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II KÂNDA, 6 ADHYÂYA, I BRÂHMANA, 23. 427 hither the loving fathers to eat their oblation!' Thereupon he says, 'Bring Agni hither?! bring Soma hither! bring hither the fathers, accompanied by Soma! bring hither the fathers, seated on the barhis! bring hither the fathers, consumed by Agni! bring hither the butter-drinking gods! bring hither Agni for the Hotriship! bring hither (thine) own greatness?!' Having thus called on (Agni) to bring hither (the fathers and gods), he sits down.
23. Having then called for the (Âgnidhra's) Sraushat,' he does not elect the Hotri; for this being a sacrifice to the Manes, he does not elect the Hotri“, lest he should consign the Hotri to the Manes. He says, 'Hotri, seat thyself !' and takes his seat. The Hotri, having sat down on the Hotri's seat, urges (the Adhvaryu) to proceed; and thus urged, the Adhvaryu takes the two spoons and steps across to the west of the fire); and having stepped across and called for the 'Sraushat,' he says, Pronounce the offering-prayer to the kindling-sticks!' He performs four fore-offerings,
1 The Kânva MS. reads, Bring Agni hither, 0 Agni!' Before this, Asval. II, 19, 7 inserts, ‘Bring hither the gods (and) fathers for the sacrificer!' See I, 4, 2, 16.
? According to the Kanva text he adds here the same formula as at ordinary ishhs (I, 4, 2, 17), 'Bring (them) hither, O Gâtavedas, and offer up a good offering I' For the formulas · Bring hither Agni for the Hotriship ! bring hither thine own greatness I' Asval. II, 19, 8 apparently substitutes Bring hither Agni Kavyavahana!' cf. further on, par. 30.
8 The Adhvaryu, having offered the two libations of butter, and called for the Sraushal,' Kânva recension.
• On the pravara, or election of the (divine and human) Hotri, see I, 4, 2, 1 seq., 5, 1, 1 seq. The call ‘Hotri, seat thyself l' here takes the place of the formulas given I, 5, 1, 5 seq.
• See I, 5, 3, 1 seq.
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