IV, 3

The Grihya Sutras, Part 1 (SBE29), by Hermann Oldenberg, [1886], at sacred-texts.com

p. 240

KANDIKÂ 3.

1 ¹. He should then put the following (sacrificial) implements (on the dead body).

2. Into the right hand the (spoon called) Guhû.

3. Into the left the (other spoon called) Upabhrit.

4. On his right side the (wooden sacrificial sword called) Sphya, on his left (side) the Agnihotrahavanî (i.e. the ladle with which the Agnihotra oblations are sacrificed).

5. On his chest the (big sacrificial ladle called) Dhruvâ. On his head the dishes. On his teeth the pressing-stones.

6. On the two sides of his nose the two (smaller sacrificial ladles called) Sruvas.

7. Or, if there is only one (Sruva), breaking it (in two pieces).

8 ⁸. On his two ears the two Prâsitraharanas (i.e. the vessels into which the portion of the sacrificial food belonging to the Brahman is put).

9. Or, if there is only one (Prâsitraharana), breaking it (in two pieces).

10. On his belly the (vessel called) Pâtrî,

11. And the cup into which the cut-off portions (of the sacrificial food) are put.

12. On his secret parts the (staff called) Samyâ.

13. On his thighs the two kindling woods.

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14. On his legs the mortar and the pestle.

15. On his feet the two baskets.

16. Or, if there is only one (basket), tearing it (in two pieces).

17 ¹⁷. Those (of the implements) which have a hollow (into which liquids can be poured), are filled with sprinkled butter.

18. The son (of the deceased person) should take the under and the upper mill-stone for himself.

19 ¹⁹. And the implements made of copper, iron, and earthenware.

20 ²⁰. Taking out the omentum of the she-animal he should cover therewith the head and the mouth (of the dead person) with the verse, 'Put on the armour (which will protect thee) against Agni, by (that which comes from) the cows' (Rig-veda X, 16, 7).

21. Taking out the kidneys (of the animal) he should lay them into the hands (of the dead body) with the verse, 'Escape the two hounds, the sons of Saramâ' (Rig-veda X, 14, 10), the right (kidney) into the right (hand), the left into the left.

22. The heart (of the animal he puts) on the heart (of the deceased).

23 ²³. And two lumps (of flour or rice), according to some (teachers).

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24 ²⁴. (Only) if there are no kidneys, according to some (teachers).

25 ²⁵. Having distributed the whole (animal), limb by limb (placing its different limbs on the corresponding limbs of the deceased), and having covered it with its hide, he recites, when the Pranîta water is carried forward, (the verse), 'Agni, do not overturn this cup' (Rig-veda X, 16, 8).

26. Bending his left knee he should sacrifice Âgya oblations into the Dakshina fire with (the formulas), 'To Agni svâhâ! To Kâma svâhâ! To the world svâhâ! To Anumati svâhâ!'

27 ²⁷. A fifth (oblation) on the chest of the deceased with (the formula), 'From this one verily thou hast been born. May he now be born out of thee, N.N.! To the heaven-world svâhâ!'

Footnotes

240:1 3, 1. On the different implements mentioned in the following Sûtras, comp. Prof. Max Müller's paper in the Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft, vol. ix, pp. vii seqq.; lxxviii seqq.

240:8 On the Prâsitra and the Prâsitraharanas, comp. Hillebrandt, Neu- and Vollmondsopfer, pp. 119 (with note 6), 120, 131.

241:17 Nârâyana explains âsekanavanti by bilavanti. On prishadâgya ('sprinkled butter') comp. the two last Sûtras of the first chapter.

241:19 The statement in Satapatha Brâhmana XII, 5, 2, 14 is somewhat different.

241:20 Anustaranyâ vapâm. See chap. 2, 4.

241:23 Nârâyana states that these lumps are not put, as one would be inclined to believe, on the heart, but into the hands of the deceased. Sûtra 24 shows that this interpretation is correct.

242:24 I.e. if there is no Anustaranî animal, which is considered as optional (see chap. 2, 4).

242:25 Comp. Kâtyâyana XXV, 7, 35.

242:27 He who is born out of the deceased, is Agni. See Satapatha Brâhmana II, 3, 3, 5; and also XII, 5, 2, 15.