Free from my debt, O Agni, I become thereby. are by me unharmed. United are ye all: with bliss unite me. me apart from evil. My parents Parted are ye, keep 12 The Aṣvius, the Physicians, Gods, stretched out the healing sacrifice, Sarasvati with speech was a Physician, all with heroic powers investing Indra. 13 Symbols of Dikshâ are grass buds, of Prâyaniya sprouts of corn, Of Soma-purchasing fried grains are symbols, Soma-shoots and meath. 14 Âtithya's sign is Mâsara, the Gharma's symbol Nagnahu. Three nights with Surâ poured, this is the symbol of the Upasads. 15 Emblem of purchased Soma is Parisrut, foaming drink effused: Indra's balm milked for Iudra by the Asvius and Sarasvati. 16 The Sacrificer's seat is the throne's symbol, the jar containing Surâ of the Altar. The mid-space is the northern Altar's symbol: the cloth for filtering is the physician. 17 Altar by Altar is produced, power, holy grass by holy grass. The stake is by the stake obtained, by Agni Agni carried forth. 18 The Asvins are the Soma store, Sarasvati the sacred hearth. For Indra formed is Iudra's seat, the Matrons' Hall, the house-lord's fire. 12 See X. 33, 34; XIX. first note; R. V. X. 131. 4; Muir's Original Sanskrit Texts, V. 94. Healing sacrifice: the prototype of the Sautramani. Many miracles of healing are attributed to the Asvins, the divine Physicians, the heralds of light, who recreate the world of life after the darkness of night. See The Hymns of the Rigveda, Index. 13 The purport of this and the eighteen following stanzas is to show the close interconnexion of the Sau trâman with Soma sacrifice, the sacrificial elements, vessels, implements, lauds and hymus that are used in the former being regarded as forms, types, symbols or reproductions of those employed in the latter. Dikshi: Conseoration. Grass buds or young grass. See introductory note. Prayaniya: the name of an introductory libation at a Soma sacrifice. Meath or honey. 14 Atithya: the ceremonial reception of Soma when brought to the place of sacrifice. See V. 1-4 Masara: see introductory note. Gharma: the caldron for hot libations Nagnahu: a root used as yeast. Upasads: see V. 8. Parisrut: a kind of beer, prepared from concocted herbs and fermented. : 16 The mid-space between the two altars, one for Soma aud one for Surâ, used at the Sautramani sacrifice. The physician: who is to cure Indra. 18 Sacred hearth: Agnidhra, where the sacrificial fire is kindled. Mutrons' Hall: see IV. 34. House-lord's fire: the Gârhapatya. 19 Orders he gains by orders, by Apris Âpris of sacrifice,, Post-offerings by fore-offerings, and by calls of Vashat Abutis. 20 By victims he gaius victims, by ground rice-cakes sacrificial food, By metres kindling-verses, and Vashat-calls by Invitingprayers. 21 Grain roasted, gruel, barley-meal, grains of rice roasted, milk and curd Are types of Soma: mingled milk, sweet whey, of sacrificial food. 22 Type of parched corn is jujube-fruit; wheat of the roasted grains of rice; Jujube the type of barley-meal, and Indragrains of gruel-groats. 23 Symbol of milk are barley-grains, symbol of curd are jujubefruits. Whey is the type of Soma, and milk-mixture type of 24 The Strophe is the cry, Bid hear! the answer is the antistrophe. Sacrifice! is the Dhayya's form, Pragâthas' the Yajâmahas. 25 By verse-halves comes the Ukthas' type, Nivids by l'adas he obtains. The type of Sastras is obtained by Pranavas, Soma by milk. 19 Orders: prishas; liturgical directions given by a superior priest to his assistant. Apris: a class of propitiatory hymns addressed to Agni under various forms and titles. See Rigveda, Indes. Post-offerings: Anuyâjas; oblations of clarified butter offered after the chief sacrifice. Fore-offerings: prayajas; similar offerings preceding the chief sacrifice. Ahutis: oblations with fire. 20 Kindling-verses: samidhenis; recited on lighting, or adding fuel to the sacrificial fire. Inviting-prayers: yajyas; pronounced by the Hotar when oblations are poured into the fire. 21 Mingled milk: a mixture of boiled and coagulated milk. 22 Indra-grains: upavakas, or Indra-yavas; seeds of the Wrightia Autidysenterica. 23 Pup: charu; an oblation of rice, barley, and pulse boiled with butter and milk. 24 Strophe: stotriya; a verse of eighty syllables used in certain ceremonies. Bid hear: the Adhvaryu's call Âṣravaya! to the Agnidhra or Fire-kindler. The answer of the Agnidhra, Astu sraushat, Yea, let him hear. Sacrifice! yaja, the imperative of the verb, addressed to Agni. Dhiyya: the name of an additional verse inserted in a litany. Pragathas: certain combinations of two verses in different metres. Yajamahas: recitations of R. V. X. 23. 1, beginning with Yajimaha indram, We worship Indra. 25 Ukthas: recitations; songs of praise. Nivids: short detached formulas of invocation. Pudus: verse divisions; quarters of a stanza. Sastras recitations; hymns of praise. Pranavas: exclamations of the sacred mystic syllable Oм. 3,8,1,2 26 Gained by the Asvins is the morn's libation, Indra's libation of mid-day by Indra. Sarasvati obtains the third outpouring, the offering sacred to the Visve Devas. 27 By Vâyu cups he gains the cups of Vâyu, and by the basket gains the vat for Soma. By the two jars he gains two eleansing-vessels, and by the cooking pot the pot for cooking. 28 By sacrificial texts are gained the Grahas, and by the Gra- By metres are obtained Ukthas and praise-songs, and by the 29 Draughts he obtains by pouring out libations, and wishes By Samyu he obtains Patnisamyâjas, and Consummation by 30 He gains by vow of fasting Consecration, by Consecration He gains by priestly guerdon faith; by faith comes knowledge of the truth. 31 So far the type of sacrifice was formed by Brahmâ and the Gods. All this he gains, when juice is shed, in the Santrâmanî sacrifice. 32 The rite with sacred grass, wine, store of heroes, the mighty ones speed on with adorations. May we, sweet-singing sacrificers, setting Soma mid Gods in heaven, give joy to Indra. 27 Vâyu cups: wooden Soma cups sacred to Vâyu the Wind-God. Basket: sata; a sacrificial vessel made of reeds or cane. Trough for Soma: dronakalasa, a large wooden vessel serving as a reservoir. Two jars: of Surâ, Two cleansing vessels: the Putabhrit and the Âdhavaniya; in the latter the Soma is shaken and cleaned, and the former receives the purified juice. 28 Avabhritha: the expiatory bath of purification after sacrifice, to atone for any defects in its performance. See III. 48. 29 Draughts: grahas; see VII, first note. Samyu; an oblation so called, meaning Fortunate, Patnisamyajas: oblations of clarified butter offered to the Patnis (Consorts of the Gods), and to Soma, Tvashtar, and Agni. Consummation sumstha; concluding form of the Soma sacrifice. See S. B E. XXVI. p. 393, note. Samishṭayajus; see XVIII. 56, note. Mahidhara explains the second line differently by amplification of the text: By Samyu he obtains Samyu, by Patnisamyâjas he obtains Patnisamyâjas, by Consumination he obtains Consummation, by Samishṭayajus he obtains Samishṭayajus. 30 Vow of fusting; see I. 5, 31 Brahma: or Prajapati, Lord of Creatures. He: the Sacrificer. Juice: Surâ representing Soma. That is, the Sautrâmant becomes a Soma-sacrifice. 32 Here the Adhvaryu offers three milk libations. Mighty ones: priests. 33 All essence of thine own in plants collected, all strength of Soma when poured out with Surâ— Therewith impel with joy the sacrifice, Sarasvatî, the Asvíns, 34 That which Sarasvatî poured out for Indra, by Așvins brought from Namuchi the demon, This flowing drop, brilliant and full of sweetness, I drink and feed on here, the King, the Soma, 35 Whatever portion of the savoury fluid is clinging here, what Indra drank with powers, That drop thereof with pure and holy spirit I drink aud feed upon, the King, the Soma. 36 To Fathers who claim Svadhâ be Svadhâ and homage! To Grandfathers who claim Svadhâ be Svadhá and homage! To Great-grandfathers who claim Svadhâ be Svadha and homage! The Fathers have eaten. The Fathers have rejoiced. The Fathers have been satisfied, Fathers, be ye purified. 37 Cleanse me the Fathers who enjoy Soma! Grandfathers make me clean! May Great-grandfathers cleanse me with a sieve that brings a century. May my Grandfathers cleanse me, may my Great-grandfathers make me clean. With sieve that brings a century may I obtain full length of life. 38 Agni, thon pourest life: send down upon us food and vigorous strength. Drive thou misfortune far away. 33 With mortars (mortar-shaped cups) of Palâșa wood the Pratiprasthatar offers libations of Surâ in the Southern fire and recites the formula addressed to the liquor. Joy: the exhilaration produced by the spirituous draught. 34 Namuchi: who had stolen it from Indra. See X. 33, and Muir, O. S. Texts, V. p. 94, note. 35 Here: in the cup whose contents have been offered to Indra, 36 Here follow formulas for oblation and prayer to the Fathers or Manes of departed ancestors. Svadhi: food; oblation; also a sacrificial exclamation. The residue of the three Surâ libations to the Asvins, Sarasvati, and Indra is now offered outside the enclosing sticks, on the coals of the Abavauîya fire, to Ancestral Spirits of three grades. 37 A jar of Surâ pierced with a hundred holes is hung over the Southern fire-place, and a sieve or strainer made of hair of horse, cow, goat, and wool, with gold, is placed beneath. As the liquor drops thereon the Sacrificer recites texts for his purification. 38 Taken from R. V. IX. 66. 19. V 39 Cleanse me the companies of Gods! May thoughts with spirit make me clean. Cleanse me all things that be! Do thou, O Jâtavedas, make me clean. 40 Purify me, O Agni, God, refulgent with thy pure bright sieve, With powers according to thine own. 41 0 Agni, may the cleansing sieve, diffused through all thy fiery glow, Holy devotion, make me clean. 42 May Pavamâna with his sieve, Guest of all tribes, cleanse us to-day, He who is Cleanser make us clean, 43 Savitar, God, by both of these, libation, purifying power, Purify me on every side. 44 Dear to all Gods hath come the cleansing Goddess, she who contains these many smooth-backed figures. Through her may we in sacrificial banquets taking our pleasure be the lords of riches. 45 The Fathers who in Yama's realm are equal and unanim Their world is Svadha, reverence. To Gods let sacrifice be paid. 46 Equals, unanimous, my folk yet living among those who live On me be set their glory through a hundred years in this our world. 39 Cf. R. V. IX. 67. 27. 40 Sieve the purifying power of fire. 41 Taken, with the exception of the last Pâda, from R. V. IX. 67. 23. 42 Taken from R. V. IX. 67. 22. Pavamana: Soma undergoing purification. Cleanser: Potar, Cleaning-Priest. 43 Taken from R, V. IX. 67. 25. 44 A Pravahliki or Enigmatical Verse. Cleansing Goddess: what Gɔddess is intended is uncertain. Mahidhara sugests the Sura-Jar, or the Sautrâmanî, or Vak, Speech, or the Ukhâ (XI. 16). If the Suri-Jar is intended, the smooth-backed figures, or bodies, may be the drops which fall from its hundred holes. Cf. A. V. VI. 62. 2, from which, with a variation, the second half of the verse is taken. 45 He offers oblation, Their world: meaning, according to Mahidhara, in their world, 46 He offers an oblation of clarified butter. |