Praśna 2, Kaṇḍikā 17

1. He should say (to the Hotṛ),“Do you recite the purnouvākyā for Soma.”

2. He should take clarifed butter (into the Juhū) as he bad taken (for the offering to Agni,) cross (the altar towards the south), cause (the Āgnīdhra) to announce and (after he has responded,) say (to the Hotṛ), “Do you recite the yājyā for Soma.”

3. At the vaṣaṭ-utterance, he should offer the oblation in the eastern half of the southern half (of the fire-place) in a line with the former (oblation).

4. He should not offer any other oblation towards the south of this one.

5. He should recross (the altar towards the north).

6. In this connection, this is the general rule: One should cut out portions of clarified butter and milk^[1] only by means of the spoon; of the cake only by means of the hand.

7. One should cut out five portions for those belonging to the Jamadagni gotra; four for others.

8. Even one, who does not belong to the Jamadagni gotra, may ask the permission of one belonging to the Jamadagni gotra and cut out five portions.

9. The Adhvaryu should then say (to the Hotṛ), “Do you recite the puronuvākyā for Agni.”

10. Having spread out clarified butter as base in the Juhū, he should cut out by means of the thumb and the two fingers sticking to each other on the fleshy part, a portion from the middle part, then from the eastern half, and also from the western half if the sacrificer is following the practice of taking five portions, with the formula, “Do thou not be frightened; do thou not become agitated; may I not injure thee; may thy lustre not disappear. Lift up Bharata and besprinkle upon him. I shall return back thy portions. Homage to thee. Do thou not injure me.”^[2]

11. He should cut out portions of the size of the phalanx of the thumb without bringing the portions into mutual contact.

12. He should pour out clarified butter over the portions and then spread clarified butter over the oblation with the verse, “Thy portion which I have deprived of skin while cutting out the portions, I besmear it again; let it, thine, be swollen again.”^[3]

13. He should cross (the altar towards the south), cause (the Āgnīdhra) to announce and (after the latter has responded,) say (to the Hotṛ), “Do you recite the yājyā for Agni.”

14. At the vaṣaṭ-utterance, he should offer the oblation in the middle (of the fire).

15. After having lowered down the ladle without allowing (the portion) to fall down, he should offer the clarified butter and then (the portion of) the cake and then (again) the clarified butter.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The hot milk as well as the curds.

[2]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.7.5.5.

[3]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.7.5. 5-6.