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 18

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1. Having sat down towards the north of the Gārhapatya fire, he should pour water in it through the strainers with the formula, “Who takes you? Let him take you.”

2. While pouring water, he should meditate upon this (earth) with his mind.

3. He should fill in the goblet up to the surface of the bowl, purify (that water) three times by means of the strainers with their ends pointing towards the north, and recite over it (the formulas) as before.^[1]

4. He should address the Brahman (with the words): “O Brahman, I shall carry forth the water; O sacrificer, do you restrain speech.”

5. The adhvaryu should restrain speech from the time when he is carrying forth the praṇītā-water up to the call to the preparer of the oblation-material.

6. Impelled by the Brahman, he should carry forth the water supported by the wooden sword or even unsupported, holding the goblet at the level of the Prāṇas (that is, the nose) without letting the water spill down, with the formula, “Who carries you forward? Let him carry you; I carry divine waters. May they set our sacrifice properly. Exhilerating in drink, butter-backed, they have gone dropping a thousandfold prosperity on the sacrificer.”^[2]

7. He should murmur the mantra with reference to these (waters).^[3]

8. With the formula, “Who is arranging you? Let him arrange you,” he should place the praṇītā (goblet) towards the north of the Ābavanīya fire.

9. He should cover (the praṇītā-water) with the darbha-blades, take the two strainers, and touch (by means of them) the utensils (previously arranged) with the formula, “May the divine settlers, the uteṇsils, be set up for the offering to gods.”

10-11. He should take the Agnihotra-ladle with the formula, “Under the impulse of god Savitṛ, with the arms of Aśvins, with the hands of Pūṣan, I take thee. Thou belongest to the tree.” The winnowing basket with the formula, “For accomplishment thee.”^[4]

12. With the formula, “Do thou go along the wide mid-region,”^[5] he should go forth and heat them on the Āhavanīya fire^[6] with the formula, “The Rakṣas is burnt up; the evil spirits are burnt up.”^[7]