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142
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
17. Three milch cows (he gives) to the Hotri;for three milch cows mean abundance, and the Hotri means abundance : therefore (he gives) three milch cows to the Hotri.
18. Three garments (he gives) to the Adhvaryu;for the Adhvaryu 'spreads' the sacrifice, and the garments spread themselves (over the body)? : therefore (he gives) three garments to the Adhvaryu. A bullock (he gives) to the Agnidh.
19. Now there are here either twelve, or thirteen gifts, and there are either twelve or thirteen months in the year ;-the offering thus is of equal measure with the year: that is why there are either twelve or thirteen sacrificial gifts.
i Or, people spread the clothes (either in weaving them, or in putting them on). "To spread the sacrifice' is the regular term for the ceremonial practice of spreading the sacrificial fire from the Gârhapatya (or household fire) over the other two hearths, and thus for the performance of the sacrifice generally.
? See p. 119, note 2.
* That is, taking the calves of the three milch cows into account; and optionally counting the gift to the Âgnîdhra.
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