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396
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
delivers the creatures from Varuna's noose through conjugal union.
17. The ewe he places on the southern, and the ram on the northern dish of curds; for in this way alone a proper union is effected, since the woman lies on the left (or north) side of the man.
18. The Adhvaryu places all the (other) sacrificial dishes upon the northern altar; and the Pratiprasthâtri places on the southern altar that dish of curds (belonging to the Maruts).
19. Having thus placed the sacrificial dishes, he churns the fire; and having churned it and placed it on (the hearth)', he offers thereon. The Adhvaryu in the first place says (to the Hotri)?, 'Recite to the fire that is being kindled!' Both (the Adhvaryu and the Pratiprasthâtri) then put firewood on (the fire) and both reserve one kindling-stick each ; and they both pour out the first libation (aghara). Thereupon the Adhvaryu says, 'Agnidh, trim the fire!' Although the summons is given, the trimming does not take place (immediately).
20. Thereupon the Pratiprasthâtri returns (to where the sacrificer's wife is seated). When he is about to lead the wife away, he asks her, With
1 The author here apparently alludes to a different way of transferring the fire to the new fire-places from that detailed by Katyayana (see p. 392, note 1). The same mode seems to be referred to by the Paddhati on Kâty. V, 4 (p. 467). According to this mode (called samaropana, or mounting of the fire), the old fires are 'taken up' by means of the two aranis being lighted, or rather heated, at them, and then churned out' and placed on the newlyprepared hearth-mounds.
* For the detailed course of procedure, see I, 3, 5, 7 seq.
3 Asamsrishtam eva bhavati sampreshitam. The Kânva recension reads, asamsrishta evâgnir bhavati sampreshitah. Cf. par. 30.
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