India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c11.s2.33

c11.s2.33

(2) In response to this *praisha* the Hotā recites the *Puronu-vākyā* verse, the last letter of which is followed by a *praṇava* pronounced with *pluta* accent (VIII.2.89), *e.g.* अपारेतांसि जिन्वतो ३म् । According to the *Śatapatha*, *Puronuvākyā* is used for invoking the deity and the *Yājyā* for giving the oblation (*hvayati vā anuvākyayā, prayachchhati yājyayā*, I.7.2.17). After the Hotā has repeated the *puronuvakyā* verse, the actual *yājyā* is recited (*atha yadanuvākyām anūchya yājyayā yajati, Śatapatha*, XI.4.1.12). Both form one pair. In some cases, as pointed out by the *Śatapatha*, the *puronuvākyā* was dropped (*atha yad-apunarvākyakā bhavanti*, XI.4.1.12), and therefore its *praisha* (*anubrūhi*) was not counted in the set of five directive formulas comprising 17 letters.¹