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 2, Kaṇḍikā 9
1. He should murmur the formula with regard to the strewing of each row.
2. At this stage some teachers prescribe the drawing out of two firebrands for the Anūyāja-offerings.
3-4. Holding the prastara in his hand, and sitting to the rear of the Āhavanīya fire, he should lay down the enclosing sticks—the middle one with its end towards the north with the formula, “Thou art the Gandharva Viśvāvasu, the fence of the sacrificer against every attacker, praised and to be praised,”[1] the southern one with the formula, “Thou art the (right) arm of Indra...,”[1] and the northern one with the formula, “May Mitra and Varuṇa lay thee round in the north with firm law; thou art the fence of the sacrificer, praised and to be praised.”[1] The southern one should be having its end a little beyond the end of the Āhavanīya fire, the northern one with its end a little behind the end of the same.
5. The further rites to be performed with regard to these (enclosing sticks) should be performed following this order.
6-8. He should recite over the Āhavanīya fire the formula. “May the sun in the east protect thee from all evil,”[2] and lay the two āghāra-fire-sticks within the fire(-place.)—the southern one with the formula, “May we kindle thee, O wise one, that dost invite to the sacrifice, the radiant one, O Agni, thee that art mighty at the sacrifice,”[2] and the northern one without reciting any formula.[3]
9. He should prepare the two vidhṛtis out of two darbha-blades, of equal length and having no inner shoot, from the sacrificial grass and place them in the middle of the altar, with their ends pointing towards the north, with the formula, “You are the two props of the people.”[4]
10. On the vidhṛtis he should place the prastara with the formula, “Do thou seat yourself upon the seat of the Vasus, the Rudras, and the Ādityas.”[5]
11. On the prastara he should place the Juhū-ladle with the formula, “Thou art the Juhū, loving the ghee; do thou sit on thy dear seat with thy dear name.”[6]
12. He should make the handle of the Juhū agree with the roots (of the prastara).
13. To the north of the Juhū-ladle, he should place the Upabhṛt a little behind (the Juhū) and beneath the two vidhṛtis with the formula, “Thou art the Upabhṛt...”[7]
14. To the north of the Upabhṛt, the Dhruvā a little behind (the Upabhṛt) and on the vidhṛtis with the formula, “Thou art the Dhruvā...”[8]
15. He should place these ladles so that they may not touch each other.
16. With the formula, “Thou art a bull derived from the Śakvarī metre, son (of the ladles) loving the ghee; do thou sit on thy dear seat with tḥy dear name,”[9] he should place the spoon to the south of the Juhū or to the north of the Dhruvā.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.11.1.
[2]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.11.2.
[3]:
According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra II.9.10. he should lay the northern firestick with the formula, samid asy āyuṣe tvā, or without reciting any formula.
[4]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.11.2.
[5]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.11.2.
[6]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.11.2.
[7]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.11.2.
[8]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.11.2.