with that (food) of the fathers: this is why he lays down the firebrand at the farther end (of the line).
15. He lays it down, with the text (Vag. S. II, 30), 'Whatsoever Asuras roam about at will, assuming various shapes ?,—be they large-bodied or small-bodied 3,- may Agni expel them from this world! Agni is the repeller of the Rakshas, and therefore he lays (the firebrand) down in this way.
16. He then takes the water-pitcher and makes (the fathers) wash (their hands), merely saying, *N. N., wash thyself!' (naming) the sacrificer's father; ‘N. N., wash thyself !' (naming) his grandfather ; 'N. N., wash thyself I' (naming) his greatgrandfather. As one would pour out water (for a guest) when he is about to take food, so in this case.
? Or, as the Commentator takes svadhayâ,' (attracted) by the svadha (offering to the fathers).'
. That is, according to the Schol., assuming the shapes of deceased ancestors.
This explanation of the words parâpurah and nipurah, proposed by the Scholiast, is doubtful.
• The Adhvaryu (having again shifted the sacrificial cord to his right shoulder) pours water through the "fathers' space" (pitritirtha, i.e. the space between the thumb and fore-finger), from right to left, into the line, at its beginning, centre, and end. Kâty. IV, 1, 10, and Schol.
See paragraph 19.
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