Praśna 1, Kaṇḍikā 17

1. (They should be prepared) of (the wood of) vikaṅkata. So says Ālekhana.

2. The utensils, which are used for purposes other than that of the offering, should be prepared of (the wood of) varaṇa.

3. It is said: Therefore the utensil made of varaṇa is injurious to the sacrifice; one should not make offerings by means of it.

4. With the formula, “Thou art the continuity of sacrifice; I spread thee for the continuity of the sacrifice; for the continuity of the sacrifice,”^[1] the Adhvaryu should strew darbha-blades continuously eastwards from the Gārhapatya fire to the Āhavanīya fire.^[2]

5. The Brahman should enter the sanctuary at this stage.

6. With the formula, “You are the strainers belonging to Viṣṇu; may Vāyu cleanse you two with the heart,”^[3] the Adhvaryu should prepare two strainers, having the length of one span, out of two darbha-blades which are taken out of the Barhis, which are of equal length, and whose ends are not broken.^[4]

7. He should cut the darbha-blades supported by a blade of grass or a stick; he should not cut them with his nail.

8. With the formula, “You two are cleansed with the soul of Viṣṇu, you belong to Viṣṇu; you are cleansed by wind,”^[5] he should cleanse them with water from bottom to top.

9. He should recite over them the verse, “May these Prāṇa and Apāna move swelling the instruments of the sacrifice from all sides and cleansing the oblation.”^[6]

10. He should take the praṇītā-goblet with the formula, “Thee for accomplishment,”^[7] and cleanse it with the formula, “Thou belongest to a tree; do thou be cleansed for gods.”

11. One should carry forth the praṇītā-waters of one, who is desirous of Brahman-splendour, in a cup made of white copper; of one, who is desirous of cattle, in a milking pot; and of one, who is desirous of stability, in an earthen vessel. So is it said.^[8]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.2.4.1.

[2]:

Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra I.15.4 prescribes this rite before the arranging of the utensils.

[3]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.7.4.11.

[4]:

Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra I.16.1 prescribes that the Adhvaryu should prepare the strainers at this stage if the sacrificer is not going to offer sāṃnāyya; if he is going to offer sāṃnāyya, they should have been prepared already.

[5]:

Maitrāyaṇī-saṃhitā IV.1.5; Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā 1.5.

[6]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.7.4.11.

[7]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.4.1.

[8]:

Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra I.16.3 mentions the same thing, but does not have vijñāyate.