Text 7] The Downfall of Saubhari Muni 181

TRANSLATION

During the months of January, February and March, oblations
offered to the forefathers are called astaka-sraddha. The sraddha
ceremony is held during the dark fortnight of the month. When
Maharaja Iksvaku was performing his oblations in this ceremony,
he ordered his son Vikuksi to go immediately to the forest to bring
some pure flesh.

TEXT 7

aafta aad Teal TL zeal HRTEM |
Med Tulaat A: aa zeal: Io II

tatheti sa vanam gatva
mrgan hatva kriyarhanan

Sranto bubhuksito virah
Sasam cadad apasmrtih

tatha —according to the direction; iti—thus; sah—Vikuksi; vanam—
to the forest; gatuvi—going; mrgadn—animals; hatva—killing; kriya-
arhandn—suitable for offering to the yajria in the sraddha ceremony;
$rantah—when he was fatigued; bubhuksitah—and hungry; virah—the
hero; Sasam—a rabbit; ca—also; ddat—he ate; apasmrtih—forgetting
(that the flesh was meant for offering in the sraddha).

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, Iksvaku’s son Vikuksi went to the forest and killed
many animals suitable for being offered as oblations. But when
fatigued and hungry he became forgetful and ate a rabbit he had
killed.

PURPORT

It is evident that ksatriyas killed animals in the forest because the
flesh of the animals was suitable to be offered at a particular type of
yajna. Offering oblations to the forefathers in the ceremony known as
sraddha is also a kind of yajna. In this yajna, flesh obtained from the
