Praśna 4, Kaṇḍikā 18

1. He should recite over the prastara being besmeared^[1] the verse, “May the Barhis be smeared with the oblation of clarified butter, with Ādityas, Vasus, Maruts, Indra, and Viśve Devas. May it go to the heaven, svāhā.”^[2]

When he hears (the portion of the sūktavāka), “Agni has enjoyed this oblation,” being recited,^[3] he should follow the name of the divinity mentioned in each nigada with the relevant formula from the following formulas: “May I be victorious through the victory of Agni. May I be victorious through the victory of Soma, May I be victorious through the victory of Agni, May I be victorious through the victory of Agni-Soma. May I be victorious through the victory of Indra-Agni. May I be victorious through the victory of Indra. May I be victorious through the victory of Mahendra. May I be victorious through the victory of sviṣṭakṛt Agni,”^[4] in accordance with the divinity.

3. When the Hotṛ pronounces the name of the sacrificer,^[5] the latter should recite the verse, “These blessings fain for milking have came hither; possessing Indra, may we win; may we milk offspring and food.”^[6]

4. He should follow the blade, which was formerly^[7] taken out (of the prastara), being put on the fire, with the verse,“(The blade of grass is) a bolt come down from the heaven and sprouted from the earth. We light the enemy with that blade having a thousand stalks. May my enemy be burnt. O plant, may I not be burnt.”^[8]

5. While the enclosing sticks are being put on the fire,^[9] the sacrificer should recite over the Āhavanīya fire the verse, “I unyoke thy cords, thy reins, thy yokings, thy harness; bestow upon us wealth and what is good; proclaim us sharer among the gods.”^[10]

6. He should follow the śaṃyuvāka^[11] with the formula, “By sacrifice to god Viṣṇu, may I attain health, wealth, and stability.”^[12]

7. He should follow the offering of the Saṃsrāva-oblation^[13] with the formulas, “The sacrifice giving wealth, giving benedictions, possessing benedictions, has been performed by the Bhṛgus, the Yatis, the Vasus and the Atharvans. Do thou, O wealth, of the beloved sacrifice which has been performed, come to me. Sacrifice is wealth, sacrifice is full of wealtḥ. May the wealth of sacrifice, the wealth, sacrifice full of wealtḥ, come to me. May N.N. come to me.” He should mention the object of his desire in place of the word “N.N.”

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

III.5.14.

[2]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.7.5.10.

[3]:

III.5.17; Taittirīya-saṃhitā II.6.9.6.

[4]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.6.4.1,2.

[5]:

III.6.5.

[6]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.6.4.2,3.

[7]:

III.6.9.

[8]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.7.6.12,13.

[9]:

III.6.15.

[10]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.6.4.3.

[11]:

III.6.15.

[12]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.6.4.3.

[13]:

III.6.18.