The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c8.s1.13

c8.s1.13

Manu was looking for (a proper place) of the earth for sacrifice; he then found (a spot with) spilled ghee. He said, "Who is able to produce this at the sacrifice also?" Mitra and Varuṇa answered, "It is the cow, we are able to produce (her)." They then set the cow in motion; wherever she stepped, from there ghee was pressed out. Therefore she (i.e., Iḍā) is called ghee-footed (*ghṛtapadī*); that is her origin.¹⁸