History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c48.173

v3.c48.173

The adhvaryu divides the puroḍāśa baked for Agni into four parts (and no other puroḍāśa nor sānnāyya) by piercing its surface and keeps it on the *barhis* (kuśas strewn on the vedi), the last part being made the biggest of all four. Vide Jai. III.1.26–27. The yajamāna recites a mantra 'bradhna pinvasva &c.' (Tai. Br. III. 7. 5) and directs the four parts of that puroḍāśa separately as portions of the priests by saying 'this is for brahmā, this for hotṛ, this for adhvaryu, this for āgnīdhra' beginning in order from the south-east. The adhvaryu points out the portion of the yajamāna (vide p. 1065 above). When that is done, the adhvaryu makes the biggest of the four parts which is meant for the āgnīdhra 'ṣaḍavatta' (cut sixfold).²³⁸⁸ The āgnīdhra eats his portion with 'thou art the portion of heaven, thou art the āgnīdhra of fire, thou art the śāmitra of fire, I eat thee with the mouth of fire, salutation to thee! Do not injure me.' The adhvaryu brings the portions of brahmā and yajamāna where they are sitting in separate vessels with the veda bunch. The portions of the hotṛ and adhvaryu are brought by the adhvaryu in other vessels. The adhvaryu, hotṛ and brahmā eat their portions respectively with 'thou art the portion of the aerial region,' 'thou art......of the earth,' 'thou......of heaven.'²³⁸⁹