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The Grihya Sutras, Part 1 (SBE29), by Hermann Oldenberg, [1886], at sacred-texts.com


KANDIKÂ 3.

1. Now wherever he intends to perform a sacrifice, let him besmear (with cowdung) a surface of the dimension at least of an arrow on each side; let him draw six lines thereon, one turned to the north, to the west (of the spot on which the fire is to be placed); two (lines) turned to the east, at the two different ends (of the line mentioned first); three (lines) in the middle (of those two); let him sprinkle that (place with water), establish the (sacred) fire (thereon), put (two or three pieces of fuel) on it, wipe (the ground) round (the fire), strew (grass) round (it), to the east, to the south, to the west, to the north, ending (each time) in the north. Then (follows) silently the sprinkling (of water) round (the fire).

2. With two (Kusa blades used as) strainers the purifying of the Âgya (is done).

3. Having taken two Kusa blades with unbroken tops, which do not bear a young shoot in them, of the measure of a span, at their two ends with his

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thumbs and fourth fingers, with his hands turned with the inside upwards, he purifies (the Âgya, from the west) to the east, with (the words), 'By the impulse of Savitri I purify thee with this uninjured purifier, with the rays of the good sun'—once with this formula, twice silently.

4. The strewing (of grass) round (the fire) may be done or not done in the Âgya offerings.

5. So also the two Âgya portions (may optionally be sacrificed) in the Pâkayagñas.

6. And the (assistance of a) Brahman (is optional), except at the sacrifice to Dhanvantari and at the sacrifice of the spit-ox (offered to Rudra).

7. Let him sacrifice with (the words), 'To such and such a deity svâhâ!'

8. If there is no rule (as to the deities to whom the sacrifice belongs, they are) Agni, Indra, Pragâpati, the Visve devâs, Brahman.

9. (Different Pâkayagñas, when) offered at the same time, should have the same Barhis (sacrificial grass), the same fuel, the same Âgya, and the same (oblation to Agni) Svishtakrit.

10. With reference thereto the following sacrificial stanza is sung:

'He who has to perform (different) Pâkayagñas, should offer them with the same Âgya, the same

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[paragraph continues] Barhis, and the same Svishtakrit, even if the deity (of those sacrifices) is not the same.'


Footnotes

162:1 3, 1. Comp. Sâṅkh.-Grihya I, 7, 6 seq., where the statements regarding the lines to be drawn are somewhat different, and the note there.

162:3 Comp. the description of this act of purifying the Âgya, which is in some points more detailed, in Sâṅkh.-Grihya I, 8, 14-21.

163:4 Comp. Sâṅkh.-Grihya I, 8, 12.

163:5 On the two Âgyabhâgas offered to Agni and Soma comp. below, chap. 50, 13; Sâṅkh.-Grihya I, 9, 5 seq.

163:6 Comp. on these exceptions the Sûtras below, I, 12, 7; IV, 8, 15.

163:7 Comp. Sâṅkh.-Grihya I, 9, 18.

163:9 On the oblation to Agni Svishtakrit, see Indische Studien, IX, 257.


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