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 1, Kaṇḍikā 14
1. After having released his speech, he should cause the other cows to be milked, without reciting any formula and without touching them, pour some water into the milking pot, and pour that wash-water into the pitcher with the verse, “Do you be united, you that follow the holy order, are characterised by waves, and are full of sweetness, delightful, for the gaining of wealth.”[1]
2-3. Having boiled the milk, he should take down the vessel towards the north[2] and push it overground with the formula, “Do thou stabilise the cows; stabilise the lord of the cows; let not the lord of sacrifice be injured.” According to some teachers, it should be taken down towards the east; according to others, towards the north-east.
4-5. He should cause the bottom of the vessel to become cool, and then curdle the milk with curds with the formula, “I curdle thee with Soma so that thou mayest become curds for Indra.”[2] He should say “for Mahendra” (in place of “for Indra”) if (the sacrificer is) offering to Mahendra.
6. He should pour (into the milk) remnants of the Agnihotra (milk) with the formula, “Thou art the continuity of the sacrifice; I spread thee after the continuity of the sacrifice.”[3]
7. One should first pour out the remnants of the Agnihotra and then the curds. So says Āśmarathya. He should first pour out curds and then the remnants of the Agnihotra. So says Ālekhana.
8. If one does not get the remnants of the Agnihotra, he should curdle with grains of rice; if one does not get grains of rice, with plants of grains.
9. With the formula, “O waters, do you keep awake in connection with the oblations. Just as you keep awake in connection with the gods, similarly, do you keep awake for the sake of this sacrificer,” he should pour water into a lid made of iron or wood, and cover the pitcher with it, with the verse, “Thou art unexhausted; I cover thee for Viṣṇu, the sacrificer. (These waters) which, purified, lie in a vessel filled with water.”[4]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.3.1.
[2]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.3.1.
[3]:
Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.7.4.17.
[4]:
Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.2.3.11.