The History of Indian Literature c8.167

c8.167

⁶³ The term directly opposed to *śastra* is, rather, *stotra*. *Pṛishṭha* specially designates several *stotras* belonging to the mid-day sacrifice, and forming, as it is expressed, its "back;" *uktha* is originally employed as a synonym of *śastra*, and only at a later period in the meaning of *sáman* (*I. St.*, xiii. 447); *stoma*, lastly, is the name for the six, seven, or more ground-forms of the *stotras*, after which these latter are formed for the purposes of chanting. The simple recitation of the *śastras* by the Hotar and his companions always comes after the chanting recitation of the same verses by the Udgátar and his assistants (*graháya gṛihítáya stuvate 'tha śaṅsati*, Śat. viii. 1. 3. 3). The differences of the seven *saṃsthás*, or fundamental types of the Soma sacrifice, rest mainly upon the varying number of the *śastras* and *stotras* belonging to their *sutyá* days. See *I. St.*, x. 353, ff., ix. 229.