1 1. Now (follows) the sacrifice to Sîtâ.
2. Wherever he sacrifices, be it (on a field) of rice or of barley, of that grain he should prepare a mess of cooked food.
3 3. One who has sacrificed may, if he likes, prepare elsewhere also a mess of cooked food, either of rice or of barley.
4 4. (There should be) no doubt (as to whether rice or barley is to be taken), as a rule thereon has been stated above.
5. If it is impossible (to take one of the two species of corn), (that) is excluded.
6. To the east or to the north of the field, on a
13. On the Kusa grass which is left over from the strewing (of grass round the fire), he offers a Bali to the protecting demons of the furrow with (the Mantra), 'They who are sitting towards the east with strong bows and quivers, may they protect thee from the east, and be vigilant and not abandon thee. To them I bring adoration, and I offer this Bali to them.'
14 14. Then to the south with (the Mantra), 'They who are sitting towards the south, not winking the eyes, wearing armour, may they protect thee from the south, and be vigilant and not abandon thee. To them I bring adoration, and I offer this Bali to them.'
15 15. Then to the west with (the Mantra), 'The powerful ones, the excellent ones, prosperity, earth, Pârshni, Sunamkuri, may they protect thee from the west, and be vigilant and not abandon thee. To them I bring adoration, and I offer this Bali to them.'
16. Then to the north with (the Mantra), 'The fearful ones, like to Vâyu in speed, may they protect
18. And the women should make accompanying oblations, because such is the custom.
19. When the ceremony is finished, he should feed the Brâhmanas. He should feed the Brâhmanas.
End of the Second Kânda.
333:1 17, 1. The goddess Sîtâ is, as her name indicates, the rustic deity of the furrow.
333:3 Perhaps the meaning is that a person who has already once performed the Sîtâ-yagña on the field, is allowed, when repeating the sacrifice another time, to celebrate it elsewhere, and to choose at his will between rice and barley.
333:4 A rule has been given in the Srauta-sûtra (Kâty. I, 9, 1: 'Rice or barley, if a Havis [is prescribed]') which shows that it is indifferent whether rice or barley is taken. Thus the sacrificer is free to elect the one or the other. At least this is the traditional meaning of this Sûtra. But possibly we had better understand it otherwise. The sacrificer should offer, according to Sûtra 3, rice or barley. Whether he has to take the one or the other, there can be no doubt, as the rule given above (Sûtra 2) shows that rice should be cooked, if the ceremony is performed for a rice-field, and barley, if for a barley-field.
335:12 The quotation has not been as yet identified in the Sruti itself, but the words quoted are found in Kâty.-Sraut. I, 2, 7.
335:14 Some words in the beginning of the Mantra are lost. We should probably write: atha dakshinatah. ye dakshinato
336:17 See above, chap. 13, 2.
