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228
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
this (Sacrificer himself) is his human one; and the gods indeed were first, and thereafter the men: therefore, after making offering, he anoints him with what remains over of that same (offeringmaterial)? He then throws the dipping-spoon after (the oblations into the fire).
17. Placing himself near the (Sacrificer's) right arm, he then anoints him ?, with (Vâg. S. XVIII, 37), “At the impulse of the divine Savitri, I anoint thee, by the arms of the Asvins, by the hands of Pushan, by the support of Sarasvatî Vâk, the supporter, by the universal sovereignty of Agni!'—for Sarasvati is Vâk (speech), and hers is all this support. Impelled by Savitri, he thus anoints him by all this support of Sarasvati Vâk, the supporter, and by the universal sovereignty of Agni. Here he throws the cup into the fire), lest what is anointed (with offering material) should remain outside the fire.
18. He anoints him in the middle of the Pârtha oblations, for the Pârtha oblations are the year: he thus places him in the middle of the year. Six he offers before, and six after the consecration ceremony), for there are six seasons: by the seasons he thus encloses (guards) him who is consecrated on both sides. Brihaspati is the last of the first (six 3), and Indra the first of the
1 That is, with the remainder of the mess of different kinds of seed mixed with milk and water.
2 That is, by sprinkling him with the liquid, or pouring it on him.
$ The formulas of the twelve Pârtha oblations are the same as those used on the occasion of the Râgasûya (V, 3, 5, 8. 9), the sixth of which is .To Brihaspati haill' and the seventh To Indra haill'
