Praśna 12, Kaṇḍikā 19

1. the Adhvaryu should cut (a tree for) the sacrificial post.

2. He should cut out the sacrificial post during the period covered by the consecrations or by the Upasads.

3. It is said^[1] that if the sacrificial post of a consecrated sacrificer is not yet cut out, the Adhvaryu should take up the two kindling woods and clarified butter, churn out fire near (the tree selected for) the sacrificial post, and offer the oblation.^[2]

4. If the Soma has already been purchased, he should offer the oblation on the Āhavanīya fire itself.

5. The procedure up to the formal dedication of the animal should be similar.”^[3]

6. The Adhvaryu should formally dedicate the animal to Agni-Soma.

7. The procedure up to the choosing of the Hotṛ should be similar.^[4]

8. The Adhvaryu should formally choose the Hotṛ^[5] with the normal pravara-formular again cause the Āgnīdhra to announce and again choose the Hotṛ uttering his name to himself. He should choose the other officiating priests without the wooden sword being held up.

9. He should choose the Hotṛ with the formula, “Indra by virtue of the Hotṛ-function; N.N. the human (Hotr);”^[6]

10. the Āgnīdhra with the formula, “Agni by virtue of the Āgnīdhra-function; N.N. the human (Āgnīdhra);”

11. himself and the Pratiprasthātṛ with the formula, “Aśvins the two Adhvaryus by virtue of the Adhvaryu-function; myself and N.N. the two human (Adhvaryus);”

12. the Maitrāvaruṇa with the formula, “Mitra-Varuṇa, the two Praśāstṛs by virtue of the Praśāstṛ-function; N.N. the human (Praśāstṛ)”;

13. the Brāhmaṇācchaṃsin with the formula, “Indra the Brahman by virtue of the Brahman-function; N.N. the human (Brahman);”

14. the Potṛ with the formula, “Maruts by virtue of the Potṛ-function; N.N. the human (Potṛ);”

15. the Neṣṭṛ with the formula, “The wives of gods by virtue of the Neṣṭṛ-function; N.N. the human (Neṣṭṛ).”

16. Then he should choose the sacrificer with the formula, “Agni is the forerunner of the divine subjects; this Soma-offering sacrificer of human beings; may their inseparable householderships be for us for a hundred years; the two companions filling with gifts, not joining their bodies.”^[7]

17. Some teachers prescribe the choosing of the officiating priests on the pressing day; in that case the Adhvaryu should recite the formula (as given in the preceding sūtra, namely,): “...This Soma-offering sacrificer....”

18. If he is choosing on the day of the Agnīṣomīya animal-sacrifice, he should say, “...This sacrificer among human beings,...”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā XXVI.3; Maitrāyaṇī-saṃhitā III.9-2.

[2]:

VII.2.1.

[3]:

VII.9.11.

[4]:

VII.11.4 ff.

[5]:

Also the Maitrāvaruṇa according to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XI.19.5.

[6]:

The formulas mentioned in sūtras 9-15 form parts of the Ṛtu-praiṣas (Ṛgveda Khila V.7 (5). cf. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XI. 19.5. The order of choosing is, however, different; it agrees with that given in Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā XXVI.9; Maitrāyaṇī-saṃhitā III.9.8.

[7]:

Maitrāyaṇī-saṃhitā III.9.8; ŚBr III.7.4.10.