२४

1a. Having seen the fire-altar-buildings of other (sacrificers) the sacrificer should stand near praising them with three (verses beginning)¹ with upa ivāgne.²

1b. After having built fire-altar he should perform the Sautrāmaṇi (-offering)³ or an offering with milkmess to Mitra and Varuṇa.⁴

2. For one year (after the fire-building-ritual and the Soma-sacrifice connected with it) (the sacrificer) should not get down (from his vehicle or seat) for anyone¹; he should not practise intercourse with any black woman²; he should not eat any bird.³

3. And for the whole life he should not eat brain and should not run in rain.²

4. And if he were to run (in rain)¹ he should return.

5. Having built the fire altar for the second time, he should not practise intercourse with another’s wife; having built for the third time he should practise intercourse with any woman or he may practise with his wife.¹

6. Having built the fire-altar, he who will not prosper within one year, should build (before) performing a Soma sac rifice, a fire-altar with one layer.

7. (At that time) with salilāya tvā…¹ (the Adhvaryu) should place eight bricks (each) with a separate formula on the Uttaravedi; the Lokampr̥ṇā (-brick)s as per requirement; and then loose soil.

8. He who may not be established, however, should build before performing a Soma sacrifice, a fire-altar with one layer.

9. (At that time) with saṁyacca pracetāśca…¹ the Adhvaryu should place five bricks (each) with a separate formula on the Uttaravedi; the Lokaṁpr̥ṇa (-bricks) as per requirement and then loose soil.

10. Some (ritualists) think that the desires (should be) reversed.¹

11. (In the sacred texts) the re-building¹ of the fire-altar is heard for three purposes: In order that (the sacrifice) should not go to nothing,² for the sake of prosperity of the sacrifice and for the sake (of progeny of the sacrificer).³

12. We shall explain the fire-altar-building to be built in order that the sacrifice should not go to nothing.¹

13. If (the sacrificer) performs an Iṣṭi (or) an animal-sacrifice (or) a Soma-sacrifice, he should perform it after having gone near his earlier fire (i.e. the built-up fire-altar).¹

14. Or (in that case) with yenarṣayaḥ… (the Adhvaryu) should place eight bricks (each) with a seperate formula on the Uttaravedi; the Lokaṁpr̥ṇa (brick)s as per requirement; and then loose soil.