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 20

1. With the formula, “This belongs to the gods,”[1] he should touch the poured out grains; with the formula, “This with us,”[1] he should touch the grains out of which he has poured out.

2. With the formula, “For prosperity thee, not for misfortune,”[2] he should take the oblation-material and move away with the formula, “Here have I it from Varuṇa’s bond.”[3]

3. With the formula, “May I behold the light, the radiance of vaiśvānara (Agni),”[4] he should gaze at the sanctuary.

4. He should descend from the cart with the formula, “May they that have doors stand firm in heaven and earth.”[5]

5. He should fetch the grains with the formula, “Go along the wide midregion.”[6]

6. He should place the grains to the rear of the Āhavanīya fire[7] with the formula, “I place thee in the lap of Aditi.”[8]

7-8. He should assign[9] (the oblation-material) to the relevant divinities with the formulas, “O Agni, do thou guard the oblation,”[10] “O Agni-Soma do you guard the oblation,” “O Indra-Agni, do you guard the oblation.” Or (to Agni with the formula) “O Agni, do thou guard the oblation.”

9. He should pour out water over the strainers into the Agnihotra-ladle with beard of grains still sticking to it, purify that water by means of the strainers with their ends pointing towards the north, and recite over it the formulas mentioned before.[11]

10. He should address the Brahman with the words, “O Brahman, I shall sprinkle (the oblation-material and the utensils) with water by means of the hand with the palm turned upwards.”

11. Impelled by the Brahman, he should sprinkle with water the oblation-material with the formula, “Under the impulse of god Savitṛ, with the arms of Aśvins, with the hands of Pūṣan, I sprinkle with water the oblation acceptable to Agni.”’ (He should add the words) “to Agni-Soma,”[12] etc. in accordance with the divinities. He should sprinkle the oblation-material three times each.

12. While he is sprinkling the oblation-material, he should not sprinkle the (Gārhapatya) fire.

13. After having sprinkled the oblation-material, he should sprinkle the utensils.

14. After having turned the utensils upwards, he should sprinkle them with water, three times with the formula, “Do you be cleansed for the rites to the gods, for the offering to the gods.”[13]

15. He should leave a little of prokṣaṇī-water into the ladle. So says Āśmarathya.[14] He should sprinkle (the utensils) with the entire quantity of water. So says Ālekhana.

Footnotes and references:

[2]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.4.2.

[3]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.4.1.

[4]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.4.2. According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra 1.18.3,4 he should gaze towards the east with suvar abhi vyakhyam, on the sanctuary with suvar abhi vikhyeṣam, and on the Āhavanīya fire with vaiśvānaraṃ jyotiḥ.

[5]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.4.2.

[6]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.4.2.

[7]:

Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra I.19.5.6 lays down that he should place the grains to the rear of the Gārhapatya fire, or the Āhavanīya fire if he is going to cook the oblations on that fire.

[8]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.4.2.

[9]:

This rite is not prescribed by Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra.

[10]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.4.2.

[11]:

I.11.12,13.

[12]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.5.1.

[13]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.5.1.

[14]:

Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra I.19.3 represents this view.

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