Everything done at the sacrifice is godly; _ergo_, everything human is to be done in an inhuman manner, and, since in human practice one cuts his left finger-nails first and combs the left side of the beard first, at the sacrifice he must cut nails and beard first on the other side, for "whatever is human at a sacrifice is useless" (_vy[r.]ddhain v[=a]i tad yajnasya yad m[=a]nu[s.]am_).

Of religious puns we have given instances already.

Agni says: "prop me on the propper for that is proper" (_hita_), etc, etc.[50] One of these examples of depraved superstition is of a more dangerous nature.

The effect of the sacrifice is covert as well as overt.
The word is as potent as the act.

Consequently if the sacrificer during the sacrifice merely mutter the words "let such an one die," he must die; for the sacrifice is holy, godly; the words are divine, and cannot be frustrated (_Cat.Br_.iii.1.4.