20-24 septembrie 2009 - Biblioteca Metropolitana Bucuresti

610 Jan E.M. Houbenreason why (it is offered) to (Agni as) the Sviṣṭakt.10. Having recited the invitatory formula, he (the hotar) enumerates(those deities) which (have received oblations at the fore-offerings,butter-portions, &c.), as well as Agni Sviṣṭakt: "Agni has worshippedin-a-ritualAgni's favourite domains!" thereby he refers to the butterportionof Agni (which was offered in the preceding rite). – "He hasworshipped-in-a-ritual Soma's favourite domains! thereby he refers tothe butter-portion of Soma (which was offered in the preceding rite). –"He has worshipped-in-a-ritual Agni's favourite domains!" thereby herefers to that indispensable bread for Agni which has been (offered) onboth occasions (at the new- and full-moon sacrifices). ...The hotar continues to recite at the offerings made by the Adhvaryu 16 :13. "May he worship-in-a-ritual his own greatness!" When, on thatoccasion, he asks him (Agni) to bring hither the deities, he also makeshim (Agni) bring hither his own (Agni’s) greatness; but before this noworship of any kind has been offered to "his (Agni's) own greatness": andhe therefore now gratifies him, and thus that (fire) has been establishedso as to prevent failure on his (the sacrificer's) part. This is the reasonwhy he says "may he worship-in-a-ritual his own greatness."How should the offering be done? The Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa explains 17 :21. He offers on this side, as it were, of the other oblations. Followingthe other oblations cattle are produced, and the Sviṣṭakt representsRudra's power: he would impose Rudra's power on the cattle if hewere to bring it (the Sviṣṭakt) into contact with the other oblations; andhis (the sacrificer's) household and cattle would be destroyed. For thisreason he offers on this side, as it were, of the other oblations.What can be inferred from this passage is that, first, circularity or selfreferencewas also perceived by its author, and, second, that he did nothesitate to express it clearly: the agent of the ritual worship of Agni'spriy dhmāni "favourite domains" 18 is explicitly said to be Agni, even16ŚB 1.7.3.13: yákṣat sváṁ mahimnam íti / yátra v adó (for correct acc. cf.1.9.2.14) devátā āvāháyati tád ápi sváṁ mahimnam vāhayati tád átaḥ prṅ naìvá kíñcaná svya mahimná íti kriyate tád átra táṁ prīṇāti tátho hāsyaiṣó’moghāyvāhito bhavatitásmād āha yákṣat sváṁ mahimnam íti /17ŚB 1.7.3.21: sá v abhyarddhá ivétarābhya hutibhyo juhoti / ítarā hutīḥpaśávo’nuprájāyante rudríyaḥ sviṣṭakd rudríyeṇa paśn prasajed yád ítarābhir hutibhiḥsasjet tè’sya ghḥ paśáva upamūryámāṇā īyus tásmād abhyarddhá ivétarābhyahutibhyo juhoti /18Cf. GONDA 1967 on dhman and BODEWITZ 2002 on the priyáṁ dhma of