History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c50.25.5

v3.c50.25.5

The adhvaryu takes two kuśa blades from those with which the vedi is strewn and says to āgnīdhra 'O3śrā3vaya' and the latter replies 'astu śrau3ṣaṭ' and then the adhvaryu issues an upapraiṣa (a supplementary direction) to the maitrāvaruṇa to prompt (the hotṛ) to recite for the offerings to Gods.²⁵⁰³ The hotṛ then recites the famous (but long) adhrigupraiṣa,²⁵⁰⁴ which is an invocation to divine and human slaughterers calling upon them to bring the animal to the holy doors of the sacrificial place, wishing that the parents, relatives and friends of the victim will consent to its death and expressing the hope that its several organs and limbs, such as the eyes and ears, will be merged in divinities like the sun and giving directions as to how its parts are to be cut and disposed of. On reciting this solemn formula the hotṛ, while still occupying his seat, turns to the right (i. e. he comes to face the west) and has the sacrificial place behind his back and the maitrāvaruṇa does the same. The adhvaryu throws one of the two blades taken up by him to the west of the śāmitra fire, the victim is held over that blade with its head to the west (or to the east, according to Kāt. VI. 5. 17) and feet to the north. Then its mouth is firmly held so as to stop its breathing and choke it to death or it is strangled to death without allowing it to give out a cry, by using a halter round its throat.