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 3, Kaṇḍikā 2
1. He should murmur the formula, “Called, may I be possessed of cattle.”[1]
2. When the sacrificer hears the Hotṛ saying, “This sacrificer has been called,”[2] he should murmur the same formula.
3. After the Iḍā has been invoked, the Hotṛ should consume the intermediate Iḍā[3] with the formula, “I consume thee offered to Vācaspati; I consume thee offered to Sadasaspati.”[4]
4. The officiating priests, with the sacrificer as the fifth, should partake of the Iḍā which has been invoked, with the formula, “O Iḍā, do thou partake of our portion; do thou quicken the cows, quicken the horses. May we partake of thee that art such with our persons in tact and kinsmen in tact.”[5]
5. Having partaken of the Iḍā, (the Adhvaryu)[6] should remain silent until the sprinkling (with water).
6. All should sprinkle themselves with water at the spot, where the strainers have been put within the altar, with the verse, “May the soul rejoice in the light, the clarified butter; ṃay it unite this scattered sacrifice. May Bṛhaspati accomplish it for us. May Viśve Devas rejoice here.”[7]
7. The Adhvaryu should break up the cake for Agni eastwardly,[8] take up the prāśitra-vessel, and cut out the portion for prāśitra (for the Brahman) with the verse, “May this oblation be cut out less than a barley-grain āt the spot where the sacrifice was hit. May we not disturb the sacrifice. This oblation is pureṣnd well-offered.”[9]
8. Similarly, (he should take the portions) from the other oblations, but without breaking up the cake.[10]
9. He should cover, between his thumb and ring-finger, the portion measuring a barley-grain or a fruit of the Aśvattha tree, put it into the prāśitra-vessel, pour clarified butter over it, support the vessel with the veda, and carry it towards the Brahman in front of the Āhavanīya fire.
10. He should place the sacrificer’s portion in front of the Dhruvā.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.3.8.4.
[3]:
The Iḍā-portion given to him or taken by him.
[4]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā II.6.8.1.
[5]:
Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.7.5.7.
[6]:
All should remain silent according to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra III.3.1.
[7]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.5.3.2.
[9]:
Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.7.5.6.
[10]:
The condition, “without breaking up the cake,” is absent in Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra III.1.2.