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II KÂNDA, 5 ADHYÂYA, I BRÂHMANA, 14.
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through the one (he created) the upright, and through the other those looking to the ground. This is why there are these five oblations.
12. After that (follows), as a foundation for the curds, a cake on seven potsherds for the Maruts. The Maruts indeed are the people (visah), the people of the gods. They roamed about here entirely unimpeded. Having approached Pragâpati, when he was sacrificing, they said, 'We shall destroy those creatures of thine which thou art about to create by means of this offering ?'
13. Pragâpati reflected, ‘My former creatures have passed away; and if those (Maruts) destroy these (creatures), then nothing will be left.' He accordingly set aside for them that share, the Maruts' cake on seven potsherds; and that is this same cake on seven potsherds for the Maruts. The reason why it is one of seven potsherds, is that the host of the Maruts is (distributed in troops) of seven each !. This is why there is a cake on seven potsherds for the Maruts.
14. Let him offer it to the 'self-strong' (Maruts); since they gained that share for themselves. [If], however, they (the priests) do not find an invitatory and an offering prayer (addressed) to the 'selfstrong' (Maruts)“, let it be offered) simply to the
1 While the five preceding oblations are common to all the seasonal offerings (Kâty. V, 1, 15), the succeeding ones are peculiar to the Vaisvadeva.
9 The Kanva text adds, if thou wilt not assign a share to us.'
* In Rig-veda VIII, 96, 8, the Maruts are said to be sixty-three in number, divided into nine troops of seven each.
• The Kanva text has : Tad uta yâgyânuvâkye svatavatyau na vindanti; yadi yâgyânuvâkye svatavatyau na vinded api mârutyâv eva syâtâm.
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