Preface

In the following pages is given an English translation of the Śrauta, Paitṛmedhika and Pariśeṣa Sūtras of Bharadvāja. For the translation of the mantras from the Taittirīya texts occurring in the Sūtras, the commentaries of Sāyaṇa and Bhaṭṭa Bhāskara and the translation of the Taittirīya Saṃhitā by Keith have been consulted. Help has also been derived from the translation of the portions of the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa bearing on the Full-moon and the New-moon sacrifices by P.-E. Dumont.^[1] The translation of the Apastamba Śrauta Sūtra by Caland has served as a constant reference-book. In the notes added to the translation of each sūtra, exact references to the mantras have been given, the various injunctions have been clarified, a comparison with the corresponding sūtras from the Śrauta Sūtras of Āpastamba and other Sūtra-writers has been made, and exegetical points have been discussed wherever necessary. Translation of full verses and formulas has been given even when these are indicated in the sūtras by means of mere pratīkas. Caland has followed this procedure in his translation of the Āpastamba Śrauta Sūtra. In some places, however, this procedure has been followed here in a more comprehensive manner than in Caland’s work. Caland has occasionally referred in the notes to his translation to the relevant passages from the Brāhmaṇa portions in the Taittirīya and other Yajurveda recensions with a view to clarifying the various injunctions in the Sūtra. It was not considered necessary to mention here such passages in entirety.

I am grateful to the Vaidika Saṃśodhana Maṇḍala, Poona, for having undertaken to publish this work. I also express my gratitude to the Education Ministry of the Government of India for having made a liberal grant towards the publication of this work. Thanks are due to the authors and editors of the books which I have had the privilege of utilising for the preparation of this work. I thank Prof. R. N. Dandekar, Head of the Department of Sanskrit, University of Poona, who went through major portion of the translation of the Srauta Sūtra and made some useful suggestions. I had the opportunity of discussing certain portions, particularly from the Pariśeṣa Sūtra, with Vedaratna G. A. Khare Shastri of Gokarn (N. Kanara) to whom I express my sincere thanks. Shri V. V. Bhide, ṃy colleague in the Śrautakośa Department, has helped me in proof-reading. I have also had useful discussions with him. The authorities of the Samarth Bharat Press and the Vedavidya Press of Poona have printed the book with care.

I have also to acknowledge my indebtedness to the University of Poona for the grant-in-aid received by me from the University towards the cost of the publication of this book.

C. G. Kashikar

Vaidika Saṃśodhana Maṇḍala, Poona,
Saura Caitra 1, Śaka 1886.
March 21, 1964.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Dumont’s Translation of Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III-7.7-10, 12-14 containing verses and formulas pertaining to the Soma-sacrifice (Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 107, No. 5, October 1963, pp.446-460) reached me after the translation was printed off.