History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c48.180

v3.c48.180

He throws into the āhavanīya the two blades that are now kindled at the fire and had been kept aside (vide p. 1040 above). The adhvaryu says to the brahmā priest 'O brahman! we shall start or commence' (Tai. S. II. 6. 9. 1). The brahmā priest first mutters 'Bṛhaspati is Brahmā, he sat in the seat of Brahmā; O Bṛhaspati! you protected the sacrifice; protect the sacrifice and me' (Āśv. I. 13. 6) and loudly gives permission 'yes, do start' (o3m pratiṣṭha). The adhvaryu directs the āgnīdhra 'O agnīt, take the *samidh* (that is left) and wipe the paridhis and fire, each once'. The āgnīdhra takes the samidh and offers it into fire with the mantra 'O fire, this is thy samidh;²³⁹² may you increase and be strengthened by it. May the lord of the sacrifice (the yajamāna) increase and be strengthened; svāhā' (Śat. II. 4. p. 212). The yajamāna says as usual 'agnaya idam' and repeats 'O fire, this is thy samidh &c.' (Āp. III. 4. 6) and implores Agni to vanquish and destroy his enemies (the lengthy formula is in Āp. IV. 11. 5). He (the āgnīdhra) without moving about wipes the paridhis as before with the tying cords of idhma (but without holding the sphya), the middle one from south to north and the other two from west to east, and wipes the fire also from west to east with 'O fire, that securest food &c.' (Āp. III. 4. 7 gives the whole). He sprinkles water over the tying cords (with which wiping was done) and throws them into the āhavanīya with 'do not injure our cattle, (you) who are Rudra, the lord of beings &c.' (Śat. II. 3. p. 213). The yajamāna makes the tyāga 'this is for Rudra, the lord of beings, who moves among rows (of Maruts)'.