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 4, Kaṇḍikā 12
1. (He should touch) the hot (milk)[1] with the verse, “This is might, immortal virile power; the cattle cared for Indra with this. Do you, O gods, protect me here with it. May I obtain food, strength, glory, might, and vigour. Let the hot milk rest with me.”[2]
2. (He should touch) the curds[3] with the verse, “The curds which entered and moved on the earth, through which Prajāpati sprinkled strength within Indra, this is that bright, sweet, and swift curds with which (Prajāpati) delighted Mahendra subsequently. May the curds delight me.”[4]
3. He should touch all the oblations[5] at once with the Anuvāka beginning with, “O Agni, let there be strength in me by thy invocations...”[6] and also with the verse, “This sacrifice consisting of oblations is seated together with the Ṛk, the Sāman, the Yajus and the divinities. May we win thereby the regions possessed of the sun. May I attain the friendship of Indra, the immortality.”[7]
4. He should recite over the sāmidhenī verses being recited[8] the formula, “May the Aṅgirases protect me with the morning prayers in this sacrifice.”
5. He should mention whichever benedication he desires.
6-7. When he knows (the verse), “O Agni, enkindled and invoked,”[9] (being recited by the Hotṛ,)[10] he should recite over the Āhavanīya fire the verse, “May Agni, who is enkindled and invoked and whom offerings have been made to the accompaniment of svāhā, nourish us. This obeisance to the gods,” and also the formula, “O Agni, do thou strengthen the sacrificer; weaken him who persecutes him.”[11]
8-9. He should recite over the sruvāghāra being poured down[12] the formula, “Thou art mind, derived from Prajāpati; with the mind in true existence, do thou enter me.”[13] The srucyāghāra[14] with the formula, “Thou art speech, derived from Indra, destroying the foe; do thou enter me with speech, with might.”[13]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
II.11.9.
[2]:
Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.7.6.12.
[3]:
II.11.9.
[4]:
Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.7.6.12,13.
[5]:
II.9.8,9.
[7]:
Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa. III.7.6.13,14.
[8]:
II.12.1.
[9]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā II.5.8.6.
[10]:
II.12.3.
[11]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.6.2.2.
[12]:
II.12:4.
[13]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.6.2.2,3.
[14]:
II.13.10.