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The Grihya Sutras, Part 2 (SBE30), by Hermann Oldenberg, [1892], at sacred-texts.com


PATALA 4, SECTION 11.

1. 1 'The Fathers who are here and who are not here, and whom we know and whom we do not know: Agni, to thee they are known, how many they are, Gâtavedas. May they enjoy what thou givest them in our oblation. Svadhâ! Adoration!

'Your limb that this flesh-devouring (Agni) has burnt, leading you to the worlds (of the Fathers), Gâtavedas, that I restore to you again. Unviolated with all your limbs arise, O Fathers! Svadhâ! Adoration!

'Carry the Âgya, Gâtavedas, to the Fathers, where thou knowest them resting afar. May streams of Âgya flow to them; may their wishes with all their desires be fulfilled! Svadhâ! Adoration!'

In the same way a second and a third verse with the alteration of the Mantra, 'to the grandfathers,' 'to the great-grandfathers.'

2. In the same way he sacrifices of the food, altering the Mantra, 'Carry the food, &c.'

3. Then he sacrifices the Svishtakrit oblation

p. 228

with (the formula), 'To Agni Kavyavâhana Svishtakrit svadhâ! Adoration!'

4. He then touches the food with (the formulas), 'The earth is thy vessel, the heaven is the lid. I sacrifice thee into the Brahman's mouth. I sacrifice thee into the up-breathing and down-breathing of the Brâhmanas. Thou art imperishable; do not perish for the Fathers yonder, in yon world! The earth is steady; Agni is its surveyor in order that what has been given may not be lost.

'The earth is thy vessel, the heaven is the lid, &c. Do not perish for the grandfathers yonder, in yon world. The air is steady; Vâyu is its surveyor, in order that what has been given may not be lost.

'The earth is thy vessel, the heaven is the lid, &c. Do not perish for the great-grandfathers yonder, in yon world. The heaven is steady; Âditya is its surveyor, in order that what has been given may not be lost.'

5. 5 With (the words), 'I establish myself in the breath and sacrifice ambrosia,' he causes the Brâhmanas to touch (the food).


Footnotes

227:1 11, 1. Rig-veda X, 15, 53; Atharva-veda XVIII, 4, 64; Âsvalâyana-Grihya II, 4, 13, &c. Before the verse, 'Carry the Âgya,' the Udîkyas, as Mâtridatta states, insert the words, 'He then makes oblations of Âgya (with the Mantra, &c.).' According to this reading the words of the second Sûtra, 'In the same way, &c.,' would refer only to these last oblations.

228:5 Comp. Taittirîya Âranyaka X, 84.


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