History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c50.25.6

v3.c50.25.6

The adhvaryu says ‘kill it without²⁵⁰⁵ allowing it to utter a cry’ and then he along with the pratiprasthātṛ, āgnīdhra and the sacrificer come back to the āhavanīya which they face, turn from left to right and remain with their backs to the animal that is being killed (i. e. they do not see the actual slaying of the animal). According to Āp. VII. 16. 7 the sacrificer repeats at this time several verses such as Tai. S. III. 3. 1. 2, Tai. Br. III. 7. 7, the purport of which is that the victim may go to heaven, the sacrificer himself also may go to heaven after securing welfare in this world. When the śamitṛ declares that the victim is killed the adhvaryu says ‘let it lie down for a moment.’ If the paśu bleats while being strangled the adhvaryu then offers ājya in fire (as an expiation). The sacrificer and adhvaryu with vapāśrapaṇīs (spits) approach the dead victim with the words 'O slaughterers, may you approach' (Tai. S. III. 1. 4. 3). He then removes the cord (by which the victim was tied) with 'may Aditi remove this cord' (Tai. S. III. 1. 4. 2). He winds round the raśanā (girdle of the victim) into a loop, keeps it on the arteries of the victim leading to the ears, attaches it to a peg and throws it into the cātvāla pit (Āp. VII. 17. 4–6). According to Kāt. VI. 5. 26 he throws the tying cord into the cātvāla by means of the two vapāśrapaṇīs. Then the adhvaryu directs the pratiprasthātṛ to lead forward the sacrificer's wife from her seat to the vedi.