Praśna 4, Kaṇḍikā 9

1. He should recite over the enclosing sticks being laid down^[1] respectively the formulas, “Thou art firm; may I become firm among the kinsmen, intelligent, wise, and winning wealth.—Thou art mighty; may I become mighty among the kinsmen, intelligent, wise, and winning wealth.—Thou art overcoming; may I be overcoming among the kinsmen, intelligent, wise, and winning wealth,”^[2] and recite over all of them the verse, “I lay down the enclosing sticks in this sacrifice over and again for my non-disturbance. May Agni, (thus enclosed,) the supporter of all, the supporting and a better supporter, remove the evil spirits from here.”^[3]

2. He should recite over the Āhavanīya fire^[4] the verses, “I yoke thee with the divine Brahman to bear this oblation O wise one. Kindling thee, may we live long with good children, with good heroes, bearing thee tribute.—Whatever, O Agni, in this sacrifice of mine may be spoiled, whatever of the clarified butter, O Viṣṇu, may be spilt, therewith do I smite the rival who is hard to slay; I place him on the lap of destruction.—With thy forms which are the brightest, causing heat, and shining, with thy bodies which are burning, with them, O Agni, do thou provide shelters all round. Let the evil spirits assaulting the sacrifice not injure thee.”^[5]

3. He should recite over the two vidhṛtis being laid down^[6] the verses, “I cut asunder with the two vidhṛtis the enemies who are born and who are to be born. With the two props of the shelter, may I, O gods, become the best of my relatives.—The two props of shelter, driving away the evil spirit, all sin, ill thought, difficult to die, (O vidhṛtis,) the two goddesses being seated in the region of good deed, do you grant us offspring and weath.—You two vidhṛtis are the supporters, the self-supporters. Do you support the vital breaths within me; do you support the offspring within me; do you support the cattle within me.”^[7]

4. He should recite over the prastara being placed (within the altar)^[8] the verse, “This prastara is the supporter of both (the Juhū and the Upabhṛt), supporter of the Prayājas and the Anūyājas. It supported multi-formed fire-sticks. I place the ladles upon it.”^[9]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

II.2.3.

[2]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.6.2.1.

[3]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa. III.7.6.7.

[4]:

II.9.6.

[5]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.6.2.1.

[6]:

II.9.9.

[7]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.7.6.7,8.

[8]:

II.9.10.

[9]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.7.6.8.