२०

1. (The Adhvaryu) starts the ritual beginning with the performance of the Māhendra-scoop.¹

2. (The Ritual) upto the Avabhr̥tha is the same as in the (Agniṣṭoma-sacrifice).

3. After having performed the Avabhr̥tha, (the Adhvaryu) offers a libation in water¹ with apāṁ naptre svāhā.²

4. Having (then) offered ( a second libation) on a place in between on the grass-stalks or on a tree-stump or on a fossilized ant-hill, with ūrjo naptre svāhā,¹ he offers, after having come back, (a third libation) in the Gārphatya-fire² with agnaye gr̥hapataye svāhā.[^3] He seizes (peforms an animal sacrifice with) a cow which after having once given birth( to a calf) has become infertile, to be killed subsequently.

5. He takes out the Nīvāra-rice for the animal-sacrificial bread of it (cow) from a basket with four feet.¹

6. It is known (from a Brāhmaṇa-text)¹, “It is a substitute of the cart".²

7. On the next day, to the west of the (Abhiśecanīya-) Soma sacrificial place he offers ten¹ or seven Saṁsr̥p-offerings: a (sacrificial bread) on eight potshereds to Agni (etc.).²

8. (For every one of the ten or seven offerings) he resides in a sacrificial ground (more and more) to the east and to the east.¹

9. Where (there was) the Āhavanīya (fire) of the earlier offering there (should be) the Gārhapatya (-fire) of the subsequent (offering).

10. In the hut¹ (with its central) beam oriented to the east, there should be the Āhavanīya (-fire) of the last (offering); the Gārhapatya (-fire) should be ouside.²

11. After having performed it (the last i.e. the seventh offering) in the afternoon he starts the procedure of the Daśapeya(-sacrifice).

12. On one and the same day they consecrate (the sacrificer).

13. On one and the same day they purchase Soma.¹

14. Instead of water consecration,¹ (the sacrificer) binds (on the head) a garland of twelve lotuses.²

15. He purchases Soma¹ with ten bull-calves with testicles.²

16. He does not bargain;¹ he does not carry around.²

17. He only removes the purchase (-price).¹

18. There should be one Dīkṣā and three Upasad (-days) (before the Daśapeya-sacrifice).

19. Before the Upasads he performs (an offering) the rice pap for Soma; between the Upasads a (sacrificial bread) on eight potsherds for Tvaṣṭr̥ and a (sacrificial bread) on three potsherds for Viṣṇu.¹

20. For those offerings the same Prastara and Paridhis (enclosing sticks) (are to be used) which (are used) for the Upasad (-offerings).

21. The Hotr̥ should be from the Bhr̥gu-family.

22. The Sāman (on which the praise-song parallel to) the Brāhmaṇācchaṁsin (śastra is to be sung should be) Śrāyantīya. The Agniṣṭoma-sāman should be Vāravantīya.¹

¹; Cf. TMB XVIII.9.2; JB II.202 f.

23. (The Adhvaryu) scoops the Sarasvatī-water.¹