History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c48.86.3

v3.c48.86.3

The adhvaryu strikes the vedi with the sphya a second time and a third time and the same procedure is followed by him and by the āgnīdhra as at the first striking except that one *mantra* is different for each priest at each of the two strikings. The adhvaryu strikes with the sphya a fourth time but silently and all actions of the first striking are repeated but without mantras. The adhvaryu removes all the remnants of the darbhas from the vedi, the yajamāna recites the invocatory verse 'I cut off the head' &c. and the āgnīdhra covers a fourth time with his hands with 'may Araru not spring upwards to thy heaven'. The adhvaryu then draws with the sphya on the vedi a line from the south corner of the west side of the vedi towards the east up to the southern shoulder (on the east side of the vedi) with²³³³ 'may the Vasus enfold you with the Gāyatrī metre'. He draws a line on the western side of the vedi towards the north with 'may the Rudras enfold thee with the Triṣṭubh metre' and draws a line from the northern corner of the west side towards the east with 'may the Ādityas enfold thee with the Jagatī metre'. While this is being done the yajamāna mutters a verse 'O Bṛhaspati, envelope the vedi &c.'. He makes the shoulders of the vedi raised up and envelope the āhavanīya mound and the two corners on the western side turned towards the gārhapatya and the vedi is contracted in the middle.