Because Bh[=a]llabheya once broke his arm on changing the metre of certain formulae, it is evident to the priest that it is wrong to trifle with received metres, and hence "let no one do this hereafter." There is a compensation on reading such trash in the thought that all this superstition has kept for us a carefully preserved text, but that is an accident of priestly foolishness, and the priest can be credited only with the folly.

Why is 'horse-grass' used in the sacrifice?
Because the sacrifice once ran away and "became a horse." Again one is thankful for the historical side-light on the horse-sacrifice; but the witlessness of the unconscious historian can but bring him into contempt.[49] Charms that are said against one are of course cast out by other charms.

If one is not prosperous with one name he takes another.

If the cart creaks at the sacrifice it is the voice of evil spirits; and a formula must avert the omen.

_Soma_-husks are liable to turn into snakes; a formula must avert this catastrophe.