History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c48.53.4

v3.c48.53.4

The adhvaryu touches the grains taken out with ‘this of the gods’ and touches the rest (remaining in the śakaṭa or vessel) with ‘this is ours together (with the gods).’ He invokes the grains taken out with ‘I take (or invoke) thee for increase and not for malevolence.’ He moves out of the mats covering the cart (or from near the vessel) taking with him the śūrpa with ‘thee I release from the fetters of Varuṇa’ (compare Maitrāyaṇī S. I. 1. 5). He looks at the sacrificial ground, the fires, the utensils, the priests with ‘may I see heaven’ and at the āhavanīya with ‘the light of Vaiśvānara (Agni).’ He gets down from the cart with ‘may the posts (or mansions) of Heaven and Earth, stand firm’ (if corn is taken from a vessel he only mutters these words). He invokes the grains that have fallen down (when four handfuls were taken out) with ‘to Heaven and Earth, svāhā’ and goes near the gārhapatya with ‘follow wide space (or sky).’ He puts down the śūrpa (containing the corn taken out) near the gārhapatya to its west (or near that fire on which in that particular rite he has to bake the cake) with ‘I make you sit on the lap of Aditi’²³⁰⁵ and consigns it to the protection of that deity (for which the cake is meant) with ‘O fire!