Praśna 2, Kaṇḍikā 15

1. The Āgnīdhra (should stand up) to the rear.

2. Both (the Adhvaryu and the Āgnīdhra) should touch the wooden sword and the tie of the faggot.

3. The Adhvaryu should address the Brahman with the words, “O Brahman, I shall cause (the Āgnīdhra) to announce for the pravara.”

4. Impelled by the Brahman, the Adhvaryu should cause (the Āgnīdhra) to announce, calling him out with the words, “O Āgnīdhra, do thou announce (āśrāvaya or ośrāvaya).”^[1]

5. The Āgnīdhra should announce with the words, “All right, may it be heard (astu śrauṣat).”^[2]

6. In this connection, this is the general rule: Whenever the Adhvaryu causes him to announce, the Āgnīdhra should always announce standing to the rear of the rubbish-heap, facing towards the south and holding erect the wooden sword together with the tie of the faggot.

7. In a Soma-sacrifice, however, (he should do so standing) in the Āgnīdhra-chamber.

8. Having caused the Āgnīdhra to announce (and after he has done so,) the Adhvaryu should choose the pravara with the formula, “May god

Agni, the invoker, the wise, the learned, perform a sacrifice for the gods in the manner of Manu, Bharata, N.N., and N.N.,”^[3] in accordance with the pravara of the sacrificer (as mentioned in the Pravarasūtra).^[4]

9. He should choose, from the latest backwards, three ancestors^[5] who were composers of mantras.

10. Or he should choose simply with the formula, “In the manner of Manu (manuvat).”

11. In the sacrifice of a king, he should choose the ancestors of his priest.

12. He should pronounce the subsequent portion of the formula,^[6] “In the manner of the Brahman may he bring (sacrifice). The Brāhmaṇas are the guardians of this sacrifice,” and then pronounce in a low tone the name of the Hotṛ.

13. Then he should loudly utter the word, “Human (mānuṣaḥ [mānuṣa]).”

14. He should mix up the darbha-blade (held in his hand with the sacrificial grass spread out) within the altar.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.6.11.1. The first two syllables in this calling are to be pronounced in three syllabic instants each.

[2]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.6.11.1.

[3]:

See Taittirīya-saṃhitā II.5.11.8.

[4]:

RAGHU VIRA has said (Bhāradvāja-śrauta-sūtra, page ii) that he possessed a manuscript of the Bhāradvāja Pravarasūtra.

[5]:

Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra II. 16.7 optionally mentions one or two or three or five ancestors.

[6]:

Following the one in sūtra 8.