20-24 septembrie 2009 - Biblioteca Metropolitana Bucuresti

634 MADHAVI KOLHATKARby a ṛṣi called Saujāta Ārāḷhi. The name of the rite is explained by Sāyaṇaas follows:is:The thing lost is called ajīta and the instrument for getting it back is calledpunarvaṇya. These offerings are also given before the consecration andafter the completion of the sacrifice. The mantra to be recited at the timeof making the offering before the sacrifice is: brahma prapadye brahmamā kṣatrād gopāyatu brahmaṇe svāhā / – He thereby declares, “I goto brahma ‘the holy power’. May brahma protect me from the kṣatra.Svāhā to brahma!”The reason as to why this mantra is to be recited is also given. Thus itbrahma vā eṣa prapadyate yo yajñam prapadyate / brahma vai yajñoyajñād u ha vā eṣa punar jāyate yo dīkṣate / tam brahma prapannaṁkṣatraṁ na parijināti / brahma mā kṣatrād gopāyatv ity āha / yathainambrahma kṣatrād gopayed brahmaṇe svāheti tadenat prīṇāti tadenat prītaṁkṣatrād gopāyati/ – One who approaches the sacrifice approaches theholy power. The lordly power does not oppress the one who has takenresort to the holy power. “Let the holy power protect me from the lordlypower”, he says. He offers the offering saying “brahmaṇe svāhā”, so thatthe holy power should protect him from the lordly power. The sacrificeis the holy power. A person who is consecrated becomes an embryothrough the sacrifice. 3 When he offers these offerings, the holy power,being pleased by them protects him from the lordly power. (AitBr 34.4)Then, again at the end of the sacrifice he offers the oblations and recitesthe mantra:kṣatram prapadye kṣatram mā brahmaṇo gopāyatu kṣatrāya svāhā / – Hethereby prays: “I go to the kṣatra (‘the lordly power’). May the lordlypower protect me from the holy power. These are the offerings to thelordly power.”The reason as to why this mantra is recited is given in the Brāhmaṇaitself as:A person who approaches the kingship approaches the lordly power, asthe kingship is the lordly power. When he thus approaches the lordlypower, the holy power does not oppress him. When he offers theseofferings, the lordly power is pleased with him and protects him fromthe holy power.3Please refer supra, note 1, in this regard.