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 5, Kaṇḍikā 5
1. The Adhvaryu should pour down one by one the substances derived from the earth.
2. The saline soil with the formula, “Thou art concord, the support of desire; let thy support of desire be within me.”[1]
3. While pouring down the same, he should remember within his mind (the black portion within the moon) with the formula, “That black, which is in the moon, may it be here.”
4. He should pour down the earth dug out by a rat with the verse, “O Agni, do thou come up on the mother earth; do thou enter the people from the great abode. Those desirous of gods, have made thee quick, carrier of oblation and guardian of the earth.”[2]
5. He should pour down the earth from an ant-hill into the Gārhapatya fire-place with the verse, “That imperishable of the earth, which became united with thee; Agni has given it to Agni; may this (fire) be deposited within it.”[3]
6. Into the Dakṣiṇa fire-place with the verse, “That imperishable of the midregion...”[4]
7. Into the other fire-places with the verse, “That imperishable of the heaven[5]
8. Mud from the pond with the verse, “The sweet wave has come out of the ocean, furthering the overlordship. May these rich men, as also we, collect sweet food and strength.”[6]
9. Earth dug out by a hog with the formula, “Thou wast so great at the beginning.”[7]
10. Gravel with the verse, “Thou, goddess, expanding separately, poured down by the gods, hast moved.asunder with thy greatness. Thou hast become firm with gravels in the threefold region, and hast won the regions and the four principal quarters.”[8]
11. While pouring down the gravel, he should remember within his mind one whom he hates.
12. Towards the north of the substances which have been poured down, he should throw a piece of gold in each of the fire-places with the verse, “O Jātavedas (Agni), thy auspicious bodies which are on the earth, in the midregion, and in the heaven, do thou, O Agni, being united with them, accompanied by thy troop, harmonious, golden-wombed, carry the oblation.”[9]
13. After having thrown each of the pieces of gold, he should throw a piece of silver at one whom he hates.
14. If there is none whom he hates, he should throw it away.
15. After having mixed up the substances in each fire-place, he should pour down the substances derived from the vegetable kingdom: a lotus-leaf, wood of aśvattha, udumbara, palāśa, śamī, vikaṅkata, and wood of a tree struck by lightning, with the verse, “Jātavedas Agni is born here from his womb. May he, knowing, carry the oblation with the Gāyatrī, Triṣṭubh, and Jagatī metres.”[10]
16. He should mix up all the substances (in each fire-place) with the two verses, “May your bodies be dear; may your hearts be dear; may your soul be dear; may my bodies be dear.—I unite your hearts; may your mind be united; may your breath be united.”[11]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa I.2.1.17.
[3]:
Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā VII.12.
[4]:
Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā VII.12.
[5]:
Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā VII.12.
[6]:
Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā VII.12.
[7]:
Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā VII.12.
[8]:
The full text of this verse is found in Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra V.9.11.
[9]:
Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā VII.13.
[10]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā II.2.24.8.
[11]:
Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa I.2.1.17.