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SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
of) the layers, that is the animal sacrifices; and the Vishnu-strides? which are (performed) at these sacrifices are just these Vishnu-strides; and what muttering of formulas there is that is the Vâtsapra 3.
3. The first layer is the Soma-sacrifice; the second the Râgasūya as prior to the consecrations, the third the Vâgapeya; the fourth the Asvamedha (horse-sacrifice); and the fifth the Agnisava . Then the sâmans he sings around the built (altar) are the Mahâvrata(-saman); the Udgâtri's preliminary muttering (of the text of his chants) on that occasion is the Satarudriya; the shower of wealth' the Great Litany; and what takes place subsequent to the singing of) the sâmans, and prior to the shower of wealth, that is the Hotri's preliminary muttering on that occasion; and what takes place after the shower of wealth is the Grihamedhas 6 (house-sacrifices). Such are all the sacrifices: these he secures by (building) the fire-altar.
1 That is, animal saciifices performed independently of other ceremonies.
2 See VI, 7, 2, 12 seq. 3 See VI, 7, 4, I seq
4 That is, the ceremonies connected with the Vâgaprasavîya oblations, V, 2, 2, 4 seq., and the devasû-havînshi, or oblations to the Divine Quickeners (by whom the king is supposed to be first conseciated), V, 3, 3, I seq.
5 See IX, 3, 4, 7 9. It is strange that the Agnisava should be mentioned here, as it is said to be confined to the Agnikayana. It would seem that some independent ceremony, such as the Brihaspatisava (consecration of Brihaspati, cf. V, 2, 1, 19; and part in, introd. p. xxiv seq.), may be referred to.
Sâyana identifies these with the offerings of sacrificial sessions (sattra), during which the Sacrificer is indeed called the Grihapati, or master of the house; see IV, 6, 3, 5 seq.; and part ii, p. 97, note I.
