Page:Atharva-Veda samhita volume 2.djvu/420

xviii. 4- 14. He that hath sacrificed hath ascended the piled fire, about to fly up to heaven (dív) from the back of the firmament (nā́ka); for him, the well-doer, shines forth from the welkin (nábhas), full of light, the heavenly road, traveled by the gods.

15. Agni thine invoker, Brihaspati thine officiating priest, be Indra on the right thy supervising priest (brahmán); this offered sacrifice, being completed (sáṁsthita), goeth where is the ancient track of those offered.

16. Rich in cakes, rich in milk (kṣīrá-) let the dish (carú) take seat here; to the world-makers, the road-makers, do we sacrifice, whoever of you are here, sharing in the oblation of the gods.

We had the same refrain above, in 3. 25-35. ⌊Cf. my introduction to hymn 3, p. 847, ¶8.⌋ According to Kāuç. (86. 3), the verses beginning with apūpavān (16-24) are used as, in each case, what is specified in the verse (mantroktam) is deposited in the quarters and intermediate quarters (dikṣv aṣṭamadeçeṣu); this is in the ceremony of interment of the bone-relics, next after the use of 4. 57 and 3. 72 (see under the latter). ⌊At this point Whitney compares TA. vi. 8 and cites part of it. The TA. leaves out the depositions in the intermediate directions, SE. etc., and so has only 5 deposition-mantras instead of 9. The matter is treated more fully just below.⌋ According to the comm., caru means specifically the contents of the dish here: kumbhyām pakva odanaḥ; and ihá signifies: asmin saṁcayanakarmaṇy asthnāṁ samīpe paçcimadigbhāge; the others are set in the remaining half-directions, and one in the middle. ⌊Observe that the AV. begins the depositions with the west (so the comm., at p. 197$8$, and at 201$16$ just cited), while the TA. begins, as noted below, with the east.⌋

⌊As part of the requisites for performing the pitṛnidhāna, Kāuç. (83. 2) prescribes eleven dishes (carūn). According to Kāuç. 86. 2, two dishes (carū*) are to be deposited, with our 4. 57 and 3. 72, near the head of the human figure formed with the bones (note