Praśna 11, Kaṇḍikā 10

1. Some teachers^[1] prescribe the pouring out first of the goat’s milk.

2. With the formula, “I hold thee with Dyāvāpṛthivī,”^[2] the Adhvaryu should hold the Mahāvīra by means of the pair of tongs, and remove the ashes (sticking to the bottom of the Mahāvīra) by means of the veda whose ends have been cut off. The Pratiprasthātṛ should support the Mahāvīra with the supporting ladle with the formula, “I support thee with the midregion.”^[3]

3. With the formula, “Permitted by the gods and Pitṛs, may I be able to carry thee,”¹ the Adhvaryu should lift up the Mahāvīra, and carry it with the formula,“Thou art splendour; follow the splendour. Touching the heaven, do thou not injure me; touching the midregion, do thou not injure me; touching the earth, do thou not injure me. Thou art light, grant me light; grant me the heaven; guard me from the heaven.”^[4]

4. While moving, he should utter the first five of the formulas called vātanāman without breathing in, “For the ocean thee, for wind thee, svāhā; for water thee, for wind thee, svāhā; for the unconquerable thee, for wind thee, svāhā; for the unassailable thee, for wind thee, svāhā; for help-seeking wind thee, svāhā; for the respectful wind thee, svāhā; for the pervading wind thee, svāhā.”^[5]

5. Having breathed in, he should utter the next five, “For wealthy Agni thee, svāhā; for Soma accompanied by Rudra thee, svāhā; for Varuṇa accompanied by the Ādityas thee, svāhā; for Bṛhaspati accompanied by all gods thee, svāhā; for Savitṛ accompanied by the Ṛbhus, omnipresent, supreme, consisting of booty thee, svāhā; (or)^[6] for Yama accompanied by the Aṅgirases and the Pitṛs thee, svāhā.”^[7]

6. At this stage the Pratiprasthātṛ should offer the southern rauhiṇa cake by means of the (uncarved) ladle in such a manner that it remains steady on the fire with the formula, “May the day, the light enjoy with brightness, light of the light, svāhā.”^[8]

7. Having crossed the altar towards the south, the Adhvaryu should gaze at the Brahman with the formula, “(The Brahman) seated towards the south (has worshipped) all regions.”^[9]

8. (He should gaze) at the Hotṛ with the formula, “He has worshipped here Viśve Devas.”^[10]

9. The Adhvaryu should recite over the Gharma the verse, “O Aśvins, do you drink the sweet Gharma offered in the accompaniment of svāhā. Svāhā for the holy Agni, Blessing with the yajus,”^[11] cause the Āgnīdhra to announce, and after the latter has responded, say (to the Hotṛ), “Do you recite the yājyā relating to the offering of the Gharma.”

10. At the vaṣaṭ-utterance (by the Hotṛ), he should make the offering with the verse, “O Aśvins, do you drink today the heart-cheering Gharma with shining aids. May Dyāvāpṛthivī approve you. Svāhā for Indra.”^[12]

13. Holding the Mahāvīra over the Āhavanīya fire, the Adhvaryu should fill it in with hot curds.^[13]

14. The Adhvaryu should recite over the overflowing Mahāvīra the formulas, “Do thou swell for food; do thou swell for vigour; do thou swell for the Brahman; do thou swell for the Kṣatra; do thou swell for waters; do thou swell for the herbs; do thou swell for the trees; do thou swell for Dyāvāpṛthivī; do thou swell for happiness; do thou swell for the brahman-splendour; do thou swell for the sacrificer; do thou swell for my greatness.”^[14]

15. Then he should make it flow out (over the Āhavanīya fire) towards the quarters—with the formula, “For glory thee,”^[15] towards the east; with the formula, “For brilliance thee,”^[15] towards the south; with the formula, “For power thee,”¹ towards the west; and with the formula, “For welfare thee,”^[15] towards the north.

16. He should cross the altar again (towards the north), pour out the remnants (of the hot curds) into the supporting ladle, put down the supporting ladle within the altar, place the silver plate on the eastern mound, and place the Mahāvīra upon it^[16]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The Vājasaneyins. cf. ŚBr XIV.2.1.18.

[2]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.8.4.

[3]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.8.5.

[4]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.8.5.

[5]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.9.1.

[6]:

There are in all six formulas. So he should utter either the fifth or the sixth, cf. Rudraḍatta on Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XV.10.9.

[7]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.9.1,2.

[8]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.10.4.

[9]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.9.2.

[10]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.9.2.

[11]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.9.2.

[12]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.9.2,3.

[13]:

According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XV.10.12, the Adhvaryu should hold the Mahāvīra and the Pratiprasthātṛ should fill it in.

[14]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.10.1.

[15]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.10.2.

[16]:

See the next sūtra.