396 Rajendralala Mitra — An Imperial Assemblage [No. 3, 



A proper throne with a leather cushion was next prepared, and the 

 Emperor, having taken his seat thereon, received the homage of his guests. 

 The first person to approach him was the Adhvaryu, who, touching his breast, 

 said, " If you desire to govern an empire, judge impartially between the 

 great and the small ; direct your entire attention to promote the prosperity 

 of all ; and exert your utmost to prevent all misadventure." 



The Brahma or High Priest next appeared before him and the follow- 

 ing conversation passed between them. 



The Emperor. " Brahman." 



Brahma. " Thou art all-glorious. Thy behests can never be overruled. 

 Thou art the asylum of the people, and therefore (as great as) Savita." 



Emperor " Brahman." 



Brahma. " Thou art all-glorious. Thy might is infallible. Thou art 

 the asylum of the poople, and therefore (as great as) Varuna." 



Emperor " Brahman." 



Brahma. " Thou art all- glorious and the owner of every kind of wealth. 

 Thou art the preserver of the peace of the country, and therefore Indra." 



Emperor " Brahman." 



Brahma. " Thou art all-glorious, the adored of all to whom thou art 

 kind, and the cause of weeping to the women of your enemies, and there- 

 fore Rudra." 



Emperor " Brahman." 



Brahma. " Thou art all glorious, therefore like unto Brahma." 



The Purohit was next commanded to approach, and he handed the Em- 

 peror a sacrificial knife. This knife was made of hard wood, and in 

 shape like a scymitar. With the point of this instrument, the Emperor 

 had to draw on the ground a dice-board, and, offer thereon four oblations 

 with butter to Agni. This done, the Adhvaryu handed over to him five 

 dice, shaped like couris, made of gold, and these he cast on the board, 

 saying, "OYe dice which have been taken up after the offering of due 

 oblations, do ye, mixing with the fierce rays of the sun, grant me supremacy 

 among kings." If the dice when cast showed the full number on the upper 

 surface, the augury was believed to be satisfactory. 



After this angury the allies, tributaries, vassals and other guests offered 

 their congratulations and homage ; but as this was done without any 

 mantra, no mention of it occurs in the ritual. 



Now followed a rite called Sansripa Havi, and it required eight plat- 

 tersful of butter for Agni, frumenty for Sarasvati, and twelve plattersful of 

 butter for Savita, the offering to each divinity being accompanied by an 

 appropriate fee. 



Next came the rite called Dasapeya. Preparations for it were made 

 previously, and they included the purchase and expression of the juice of 



