The Satapatha-Brahmana, Part IV — Books VIII, IX & X (SBE Vol. 43, trans. Julius Eggeling, 1897)

to Agni ; and what is (kept) secret, that is (spoken of) in a low voice : this is why they perform it in a low voice.

17. The last after-offering he performs aloud; for then he has completed his work, and every one becomes aware of what has been done.

18. Having uttered his call (and having been responded to by the Agnidhra)^ he says (to the Hotrz), * Pronounce the offering-prayer to the Samidhs (kindling-sticks) !' — the latter being one of Agni's mystic forms of manifestation (rCipa); but he may also say, 'Pronounce the offering-prayer to the fires!' — that being Agni's real (exoteric) form^.

'gna a^asya vyantu,' ' tanunapad agnim agna . . .,' 'ido agninagne . . . ,' &c. See par. 19 ; also p. 148, n. 2 ; I, 5, 4, i seq. ; I, 8, 2, I seq. The two butter-portions otherwise offered to Agni or Soma respectively (cf. I, 6, i, 20 seq.) are in this case offered to Agni; the anuvakyas, according to Asv. II, 8, 7, being Rig-veda VIII, 44, i, and VI, 16, 16 respectively. See, however, paragraphs 21 seq.

* Viz. the Adhvaryu calls, O .rravaya, 'cause (him or one) to hear!' and the Agnidhra responds by Astu jrausha/, 'yea, may he (or one) hear 1 '

^ Here, at the first fore-offering, an option is apparently left between the former, regular summons (see I, 5, 3, 8), and the latter, modified so as to make it apply directly to Agni. Katy. IV, II, II allows the same option for the first praya^a and anuya^^a. For the latter, however, see further on, par. 24. The Ka«va recension has as follows: — Now when the Adhvaryu, on stepping over (to the south side) and uttering his call (for the Agnidhra) to bid attention, says, ' Pronounce the offering-prayer to the Samidhs I ' then that, indeed, is one of Agni's forms of manifestation (agneyam eva tad rupam) ; but here let him say, as it were,

p. 319

• 19. He (the Hotrz) recites^ ' . . . They (the Samidhs), O Agni, may accept of the butter! Vau^/^akM' '. . . He (Taniinapat) may accept the fire of the butter! Vau^/^ak!' '. . . They (the I^^s) may, through Agni, accept of the butter ! Vau^/^ak !'
• * . . . It (the barhis), the fire, may accept of the butter! Vau^/^ak!'

• 20. He then says 3, ' Svaha Agnim!' with reference to Agni's butter - portion ; — ' Svaha Agnim Pavamanam!' if they determine upon (offering to) Agni, the blowing* ; or 'Svaha Agnim Indumantam !' if they determine upon Agni, the drop-abounding^ ; —
• * Svaha Agnim!' — 'Svaha, the butter-drinking Agnis! May Agni graciously accept of the butter!' — this is the offering-prayer he (the Hotrz) pronounces.

offering to) Agni, the blowing* ; or 'Svaha Agnim Indumantam !' if they determine upon Agni, the drop-abounding^ ; — * Svaha Agnim!' — 'Svaha, the butter-drinking Agnis! May Agni graciously accept of the butter!' — this is the offering-prayer he (the Hotrz) pronounces.

21. He (the Adhvaryu) then says, with regard to Agni's (first) butter-portion, 'Pronounce the invitatory prayer to Agni!' He (the Hotrz) recites*', 'Awake Agni with praise, enkindling the immortal, that he may take our offerings to the gods !' For, indeed, when Agni is removed (from the hearth)'^, he, as it were, sleeps : he (the priest) now awakens, rouses in a mystic way, ' Pronounce the offering-prayer to the Agnis!' (paroksham iva tv agnin ya^eti haiva tatra briayat.)

^ See p. 317, note 4.

^ A modification of the ordinary vans ha/. The Kinva. text has here and in par. 25, as usual, vaushal.

^ At the fifth fore-offering; see I, 5, 3, 22 seq.

* See II, 2, I, 6, and note; also II, 2, i, 22.

^ This points forward to the second butter-portion, which is offered to Agni Pavamana or Agni Indumat, instead of Soma; the first being offered to Agni simply. Katy. IV, 11, 12.

® Rig-veda V, 14, i. See, however, the formulas prescribed by Ajvalayana, p. 317, note 4.

■^ The fire laid down at the adheya is removed when the punaradheya is to be performed.

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him. For the offering-prayer he recites, ' May Agni graciously accept of the butter!'

2 2. And, if they determine upon (offering the second butter-portion to) Agni Pavamana, let him then say, ' Pronounce the invitatory prayer to Agni Pavamana ; and he (the Hotrz) recites (Rig-veda IX, 1 6, 19), 'O Agni, thou breathest forth life; produce thou food and sap for us ! drive far away misfortune!' For thus, indeed, it becomes of the nature of Agni. Pavamana (the one that becomes purified) means the Soma ; but this (Soma-element) they eliminate from the butter-portion of Soma\ For the offering-prayer he recites, 'May Agni Pavamana graciously accept of the butter ! '

23. If, on the other hand, they determine upon (offering to) Agni Indumat, let him say, ' Pronounce the invitatory prayer to Agni Indumat!' He (the Hotr/) recites (Rig-veda VI, 16, 16), ' Come hither, I will gladly sing to thee yet other songs, O Agni! mayest thou grow strong by these draughts (indu, drop).' Thus, indeed, it becomes of the nature of Agni : the draught doubtless means Soma, but this (Soma-element) they eliminate from the butterportion of Soma.

will gladly sing to thee yet other songs, O Agni! mayest thou grow strong by these draughts (indu, drop).' Thus, indeed, it becomes of the nature of Agni : the draught doubtless means Soma, but this (Soma-element) they eliminate from the butterportion of Soma. For the offering-prayer he recites, ' May Agni, the drop-abounding, graciously accept of the butter!' And thus he makes it all of the nature of Agni.

• 24. He then says, as to the chief offering (havis),
• * Pronounce the invitatory prayer to Agni ! ' * Pronounce the offering-prayer to Agni!' 'Pronounce the invitatory prayer to Agni Svish/akrz't (the maker of good offerings)!' ' Pronounce the offering-

^ Viz. that second butter-portion which by right belongs to Soma (see I, 6, i, 20 seq.), but is here offered to Agni.

II KAiVDA, 2 ADHYAYA, 3 BRAHMAiVA, 1'] . 32 1

prayer to Agni Svish/akmM' Then where (otherwise) he would say, ' Pronounce the offering-prayer to the gods-!' he now says, ' Pronounce the offeringprayer to the Agnis ! '

25. He recites^, '[The divine Barhis] may accept (the offering) for Agni's abundant obtainment of abundant gift! Vau^/^ak!' — '[The divine Nara- ^a;;2sa] may accept (the offering) for abundant obtainment, in Agni, of abundant gift! Vau^/^ak!' — ' The divine Agni Svish/akm . . . . ' this third (afteroffering) is already in itself of the nature of Agni; and thus he makes the after-offerings relate to Agni.

26. Those same case-forms (of agni) ^ which he recites in the offering-prayers, are six ; namely, four at the fore-offerings, and two at the after-offerings. Now there are six seasons ; and the seasons he (Agni) entered : out of the seasons he accordingly thereby produces him.

27. There are either twelve or thirteen syllables (in these six case-forms) ^ Now there are either twelve or thirteen months in a year *^ ; and the

^ For the formulas of the chief offering and Svish/akrzt, see p. 317, note 3.

2 That is, at the after-offerings; see I, 8, 2, 14. Cf. also p. 318, note 2.

^ See I, 8, 2, 15. Here a different case-form of the word agni (viz. agne/^ and agnau) is inserted in the offering-formulas of the first two anuya^as, immediately after the word indicating the object of the offering ; the formula of the third and last anuya^a already containing the nominative agni/^ in the same place.

* See p. 317, note 4.

^ The locative case agnau, inserted in the offering-prayer of the second after-offering, is optionally made trisyllabic by being written and pronounced agna-u.