Then ribbons over all were
hung,
And flowers and scent around
them flung.
Thus decked they cast a glory
forth
Like the great saints who
star the north.
The sacrificial altar then
Was raised by skilful twice-born
men—
In shape and figure to behold
An eagle with his wings of
gold,
With twice nine pits and formed
threefold.
Each for some special God,
beside
The pillars were the victims
tied;
The birds that roam the wood,
the air,
The water, and the land were
there,
And snakes and things of reptile
birth,
And healing herbs that spring
from earth:—
As texts prescribe, in Scripture
found,
Three hundred victims there
were bound.
The steed devoted to the host
Of Gods, the gem they honor
most,
Was duly sprinkled. Then
the Queen
Kausalya, with delighted mien,
With reverent steps around
him paced,
And with sweet wreaths the
victim graced;
Then with three swords in
order due
She smote the steed with joy,
and slew.
That night the queen, a son
to gain,
With calm and steady heart
was fain
By the dead charger’s
side to stay
From evening till the break
of day.
Then came three priests, their
care to lead
The other queens to touch
the steed—
Upon Kausalya to attend,
Their company and aid to lend.
As by the horse she still
reclined,
With happy mien and cheerful
mind,
With Rishyasring the twice-born
came
And praised and blessed the
royal dame.
The priest who well his duty
knew,
And every sense could well
subdue,
From out the bony chambers
freed
And boiled the marrow of the
steed.
Above the steam the monarch
bent,
And, as he smelt the fragrant
scent,
In time and order drove afar
All error, that his hopes
could mar.
Then sixteen priests together
came,
And cast into the sacred flame
The severed members of the
horse,
Made ready all in ordered
course.
On piles of holy Fig-tree
raised
The meaner victims’
bodies blazed:—
The steed, of all the creatures
slain,
Alone required a pile of cane.
Three days, as is by law decreed,
Lasted that Offering of the
Steed.
The Chatushtom began the rite,
And when the sun renewed his
light,
The Ukthya followed—after
came
The Atiratra’s holy
flame.
These were the rites, and
many more,
Arranged by light of holy
lore,
The Aptoryam of mighty power,
And, each performed in proper
hour,
The Abhijit and Visvajit
With every form and service
fit;
And with the sacrifice at
night
The Jyotishtom and Ayus rite.