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SATAPATHA-BRÂIIMANA.
436
unto us, O Fathers!' he (further) says, because the Fathers are the guardians of houses;-and this is the prayer for blessing at this sacred performance.
43. Being now about to proceed with the afterofferings, they all invest themselves sacrificially (by shifting the cord over to the left shoulder); and thus (invested) the Sacrificer and Brahman walk round to the west, and the Agnidhra to the east, side; and
the Hotri sits down on the Hotri's seat.
44. He (the Adhvaryu) then says, 'Brahman, I shall step forward.' Thereupon he puts the stick (reserved at the time of kindling) on (the fire), and says, 'Agnidh, trim the fire!' He then takes the two spoons and crosses over to the west side. After crossing over and calling for the 'Sraushat,' he says (to the Hotri), 'Pronounce the offering-prayer to the gods!' He performs two after-offerings, omitting the one to the Barhis; for the Barhis means offspring hence he performs two after-offerings, omitting the one to the Barhis, lest he should consign his offspring to the Fathers.
45. He then separates the two spoons1, after laying them down (in their respective places on the altar); and having separated them, and anointed the enclosing-sticks, he takes one enclosing-stick, calls for the 'Sraushat,' and says, 'The divine Hotris are summoned for the proclamation of success, the human is called upon for the song of praise!' The Hotri intones the 'song of praise (sûktavâka).' The Adhvaryu, on the other hand, does not seize the prastara-bunch, but watches while the Hotri recites the song of praise.
1 See I, 8, 3, I seq.
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