Praśna 13, Kaṇḍikā 26

1. Then they should proceed with the offering of the goblets to which Soma has been added.

2. The Soma from the Droṇakalaśa should be added to the goblets.

3. After having taken up the Maitrāvaruṇa’s goblet, the Adhvaryu should cross the altar, cause the Āgnīdhra to announce and (after the latter has responded,) should say, “O Praśāstṛ (= Maitrāvaruṇa), do you recite the yājyā.” At the vaṣaṭ-utterance he should make the offering.

4. Similarly, whosoever is going to recite the yājyā in the prescribed order, him should he give out a call: “O Brahman, do you recite the yājyā; O Potṛ, do you recite the yājyā; O Neṣṭṛ; do you recite the yājyā; O Āgnīdhra, do you recite the yājyā.”

5. These goblets belong to them.

6. In all (Soma–)offerings a secondary vaṣaṭ-utterance is prescribed.

7. The Adhvaryu^[1] should inform the Hotṛ, “The Āgnīdhra has recited (his) yājyā.”^[2]

8. The Hotṛ^[3] should respond with the formula, “He has done a good thing because he is going to make us drink Soma.”^[4]

9. One should recite over the Soma to be consumed the formula, “O portion to be consumed, come hither; enter me for long life, for health, for increase of wealth, for splendour, for good offspring.

Come hither, O wealth, whom the wealth precedes; thou art dear to my heart.”^[5]

10. He should receive the Soma with the formula, “May I grasp thee with the arms of Aśvins.”^[6]

11. He should gaze at the Soma with the formula, “With clear sight may I gaze at thee, O god Soma, who beholdest men.”^[7]

12. Whenever one has to consume Soma, he should murmur these formulas.

13. After having sought the acquiescence of the relevant officiating priest, and having smelt, one should consume the cup of Indra-Vāyu with the formula, “Gentle control, banner of the sacrifices, may speech accept and delight in the Soma; may Aditi, gentle, propitious, with head inviolable as speech, accept and delight in the Soma. Come hither, O thou who art of all men, with healing and favour; come to me with safety, O tawny-coloured, for skill, for strength, for increase of wealth, for good heroes. Do not terrify me, O king, do not pierce my heart with thy radiance for manly strength,for life, for strength.”^[8]

14. This formula should be employed for the consuming of those cups in the morning pressing which do not belong to Indra and which do not belong to Narāśaṃsa.

15. Some teachers prescribe the formula, “May the divine speech be satisfied with the Soma,” as a general one.

16. The Adhvaryu should consume twice the cup of Indra-Vāyu, and once the other two. He should consume the cup of Mitra-Varuṇa holding it by the side of his eyes, and the cup of Aśvins carrying it around and holding by the side of his ears.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

When asked by the Hotṛ. cf. ĀśvŚS V.5.25.

[2]:

ŚBr IV.2.1.33.

[3]:

The Brahman, the sacrificer etc. cf. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XII.24.4.

[4]:

According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XII.24.5, if the Adhvaryu is officiating in the sacrifice of a Rājanya or a Vaiśya and if that sacrificer desires to drink Soma, the Adhvaryu should procure bunches of fruit of nyagrodha), crush them, mix that dough with curds, draw out a burning ember within the enclosing sticks while the goblets are being offered, take a portion with a darbha-blade, offer it on the burning ember with the verse, “I am due to thee; thou art due to me,” and give that goblet to the sacrificer for consuming.

[5]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā III. 2.5.1.

[6]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā III.2.5.1.

[7]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā III.2.5.1.

[8]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā III.2.5.1,2.