Third BRAHMAiVA.
1. They also say, * If the fire were to go out
after the first libation has been offered, what rite
and what expiation would there be in that case ? '
Having thrown down (on the fire-place) any log
of wood he may find lying near by ^ let him offer
thereon, saying, * In every (piece of) wood there is
a fire,' for, indeed, there is a fire in every (piece of)
wood. But if his heart should at all misgive him,
he may offer upon gold; for gold, doubtless, is
Agnis seed; and the father is the same as the
son, and the son is the same as the father : he may
therefore offer upon gold. This, then, is the rite
performed in that case.
2. They also say, * If, after being taken out (from the G4rhapatya), the Ahavantya were to go out
' Pratydsanno viratfti prativera^ samtpasthaii, comm.
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
1 88 i^ATAPATHA-BRAHMAJVA.
before the Agnihotra (has been offered), what rite
and what expiation would there be in that case ? '
Let him take it out (again) from the Girhapatya
(and bring it) forward, and, having laid it down (on
the Ahavanlya hearth), let him offer the Agnihotra
thereon. And were it to go out again and again,
after being taken out even a hundred times, let him
take it out (again) from the Girhapatya, and, having
laid it down, let him offer the Agnihotra thereon.
This, then, is the rite performed in that case.
3. They also say, ' If the GArhapatya were to go
out, what rite and what expiation would there be in
that case ? ' Well, some churn it out from a fire-
brand, saying, * Whereby man's (body) is destroyed in
the end, it is therefrom he desires the expiation of
this (mishap).' Let him, however, not do this ; but
let them proceed by taking either a firebrand, or a
piece from a firebrand; — let him do it in this way: —
having taken a coal from a firebrand, let him crumble
it on the two churning-sticks, for (in this way) he
obtains both that desire which is contained in the
(fire) churned out of a firebrand, and that which is
contained in (the fire churned out from) the churning-
sticks. This, then, is the rite performed in that case.
4. They also say, * If they take out fire for any
one and put it with (the burning Ahavanlya) fire,
what rite and what expiation would there be in
that case ? ' When uniting, these two (fires), if
unappeased, would indeed be liable to burn up the
Sacrificer's family and cattle: let him therefore
utter upon them the text (Vfi^. S. XII, 57, 58),
' Unite ye two, and get ye on together, loving,
radiant, well disposed, dwelling together for
food and drink ! — Together have I brought
Digitized by
XII kAjVDA, 4 ADHVAyA, 3 BRAHMAi^rA, 6. 1 89
your minds, together your rites, together
your thoughts: O Agni Purlshya, be thou
the overlord, and bestow thou food and drink
upon our Sacrificer!' He thereby bespeaks
peace on the part of those two for the safety of
the Sacrificer s family and cattle.
5. But if his heart should at all misgive him, let
him prepare a cake on eight potsherds to Agni
Agni mat (the fire possessed of a fire). The course
of procedure thereof (is as follows) : — he should
recite seventeen kindling-verses; the two butter-
portions relate to the slaying of VWtra^ the saw-
y&^fis * are two Virfi/ verses ; and the invitatory
and offering formulas (of the chief oblation) are as
follows: — (the anuvikyA, i?/g-veda S. I, 12, 6),
*Agni is kindled by Agni, he, the sage, the
youthful house-lord, the tongue-mouthed
bearer of oblations ; ' and the yS^i, * For thou,
O Agni, art kindled by Agni, priest, as thou
art, by a priest, friend by friend/ He thereby
bespeaks peace on the part of those two, for the
safety of the Sacrificer s family and cattle. This,
then, is the rite performed in that case.
6. They also say, * If any one's G&rhapatya were
to go out when the Ahavantya has not gone out,
what rite and what expiation would there be in that
case ? ' Now, some take (a new fire) out from that
same (Ahavanlya hearth, and carry it) forwards ^
' That is, their Anuviky^s refer to Vmrahan.
• That is, the anuvdkya (invitatory formula) and ya^i (offering- formula) recited for the oblation to Agni Svish/akrit. Cf. XIII, 4, I, 13 note.
• That is to say, they make the still burning Ahavaniya their Girhapatya and take out a new offering-fire which they lay down on a place to the eastward of the former Ahavantya (the former
Digitized by
1 90 DATAPATH A-BRAHMAiVA.
saying, * The fires are the vital airs : it is the vital
airs we thus take up for him.* But let him not do
this, for if, in that case, any one were to say of him,
* Surely this one has obstructed the forward vital
airs ^ : this Sacrificer will die,' then that would
indeed be likely to come to pass.
7. And some, indeed, take (the Ahavanlya) back
(to the Girhapatya *), saying, * These two are the
out-breathing and the up-breathing.' But let him not
do this ; for conducive to heaven, indeed, is the Agni-
hotra ; and if, in that case, any one were to say of
him, * Surely, this one has descended again from the
heavenly world : this (offering) will be in no wise
conducive to heaven for him,' then that would indeed
be likely to come to pass.
8. And some, indeed, churn out another G^rha-
patya ; but let him not do this, for if, in that case,
any one were to say of him, * Surely, this one has
raised a spiteful enemy from out of the fire ' :
speedily a spiteful enemy will be raised to him ; he
(the Sacrificer) will weep ^ for him who is dearest to
him,' then that would indeed be likely to come to pass.
9. And some, again, extinguish (the Ahavanlya
fire) and churn out another ; — let him not yield to a
desire for this ; (for if, in that case, any one were to
Dakshi;iSgni being likewise transferred to a place south of the first third of the line between the new GArhapatya and Ahavanlya, Kdty. XXV, 3, 5 comm.).
^ ? Or, has forced them forward.
' That is, they take the burning Ahavaniya fire back to the Gdrhapatya hearth, and then take out therefrom a fresh Ahavaniya.
• Viz. inasmuch as he takes out a new Ahavaniya from the newly kindled Gdrhapatya, and puts it on the still burning Ahavaniya fire.
* Harisvdmin takes 'rotsyati ' as from * rudh ' — rodhena mdra^am lakshyate, marayishyatity artha^.
Digitized by
Xll KAJVDA, 4 ADHYAyA, 4 BRAHMAiVA, I. I9I
say of him^), ' He has caused to be extinguished even
what was left him : no heir will remain to him/ then
that would indeed be likely to come to pass.
ID. Let him rather proceed thus: — having lifted
the two fires on the two churning-sticks *, let him
betake himself northwards, and, having churned out
(the fire), let him remain there offering ; for in this
way he passes no censure on any one, and towards
night offering is made by him at his new resting-
place.
Fourth Brahmaata.
I. And, in the morning, having taken out the
ashes, and smeared (the fire-places) with cow-dung,
he lifts the two fires on the churning-sticks, and
returns (to the offering-ground). Having then
churned out the Girhapatya, taken out the Aha-
vanlya, and brought the Anv&h&rya-paifena (to the
southern hearth), he should prepare a cake on eight
potsherds to A gni Pathikri't (the path-maker). The
course of procedure thereof (is as follows) : — he
should recite those same seventeen kindling-verses ;
the two butter-portions relate to the slaying of
Vmra * ; the sawyfi^yfis are two Vir&f verses ^ ; and
the invitatory and offering formulas are as follows :
— (the anuvikyS, -^%-veda VI, i6, 3), *For thou,
most wise Agni, divine disposer, readily
knowest the ways and paths at sacrifices;'
and the yS^fyi (7?/g-veda X, 2, 3), *We have
entered upon the path of the gods to carry
on what we can do : the wise Agni shall sacri-
* There seems here to be an omission in the printed text, though MS. Ind. Off. 311, it is true, has the same reading.
* That is, by holding the sticks a moment near the fires. ' See notes on XIII, 4, t, 13.
Digitized by
1 9 2 DATAPATH A-BRAHMAYA,
fice, he shall be the priest, he shall order the
sacrifices and their seasons;' for Agni is the
path-maker, the guide of paths : he, verily, guides
him upon the path of sacrifice. This, then, is the
rite performed in that case.
2. They also say, * If any one's fires were to come
in contact with each other, what rite and what expia-
tion would there be in that case ? ' If this burning
(fire) were to come (to the other) from behind, he
may know that light has come to him from beyond ;
that the gods have helped him, and that he will
become more glorious. But if his heart should at
all misgive him, let him prepare a cake on eight
potsherds for Agni Viviii (the discerning). The
course of procedure thereof (is as follows) : — he
should recite those same seventeen kindling-verses ;
the two butter-portions relate to the slaying of
Vmra ; the sa/«yi/ yis are two Vir4^ verses ; and
the invitatory and offering formulas are as follows :
— (the anuvfikyd, /?/g-veda VI, 6, 3), 'Thy bril-
liant, wind-sped flames, bright Agni, spread
in every direction: the divine ninefold de-
stroyers overpower the woods, boldly crushing
them;* and the yS^i (/?/g-veda V, 8, 3), 'The
tribes of men glorify thee, Agni, the discern-
ing knower of offerings, and most liberal
dispenser of treasures; thee, O wealthy one,
dwelling in secret, yet visible to all, loud-
sounding offerer of sacrifice, glorying in
ghee!' And if any one should desire to rid him-
self of his spiteful enemy, let him, with that object
in view, perform this offering, and he verily will rid
himself of him. This, then, is the rite performed
in that case.
Digitized by
XII kAnda, 4 adhyAya, 4 brahmaata, 4. 193
3. If, however, this burning (fire) were to come
from this side, he may know that he will overcome
his spiteful enemy; that he will become more
glorious. But if his heart should at all misgive
him, let him prepare a cake on eight potsherds for
Agni Sawvarga (the despoiler). The course of
procedure thereof (is as follows) : — he should recite
those same seventeen kindling-verses; the two
butter-portions relate to the slaying of Vmra, the
sawySgfyds are two VirS^ verses ; and the invitatory
and offering formulas are as follows : — (/?/g-veda
VIII, 75, 15; Va^. S. XI, 71), 'From the far
region cross thou over to the near: protect
thou that wherein I am!' and the y3^& i^^^S'
veda VIII, 75, 12), 'Desert us not in this great
strife, like as the bearer df a load: win thou
the spoil (saw vargaw ^ya), win riches thou!'
And if any one desire to despoil his spiteful enemy,
let him, with that object in view, perform this
offering, and he verily will despoil him. This,
then, is the rite performed in that case.
4. They also say, * If the lightning were to burn
any one s (sacrificial fire), what rite and what expia-
tion would there be in that case ? ' Let him know
that light has come to him from above; that the
gods have helped him, and that he will become
more glorious. But if his heart should at all
misgive him, let him prepare a cake on eight pot-
sherds for Agni Apsumat (abiding in the waters).
The course of procedure thereof (is as follows) : —
he should recite those same seventeen kindling-
verses ; the two butter-portions relate to the slaying
of Vr/tra ; the sawy^yAs are two Vir^ verses ; and
the invitatory and offering formulas are as follows :
Digitized by
1 94 DATAPATH A-BRAhMAJVA,
— (/?/g-veda VIII, 43, 9 ; V^. S, XII, 36), ' In the
waters, O Agni, is thy seat; as such thou
clingest to plants: being in (their) womb,
thou art born again;' and the y^yA (V^- S.
XII, 37), 'Thou art the child of the herbs,
the child of the trees, the child of all that is,
O Agni, thou art the child of the waters ; ' — he
thereby bespeaks peace on the part of those two
(fires) for the safety of the Sacrificer's family and
cattle. This, then, is the rite performed in that
case,
5. They also say, * If any one's fires were to come
in contact with impure (profane) fires, what rite and
what expiation would there be in that case ? ' Let
him prepare a cake on eight potsherds for Agni
Su^i (the bright), — the course of procedure thereof (is
as follows) : — he should recite those same seventeen
kindling-verses; the two butter-portions relate to
the slaying of Vmra ; the sa^y^yds are two Vir^
verses; and the invitatory and offering formulas
are as follows: — (/?/g-veda VIII, 44, 21), 'Agni of
brightest work, the bright priest, the bright
sage, brightly he shineth with offering fed;'
and the ya^i (^^g-veda VIII, 44, 17), *Up rise
thy flames, the bright, the pure, the shining,
thy lights, O Agni;' — he thereby bespeaks peace
to those two (kinds of fires) for the safety of the
Sacrificer's family and cattle. This, then, is the
rite performed in that case.
6. They also say, * If the sun were to set on any
one's Ahavanlya not yet having been taken out,
what rite and what expiation would there be in that
case ? ' Verily, those rays (of the sun) are the All-
gods : they go from him, and that (Agnihotra) fails
