408 ON THE Ve'dAS, ■ 



heads, while seated on a throne prepared for the 

 purpose, water mixed with honey, clarified butter, 

 and spirituous liquor, as well as two sorts of grass 

 and the sprouts of corn. This ceremony, called 

 Jb/ih'htca, is celebrated on the accession of a king; 

 and subsequently, on divers occasions, as part of 

 the rites belonging to certain solemn sacrifices per- 

 formed for the attainment of particular objects. 



The mode of its celebration is the subject of 

 the second chapter of the eighth book ; or 

 thirty-seventh chapter, reckoned (as is done by 

 the commentator) from the beginning of the Aita- 

 rlya. It contains an instance, which is not sin- 

 gular in the Feclas, though it be rather uncommon in 

 their didactick portion, of a disquisition on a dif- 

 ference of opinion among inspired authors. * Some,' 

 it says, * direct the consecration to be completed 

 with the appropriate prayer, but without the sacred 

 words (Vydlifitis), which they here deem «uper- 

 tluous : others, and particularly Satyaca'ma, 

 son of Ja'ba'la, enjoin the complete recitation of 

 those words, for reasons explained at full length ; 

 and Udda'laca, son of Arun'a, has therefore so 

 ordained the performance of the ceremony.' 



The subject of this chapter is concluded by the 

 fiiilowing remarkable passage. ' Well knowing 

 all the [efficacy of consecration], Jaxame'jaya, 

 son of Paiiicshit, declared; " Priests, conversant 

 with this ceremony, assist me, who am. likewise 

 apprized [of its benefits], to celebrate the solemn 

 rite. Therefore, do I conquer [in single combat] ; 

 therefore, do I defeat arrayed forces with an ar- 

 layed army : neither the arrows of the gods, nor 

 those of men, reach me: I shall live the full pe- 

 riod of life ; I shall remain master of the whole 

 earth." Truly neither the arrows of the gods^ 



