Praśna 8, Kaṇḍikā 23

1. With the formula, “You are fourtune [fortune?]; may I attain fortune from you.”^[1]

2. After having gone round each time, they should put the cakes within the folded hands of the sacrificer.

3. They should (also) put them within the folded hands of a daughter desirous of a husband.

4. There is a view that the daughter desirous of a husband may be of anybody (belonging to the sacrificer’s family). There is another view that she should be of the sacrificer himself.

5. After having collected the cakes into a basket, and having hung that basket on a tree beyond the cowpen, all should pray (to Rudra) three times with the formula, “This is thy portion O Rudra; rejoice in it. With it for food, do thou go away beyond the Mūjavant with unstrung bow, thy club in thy hand and clad in skin.”^[2] They should hold breath (each time) as long as they can.

6. After the Adhvaryu has sprinkled water round the basket, all should sprinkle themselves with the formula, “May the waters and plants be friendly to us; may they be hostile to him who hates us and whom we hate.”^[3]

7. They should gather fire-sticks, and come back to the fire-hall without looking back.

8. They should put a fire-stick on the Āhavanīya fire with the formula, “Thou art fuel; may we prosper. Thou art a fire-stick; thou art brilliance; grant me brilliance;”^[4] and pray with the verse, “I have penetrated to the waters; we are united with sap. Rich in sap, O Agni, I have come. Do thou unite me with strength.”^[4]

9. Similarly the sacrificer’s wife should put a fire-stick on the Gārhapatya fire, and pray.

10. After having returned (to the fire-hall), the Adhvaryu should offer to Aditi the rice cooked in ghee.

11. The procedure of that offering has been explained at the setting up of the sacred fires^[5] except the giving of a boon.

12. Some teachers prescribe a white horse (as the boon).^[6]

13. These Iṣṭis, except the one for anīkavant Agni and another for krīḍin Maruts, should be performed immediately.

14. Then the Adhvaryu should divide the hair of the sacrificer.

15. The dividing of the hair of the sacrificer and the observance of the vow by the sacrificer have already been explained.^[7]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

cf. Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā IX. 7.

[2]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.8.6.2.

[3]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.4.45.2,3.

[4]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.4.45 3.

[5]:

V.14.3 ff.

[6]:

Or a white bull or a partly white bull, according to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra VIII.19.3.

[7]:

VIII.4.12-17.