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 7

1. The Adhvaryu should take up the Juhū and the Upabhṛt together with the spoon, the Hotṛ should take up the veda, and the Āgnīdbra should take up the wooden sword, the vessel of clarified butter, and a water-pot.

2. Then the officiating priests, who are going to offer oblations to the wives (of gods), should proceed towards the west.[1]

3. The Adhvaryu should proceed along the south of the Gārhapatya fire; the other two along the north.

4. The Adhvaryu should deposit the two ladles on the pole of the cart with the formula, “I set you in the seat of Agni whose abode is secure. For good will, O you two with good will, place me in good will.”[2]

5. He should move them respectively towards the two yokes with the formula, “Do you guard at the yoke (the animals) to be yoked.”[3]

6. If the Adhvaryu has poured out the grains through a vessel,[4] he should discard (the ladles) on the wooden sword.

7. (The officiating priests) should make the Patnīsaṃyāja offerings either in low tone or to themselves, while they have seated themselves, with their knees raised, to the rear of the Gārhapatya fire.[5]

8. The Adhvaryu should use the veda in place of the Upabhṛt, and say (to the Hotṛ), “Do you recite the puronuvākyā for Soma.”

9. He should take up clarified butter (into the Juhū) as he had taken before,[6] cause (the Āgnīdhra) to announce and (after the latter has responded,) say (to the Hotṛ), “Do you recite the yājyā for Soma.”

10. At the vaṣatṛ-utterance (by the Hotṛ), he should make the offering within the southern half (of the Gārhapatya fire).

11. Offering should be made to the wives of gods of the oblation of clarified butter taken as before.[7]

12. He should say (to the Hotṛ), “Do you recite the puronuvākyā for Tvaṣṭṛ.”

13. Having caused (the Āgnīdhra) to announce (and after the latter has responded), he should say (to the Hotṛ), “Do you recite the yājyā for Tvaṣṭṛ.”

14. At the vaṣaṭ-utterance (by the Hotṛ), he should make the offering within the northern half (of the Gārhapatya fire).

15. According to some teachers, he should make the offering to Soma towards the north, and to Tvaṣṭṛ towards the south.

16. At this stage, one, who is desirous of a son, should offer an oblation to Rākā; one, who is desirous of cattle, should offer an oblation to Sinīvālī; one, who is desirous of prosperity, should offer an oblation to Kuhū.

17. The Adhvaryu should say (to the Hotṛ), “Do you recite the puronuvākyā for Rākā.”

18. After having caused (the Āgnīdhra) to announce (and after the latter has responded), he should say (to the Hotṛ), “Do you recite the yājyā for Rākā.”

19. At the vaṣaṭ-utterance (by the Hotṛ), he should make the offering.

20. He should say (to the Hotṛ), “Do you recite the puronuvākyā for Sinīvālī.”

21. After having caused (the Āgnīdhra) to announce (and after the latter has responded), he should say (to the Hotṛ), “Do you recite the yājyā for Sinīvālī.”

22. At the vaṣaṭ-utterance (by the Hotṛ), he should make the offering.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra III.8.2 prescribes that the Āgnīdhra should be the first to proceed.

[3]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.13.3.

[4]:

I.19.14.

[5]:

Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra III.9.9 lays down their positions: the Adhvaryu should be towards the south, the Āgnīdhra towards the north and the Hotṛ in between them.

[6]:

Four spoonfuls or five spoonfuls. II.16.15.

[7]:

II.16.15.

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