History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c48.72

v3.c48.72

The adhvaryu, after sitting to the west of the gārhapatya, takes the upaveṣa with 'thou art dhṛṣṭi (bold one), give brahma (holy food?).' He separates two burning coals from the western portion of the gārhapatya fire with the upaveṣa and keeps them on the eastern side of the gārhapatya mound itself. He casts outside one of the two coals to the north-west of the gārhapatya with 'O Fire! Dash aside the fire that eats (cooks) raw food (not cooked in accordance with śāstra); and forbid that fire that eats flesh (cooks ordinary meat food).' He then touches water, places the remaining coal on that spot on the west (of the gārhapatya mound where he has to place the potsherds) with 'bring that fire that worships the gods.' He then places the middle one²³¹⁸ (of the eight potsherds) thereon with 'thou art firm, make the earth firm, strengthen life, progeny and surround the sacrificer with his kinsmen.' He lays a burning coal on that potsherd with ‘burnt is the evil spirit, burnt are the enemies.’ The potsherds, whether eight, eleven or more or less, are arranged on the gārhapatya mound. To the east of the central one he places a kapāla with ‘thou art the supporter, make the aerial space firm, strengthen prāṇa and apāna, surround the sacrificer with his kinsmen.’ Then a third is placed to the east of the 2nd with ‘thou art dharuṇa (supporter), support heaven, the eye, the ear and surround &c.’ He places the 4th kapāla to the south-east with ‘thou art dharma (supporter), support the directions, the home, progeny, surround &c.’; he places the fifth to the south-west with ‘thou art the strength (or host) of maruts’; he places the 6th in the north-west with ‘thou art a restrainer, support the directions, wealth, prosperity, surround &c.’; he places the 7th to the north-east with ‘I place thee that art uninjured from all the directions for the reconciliation (or love) of all kinsmen’; and lastly the remaining one to the north with ‘thou art *cit*²³¹⁹ (intelligence).’