Praśna 3, Kaṇḍikā 6

1. The Adhvaryu should throw on the Āhavanīya fire the prastara together with the twig-strainer (held) eastwardly (and lifting it) above (successively) with the formulas, “With the red steed may Agni convey thee to the god; with the tawny ones may Indra convey thee to the god; with Etaśa may Sūrya convey thee to the god;”^[1] and also with the formula, “You are the spotted steeds of Maruts; go to the heaven; bring us rain from there.”^[2]

2. He should not disturb (the burning embers). He should not throw it with its end beyond (the fire).

3. He should not pull it back from the front.

4. Having turned his hand a little obliquely, he should at last lower it down.

5. When he hears the Hotṛ uttering the words, “This sacrificer, N.N., asks for benediction,” he should mix up the prastara (with the fire) and say,; “O Āgnīdhra, do thou cause (the prastara) to meet the fire.”

6. The Āgnīdhra should lift up the prastara in three stages through the cavity of his hands.^[3]

7. He should not let it go astray.

8. Then he should say to the Adhvaryu, “Do you put the darbha-blade^[4] on the fire and do you converse.”^[5]

9. The Adhvaryu should throw the darbha-blade, which was formerly taken out of prastara, with the formula, “Hail to the bodies.”^[6]

10. “This one here”—with these words (recited each time) he should point to (the darbha-blade) three times by means of his forefinger.

11. He should touch the places of his vital breath with the formula, “The Prāṇa is not decreased.”

12. With the formula, “Thou art, O Agni, the guardian of life; do thou guard my life; thou art the guardian of the eye; O Agni, guard my eye,”^[7] he should wipe his face..

13. He should touch this (earth) with the formula, “Thou art firm,”^[8] and ask the Āgnīdhra, “O Āgnīdhra, is it gone?”^[9] “It is gone.”² So says the Āgnīdhra. The Adhvaryu should then say to him, “Do thou announce.” The Āgnīdhra should say, Be it announced.”

14. The Adhvaryu should touch the middle enclosing stick, and say (to the Hotṛ), “Hail to the divine Hotrs, happiness to the human Hotṛs; Do you (O Hotṛ,) recite the śaṃyor formula.”

15. While the śaṃyuvāka is being recited, the Adhvaryu should throw (on the fire) the enclosing sticks—the middle one with the verse, “The enclosing stick which thou didst put around thyself when thou wast beset by the Paṇis; O god Agni, that do I bring here to thee, that thou mayest rejoice in it, that it be not removed from thee,”^[10] and the other two with the formula, “Do you two go along the path of the sacrifice.”^[10]

16. He should insert the northern enclosing stick into the burning embers.

17. He should put the beak of the Upabhṛt into the Juhū and pour out the drops of clarified, butter (in the Juhū) along the enclosing sticks with the formula, “You are shaṛers in the remains of the oblations, well nourished, you gods that are on the prastara and sit on the Barhis. Accepting this supplication, do you all, seated on this Barhis, enjoy yourselves.”^[11]

18. At this stage, the officiating priests should consume the remnants of the oblations.^[12]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.6.4.3.

[2]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.13.1, 2.

[3]:

Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra III.7.3 employs here the formulas, “With the red steed” etc. mentioned in Bhāradvāja-śrauta-sūtra III.6.1.

[4]:

III 5.16.

[5]:

In connection with the burning of the darbha-blade.

[6]:

This formula is not found in any Vedic text.

[7]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.13.2.

[8]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.13,2.

[9]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā II.6.5.6,

[10]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.13.2.

[11]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.13.2, 3.

[12]:

III.4.4.