The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v2.c32.s8.4

v2.c32.s8.4

Slightly different is another method of producing magic results: in this case the nature of the offering chosen differs essentially from the ordinary sacrifice: thus ants are offered poison;⁴ for a rival reed-points are sacrificed, the order of sacrifice being also altered;⁵ to win cattle,⁶ dung of a pair of calves, to win sheep, of a pair of sheep, is offered: long life is aimed at by offering nails of Khadira wood; and from the practice of passing people through holes to rub off evil or make them invisible to their foes, the use of sacrificing through a hole¹ naturally came into existence.