१७

1. When a bull has become old in (connection with) the cows (the Adhvaryu) should mutter in ear of a young bull, the two verses beginning with piśaṅgarūpaḥ¹ and tannasturīpam².

2. Then he releases him (young bull) among the cows with etaṁ yuvānam¹.

3. Then he seizes the old (bull) for Prajāpati or Indra or Tvaṣṭr̥.

4. At the time of dedication he modifies (the usual verse¹) as namo mahimne….²

5. With the third (verse)¹ he offers the omentum, with the fourth² the (chief) offering and with the fifth³ the offering to Agni Sviṣṭakr̥t.

6. After having offered a sacrificial bread on eight potsherds for Agni, he seizes a barren she-goat.¹

7. (In the Brāhmaṇa-text beginning with) “vāyavyāmālabheta bhūtikāmaḥ (one who wants to get prosperity should seize (a barren she-goat) for Vāyu)”¹ the deities are mentioned (and to them the respective offering should be made).

8. With the verse addressed to Vāyu viz. ā vāyo bhūṣa sucipāḥ…¹ (the Adhvaryu) dedicates her (she-goat).²

9. When the fire is being carried around (the victim)¹ he offers a libation (of ghee) with ākutyai tvā….²

10. When (the she-goat) is being led towards the north¹ he addresses her with tvaṁ turīyā….²

11. When (the she-goat) is being killed (he addresses her) with ajāsi rayiṣṭha….¹

12. He offers the omentum with tantuṁ tanvan….¹

¹ :TS III.4.2.e.

13. (He offers) the oblation (i.e. the limbs of the victim) with anulbaṇam vayata….¹

14. (They=the performers) eat the remnants of the oblation-(material) with manaso havirasi….¹

15. It is said (in a sacred text), “This (she-goat) is seized only for the three…."¹

16. There is only one occasion which is not favourable for the performance (of the animal-sacrifice with a she-goat) viz. if there a cloud (in the sky) after it is seized.

17. In case there is a cloud (in the sky) after (the she goat) is seized, (the Adhvaryu) should cause (the body of the she-goat) to enter in water, or the sacrificer may eat it all day after day.¹

18. The formulae called Jaya,¹ Abhyātāna,³ and Rāṣṭrabhr̥t (are to be used) as mentioned in the Brāhmaṇa-text.³

19. He adds the words asmin brahman…¹ to the Abhyātāna-formulae.

20. It is known from a Brāhmaṇa-text¹ “By means of whatever activity (the sacrificer) wants to prosper, in it (with Abhyātāna-mantras) libations should be made.”

¹ TS III.4.6.1.