Praśna 3, Kaṇḍikā 12

1. The Adhvaryu should stand up within the altar and offer the samiṣṭayajus oblation by means of the Dhruvā.

2. He should offer a first oblation with the formula, “O you gods that know the way, knowing the way, do you go the way. O lord of mind, do thou place this sacrifice for us among the gods, O god, svāhā,”^[1] and throw the Barhis on the fire.

3-4. He should offer a second oblation^[2] with the formula, “In speech svāhā.”^[3] A third with the formula, “Do thou place in wind,² svāhā.”

5. He should cover the altar with (the darbha-blades used as) the seat of the Hotṛ with the verse, “O Barhis, do thou strew the altar, enclose it; lying beside her, do thou not injure the kindred. These green, bright-coloured darbha-blades intended for the seat of the Hotṛ are the ornaments on the sacrificer’s place.”^[4]

6. He should place the praṇītā-water within the altar with the formula, “Who has harnessed you? Let him release you.”

7. Then (the Āgnīdhra) should unfasten^[5] (the girdle tied round the waist of) the sacrificer’s wife with the verse, “I loosen this bond of Varuṇa, which Savitṛ, the kindly, has bound. And in the birth-place of the creator, in the place of good action, I make it pleasant for me with my husband.”^[6]

8. The sacrificer’s wife should take up the girdle together with water within the cavity of her folded hands.

9. The Adhvaryu should pour out water within the cavity of her folded hands.

10. She should murmur the verse, O Agni, I become united again with my husband as wife with life, with offspring, and with splendour. May my spirit be united with my body,”^[7] while the water is being poured out.

11. She should wipe her face (with that water) and stand up with the formula, “May I be full of abundance, cattle, and offspring, and lady of the house.”

12. The Adhvaryu should stick on the rubbish-heap the fire-stirring stick from east to west with its thicker end downwards with the verses, “Thou, the stirring stick, whom the gods established among men, do thou bring bitter those who are averse to us.—O stirring stick, do thou perform service to us. Do thou cause offspring, prosperity, and wealth, the two-footed ones and the four-footed ones to stay with us and not depart.”^[8]

13. (He should say),^[9] “Let the glow which is in the stirring stick go to N.N.”^[10] (In the place of the word “N.N.”) he should utter the name of one whom the sacrificer hates.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.13.3.

[2]:

Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra III.13.3 prescribes the throwing of the Barhis at the svāhā-utterance relating to the second oblation.

[3]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.13.4.

[4]:

TBr III.7.5.13.

[5]:

According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra III.10.6, the sacrificer’s wife should herself unfasten the girdle.

[6]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.10.2.

[7]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.10.2.

[8]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.3.11.1-2.

[9]:

If he desires to practise exorcism, cf. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra III.14.1.

[10]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.3.11.2.