Mitakshara (Rijumitakshara) 1.10.73

1.10.73

'Tasks that require barley' means the duties to be performed with barley, such as scattering and the like; they are to be performed with sesame seeds. Then, up to the covering after setting down the arghya vessel, he should perform as before. Here is this distinction: having scattered sesame seeds counter-clockwise around the Brahmins with the mantra beginning 'Slain are the Asuras and Rakṣasas...', having poured water into three vessels made of silver or the like containing brushes made of an odd number of kuśa grass blades with the mantra 'May the divine [waters] be auspicious for us...', having thrown in sesame seeds, scents, and flowers with the mantra beginning 'You are sesame, sacred to Soma...', and having placed the arghya vessels before the Brahmins saying 'Are they acceptable for svadhā?', he should offer the arghya into the hands of the Brahmins at the end of the mantra 'Those divine [waters]...' saying, 'Father, this is your arghya; grandfather, this is your arghya; great-grandfather, this is your arghya.' Even under the option of 'one for each or for both', three vessels are to be prepared. Having offered the arghya in this manner, having collected the rinsings of those arghya offerings—the water of the arghya dripping from the hands of the Brahmins—into the father's vessel, and having placed on the ground a clump of kuśa grass pointing south, he should turn that vessel upside down, mouth downward, upon it with this mantra: 'You are a dwelling place for the ancestors.' Upon it he should place the strainers (pavitra) from the arghya vessel. Immediately thereafter, he should offer scent, flowers, incense, lamps, and garments with the formula beginning, 'Father, this is your scent; father, this is your flower.'