History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c48.3

v3.c48.3

The Darśapūrṇamāsa sacrifice is the pattern or archetype (*prakṛti*) of all other iṣṭis (which are called vikṛtis or modifications). The śrauta sūtras therefore describe first the Darśapūrṇamāsa at length, though in the order of time agnyādhāna comes first. Āśv. II. 1. 1 says that all iṣṭis, sacrifices in which an animal is offered and those in which soma is offered are explained by the Paurṇamāsa iṣṭi. According to Āp. III. 14. 11-13 a person, after he sets up the three fires, has to perform the Darśapūrṇamāsa throughout his life (till he becomes a saṁnyāsin) or for thirty years (after which he may stop) or till he becomes very old (and unable to perform the rite).²²⁷³