History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c47.s2.7.3

v3.c47.s2.7.3

He then again heats the sruc and sruva on the gārhapatya, asks the yajamāna 'shall I take out milk from the pot²²⁶⁴ with the sruva)' and the yajamāna replies standing ‘Yes, do take out’. Then the adhvaryu holds in his right hand the sruva ladle and in his left hand the agnihotra-havaṇī with its mouth turned upwards, pours out into the agnihotra-havaṇī milk from the milk pot (already heated) with the sruva four times ²²⁶⁵ and keeps the sruva in the milk pot. In Āp. VI. 7. 7-8 and Āśv. II. 3. 13-14 it is said that the adhvaryu knowing the mind of the householder should draw the fullest ladle for the most favourite son of the sacrificer or if the latter desires that the eldest son should be most prosperous and the later ones less and less, then the first ladle is filled to the fullest; on the other hand if he wishes the youngest to be prosperous then the last ladle drawing is the fullest. Then the adhvaryu carrying a samidh of palāśa wood a span in length over the rod of the sruc (inserting his finger between the two), holds the two together over the gārhapatya very near its flames, carries the sruc towards the āhavanīya holding it as high as his nose; when in the midst of the distance between the gārhapatya and the āhavanīya, he brings the sruc down (to the level of his navel) and then again raising it up as high as his mouth, he reaches the āhavanīya and places the sruc and samidh on darbha blades (on the *kūrca*, says Baud. III. 5) to the west of the āhavanīya.