The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c9.21

c9.21

Though no conclusion to the praising-reviling contest is given, we can infer it from an analogy in a passage of the *Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa*. There Śaulvāyana, serving as adhvaryu officiant with Ayasthūṇa and his cosacrificers, deprecates their sacrifice. Ayasthūṇa answers by blaming Śaulvāyana's handling of the sacrificial spoons. Characteristically, the conclusion is that Śaulvāyana becomes his opponent's pupil.²⁷