History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c72.225

v5.c72.225

They fix pegs round it, a palāśa one in front, a śamī one on the north corner, a *varaṇa* one behind and a vṛtra⁵⁶⁴ peg on the right (south corner). On the south side they dig two somewhat curved furrows and fill them with milk and water and they dig seven on the left (north) side and fill them with water for sin not to pass beyond They throw three stones each into the northern furrows and pass over them with Vāj S 35 10 (= Ṛg. X. 53 8) They cleanse themselves with Apāmārga⁵⁶⁵ plants with Vāj S 35 11; they thereby wipe away sin They bathe at any place where there is water. With Vāj S . 35 12 he takes water with his joined hands and he throws it in the direction in which he who is hateful may be and thereby overthrows him⁵⁶⁶ Having bathed and put on garments that have never yet been washed they hold on to the tail of an ox and return to their home. They proceed towards the village muttering Vāj. S. 35.14 (*ud vayam*). When they have arrived, ointments for their eyes and feet are given to them; such indeed are human means of embellishment and therewith they keep off death from themselves Then in the house having kindled (domestic) fire and laid enclosing sticks of *varaṇa* wood round it he offers by means of a *sruva* (spoon) an oblation to Agni Āyuṣmat. Vāj. S. 35. 16 serves ⁵⁶⁷ as a *puronuvākyā* (invitatory formula). He then offers with Vāj. S. 35.17. He says this so that Agni may guard and protect these men. The sacrificial fee is an old ox, old barley, old chair with a head cushion. He may give more if he desires. *This is the procedure in the case of one who has performed Agnicayana*.⁵⁶⁸ In the case of him who has not performed Agnicayana, there is the same procedure for selecting a site and the same performance save that of the fire-altar Having fetched a clod from the boundary he deposits it midway between the sepulchral mound and the village with Vāj. S. 35. 15 (imam ⁵⁶⁹ jīvebhyaḥ). He then makes this a boundary between the Fathers and the living, so as not to commingle the two.