1. Pragâpati poured forth the life-sap of the horse (asva-medha) 1. When poured forth, it went straight away from him and spread itself over the regions. The gods went in quest of it. By means of offerings (ishti) they followed it up, by offerings they searched for it, and by offerings they found it. And when he performs ishtis, the Sacrificer thereby searches for the horse (asva) meet for sacrifice 2 (medhya).
2. They (the ishtis 3) belong to Savitri; for Savitri is this (earth): if any one hides himself thereon, if any one goes elsewhere 4, it is on this
284:1 Or, as it might also be translated. Pragâpati produced (created) the Asvamedha.
284:2 Or, for the horse full of life-sap; or, simply, the sacrificial horse.
284:3 Viz. three oblations of cakes on twelve kapâlas to Savitri Prasavitri, Savitri Âsavitri; and Savitri Satyaprasava respectively. For particulars see XIII, 4, 2, 6 seqq.
284:4 Harisvâmin seems to take this in the sense of 'who moves about elsewhere (in another sphere),' and mentions, as an instance, a bird which flies in (? up into) the air--pakshyâdir antarikshe gakkhati--but is ultimately caught on earth.
285:1 See XIII, 4, 2, 16.
285:2 The four Dhritis are performed on the Âhavanîya after sunset on the first day; cf. XIII, 4, 3, 5. For the four formulas used with these oblations ('here is joy,' &c.), see XIII, 1, 6, 2.
