History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.t2.99.1

v4.c63.t2.99.1

1347a Jai. VII. 3. 19-25 as understood by the Mit. may be briefly explained as follows: The Cāturmāsyas (seasonal sacrifices) are four, Vaiśvadeva, Varuṇapraghāsa, Sākamedha, Śunāsīrīya (vide H. of Dh. vol. II. pp. 1091-1105 for description). In regard to these the following texts occur in the Veda and are cited by Śabara and others: द्वयोः प्रणयन्ति । तस्माद् द्वाभ्यां यन्ति ऊरू वा एतौ यज्ञस्य यद्वरुणप्रघासश्च साकमेधश्च । तस्माद् द्वाभ्यां यन्ति । ... उपात्र वपन्ति । न वैश्वदेवे उत्तरवेदिमुपकिरन्ति न शुनासीरीये । (They carry forward the fire in these two; therefore they march on two; indeed the Varuṇapraghāsa and Sākamedha are the two thighs of yajña; therefore they (are said to) march on two: they fill with earth (the *uttaravedi*) here, but not so in Vaiśvadeva nor in Sunāsīrīya). Śabara reads 'उत्तरवेदिमुपवपन्ति' while Mit. reads as above. *Praṇayana* means 'carrying towards the east fire from the Gārhapatya fire to the Āhavanīya.' There is praṇayana in the Darśapūrṇamāsa which is simple (and without details) and there is also praṇayana in Agniṣṭoma which is full of details (and not simple). An *uttaravedi* (vide H. of Dh. vol. II. pp. 1096-1097 for description) is not required in Darśapūrṇamāsa, but it is required in a Soma sacrifice. The cāturmāsyas are modifications (*vikṛti*) of the Darśapūrṇamāsa, so that whatever is prescribed in the latter follows in the absence of express directions as a matter of course in the former.