I, 11
KANDIKÂ 11.
1. Now (follows) the ritual of the animal sacrifice.
2 2. Having prepared to the north of the fire the place for the Sâmitra fire, having given drink (to the animal which he is going to sacrifice), having washed the animal, having placed it to the east (of the fire) with its face to the west, having made oblations with the two Rikas, 'Agni as our messenger' (Rig-veda I, 12, 1 seq.), let him touch (the animal) from behind with a fresh branch on which there are leaves, with (the formula), 'Agreeable to such and such (a deity) I touch thee.'
3. He sprinkles it from before with water in which rice and barley are, with (the formula), 'Agreeable to such and such (a deity) I sprinkle thee.'
4. Having given (to the animal) to drink of that (water), he should pour out the rest (of it) along its right fore-foot.
5. Having carried fire round (it), performing that act only (without repeating a corresponding Mantra), they lead it to the north.
6 6. In front of it they carry a fire-brand.
7 7 This is the Sâmitra (fire).
8 8. With the two Vapâsrapanî ladles the 'performer' touches the animal.
9. The sacrificer (touches) the performer.
10 10. To the west of the Sâmitra (fire) he (the Samitri) kills (the animal), the head of which is turned to the east or to the west, the feet to the north; and having placed a grass-blade on his side of the (animal's) navel, (the 'performer') draws out the omentum, cuts off the omentum, seizes it with the two Agnisrapanîs, sprinkles it with water, warms it at the Sâmitra (fire), takes it before that fire, roasts it, being seated to the south, goes round (the two fires), and sacrifices it.
11 11. At the same fire they cook a mess of food.
12 12. Having cut off the eleven Avadânas (or portions which have to be cut off) from the animal, from all its limbs, having boiled them at the Sâmitra (fire),
and having warmed the heart on a spit, let him sacrifice first from the mess of cooked food (mentioned in Sûtra 11);
13. Or together with the Avadâna portions.
14 14. From each of the (eleven) Avadânas he cuts off two portions.
15 15. They perform the rites only (without corresponding Mantras) with the heart's spit (i.e. the spit on which the heart had been; see Sûtra 12).
Footnotes
- 176:2
- 176:6
- 177:7
- 177:8
- 177:10
On the way in which animals had to b. killed at sacrifices, see Weber's Indische Studien, IX, 222 seq.
On the position of the head and the feet of the victim, comp. Kâtyâyana-Srauta-sûtra VI, 5, 16. 17.
According to Kâtyâyana VI, 6, 8 seq. a grass-blade is placed on the dead animal's body before the navel (agrena nâbhim); through that grass-blade he cuts into the body and draws out the omentum.
'That fire' is, according to Nârâyana, not the Sâmitra but the Aupâsana fire. In the same way in the Srauta ritual the warming of the omentum is performed at the Sâmitra, the boiling at the Âhavanîya fire. Kâtyâyana VI, 6, 13. 16.
- 177:11
- 177:12
- 178:14
- 178:15