Note 134 — Chapter I · NATURE POWERS.
Reading edition
The earth is required to be worshipped before taking a portion of it for sacrificial purposes.134 A vessel containing water over which incantations have been repeated is not allowed to touch the ground.135 On the 15th day of the bright half of Ashvin every farmer prepares some sweetmeats in his house, and takes them to his farm. There he gathers five stones, worships them, and offers the sweetmeats to the earth. Afterwards he takes a portion of the food and scatters it over the farm. His family then gather there and take a hearty meal. In the evening the person who carried the food to the farm, picks up some grains of barley and puts them into a basket. On return home the grains are thrown over the house.136