Bharadvaja-srauta-sutra
by C. G. Kashikar | 1964 | 166,530 words
The English translation of the Bharadvaja-Srauta-Sutra, representing some of the oldest texts on Hindu rituals and rites of passages, dating to at least the 1st millennium BCE. The term Srautasutra refers to a class of Sanskrit Sutra literature dealing with ceremonies based on the Brahmana divisions of the Veda (Sruti). They include Vedic rituals r...
Praśna 14, Kaṇḍikā 16
1. When the sun has set in part, the Adhvaryu should initiate the Stotra relating to the ṣoḍaśin cup by means of (a piece of) gold.[1]
2. A reddish brown horse or a black horse should be held in front.
3. The Udgātṛs should chant the Stotra when the. Adhvaryu has gives gold to them.
4. The Stotra should be characterised by the word hari, the Śastra should be characterised by the word hari, and the yājyā should also be characterised by the word hari.
5. The Adhvaryu should pray to the Ṣoḍaśin cup with the verse, “Prajāpati beyond whom none else is born, who has pervaded ail regions, who is united with the offspring, and who possessing the ṣoḍaśin cup accompanies the three illuminations.”[2]
6. He should respond to the reciting of the Śastra reversely as othā moda iva, modā moda ivom athā.
7. After having responded to the reciting of the Śastra, the Adhvaryu should take up the cup; the Camasādhvaryus should take up the goblets.
8. The Adhvaryu should cross over, cause the Āgnīdhra to announce and (after the latter has responded,) say, “O reciter of the Śastra, do you recite the yājyā relating to the offering of the Somas.”
9. At the vaṣaṭ-utterance they should make the offering.
10. The Adhvaryu should offer the ṣoḍaśin cup with the formula,“O lord Indra, thou art the lord of gods; make me lord among men, long-lived and powerful.”[3]
11. The Camasins should consume their respective goblets with the verse, “The overlord Indra and king Varuṇa have prepared this drink for thee. I consume the Soma at their behest; may the delighted speech be satisfied with Soma.”[4]
12. The dakṣiṇā should be a reddish brown horse or a she-mule.
13. This[5] should be the procedure if the sacrifice is a Ṣoḍaśin.[6]
14. If the sacrifice is an Atirātra, the Unnetṛ, while filling in the goblets relating to the Ṣoḍaśistotra, should keep back Soma adequate for thirteen sets of goblets.
15. The Adhvaryu should touch each principal goblet with the formula, “For apiśarvara Indra thee.”
16. The Unnetṛ should fill in the goblets, the Hotṛ’s goblet being tbe first.[7]
17. At this stage the Stotra[8] should be chanted and the Śastra[9] should be recited.
18. After having responded to the reciting of the Śastra, the Adhvaryu should take up the Hotṛ’s goblet. The Camasādhvaryus should take up their respective goblets.
19. The Adhvaryu should cross over, cause the Āgnīdhra to announce and (after the latter has responded.) say (to the Hotṛ,) “O reciter of the Śastra, do you recite the yājyā relating to the offering of the Somas.”
20. At the vaṣaṭ-utterance they should make the offering.
21. The Camasins should consume their respective goblets.
22. Each one should modify the formula relating to the consuming of Soma[10] as “...(of thee) having Anuṣṭubh for thy metre, and drunk by Indra....”
23. This should be (the procedure for) the first set of goblets.
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.7.9.5. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XIV.2.13 mentions also the three subsequent verses.
[3]:
Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.7.9.6.
[4]:
[5]:
XIV.15.15-16.12.
[6]:
According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XIV.1.2, one who is desirous of valour should perform this sacrifice.
[7]:
The translation is based on the conjectured sūtra-text. cf. XIV.15.19.
[8]:
The first Rātristotra.
[9]:
The first Rātriśastra to be recited by the Hotṛ. cf. AśvŚS VI.4.8.
[10]:
XIV.11.18.