History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c42.10.2

v3.c42.10.2

Out of the jar he fills the spoon with barley flour, goes out of the house with his face towards the east, pours down water on a pure spot and offers sacrifice with the mantra 'to the divine¹⁹⁴⁶ hosts of snakes, svāhā' and makes an obeisance to them with joined hands in the words 'the serpents that are terrestrial,¹⁹⁴⁷ that are aerial, that are celestial, that dwell in the several directions—to them I have brought this *bali*; to them I make ready this *bali*. Having gone round the bali with the right hand turned towards it, he sits down to the west of the *bali* (and recites the mantra) 'thou art a serpent; thou art the lord of serpents that creep; by food thou protectest men and by a cake the serpents, by sacrifice the gods, me who am in thee (i. e. who seek thy favour and protection) may not the serpents who also are in thee do any harm; I give over the Dhruvā (spoon) to thee.' Then with the words 'O firm one, I give over this one, this one to thee' he gives his people (son, unmarried daughter, wife) one by one. With the words 'O firm one, I give myself over to thee' he gives himself over at the end. Let no one pass between the sacrificer (and the bali) up till the rite of giving in charge (*paridāna*).¹⁹⁴⁸ 'To the divine hosts of serpents svāhā'-with these words let him offer a bali in the evening and in the morning till Pratyavarohaṇa.