Verse 3.210

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

तेषामुदकमानीय सपवित्रांस्तिलानपि ।
अग्नौ कुर्यादनुज्ञातो ब्राह्मणो ब्राह्मणैः सह ॥ २१० ॥

teṣāmudakamānīya sapavitrāṃstilānapi |
agnau kuryādanujñāto brāhmaṇo brāhmaṇaiḥ saha || 210 ||

Having presented to them water, and also sesamum along with kuśa-blade, the Brāhmaṇa, permitted by the Brāhmaṇas collectively, should make an offering into fire.—(210)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

When the Brāhmaṇas have been smeared with perfumes, adorned with garlands and have smelt the incense, the water-offering should be presented; and, along with this, also sesamum along with Kuśa-blade;—the term ‘pavitra’ being used in the sense of Kuśa grass.

‘Having presented,’— offered—water to the Brāhmaṇas, and being permitted by them, one should offer libations into fire. The construction is—‘brāhmaṇaiḥ anujñātaḥ kuryāt.’

‘Collectively’—i.e., all the Brāhmaṇas should give the permission together.

This necessity of obtaining permission implies also the use of some words to be addressed in seeking the permission; they could not grant the permission without being asked for it. From this it follows that the words to be used should be such as—‘May I make the offering into fire,’ ‘I shall make it,’ and so forth. The use of words for according the permission is also hereby implied. All this should be done by means of correct forms, of words; this has been shown by the authors of Gṛhyasūtras—‘He should seek their permission with such words as, May I make the offering into fire—may I do it; and they should say, Yes do it.’— (210).

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

“Water-bringing is a Northern-custom according to Āpastamba 2.17.17.”—Hopkins.

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Viṣṇu (73.12).—(See above.)

Baudhāyana (2.8.7).—(See above.)

Āpastamba Dharmasūtra (2.17.17-9).—‘When they have taken their seats, the water-vessels should be placed in their hands; then he asks them—may this be taken up and offered into the fire;—on being permitted by them with the words—you are at liberty to take it up and offer into the fire,—he shall take it up and pour the oblation into the fire.’

Yājñavalkya (1.235).—‘Having offered to them the Arghya and taking the droppings (from their hands) into the vessels, in the prescribed form, he shall over-turn them on the ground, with the mantra Pitṛbhyaḥ sthānamasi.’

Āśvalāyana Gṛhyasūtra (4.7.5-7).—‘Having offered the water, and having offered the seat in the form of kuśa-blades twisted twice,—he shall offer water.’