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 12
1. The Adhvaryu should proceed with the performance of the sacrifice to Agni.
2. The rites up to the pouring out of the oblation-material is the same (as that in the New-moon and the Full-moon sacrifices).
3. He should pour out the oblation-material for a cake to Agni on eight potsherds.
4. While the oblation-material, which has been poured out, has been placed near (the Gārhapatya fire) and is still not sprinkled with water by means of the hand with the palm turned upwards, he should dig out the place for playing the game of dice between the fire-places of the Sabhya and the Āvasathya, sprinkle it with water by means of the hand with the palm turned downwards, arrange the dice there, place a piece of gold on the dice, spread the dice and again collect them, and offer (a spoonful of clarified butter) on them with the verse, “Varuṇa, the controller of ordinances, the wise, has sat down in the waters for the sake of overlordship.”[1]
5. While handing over one hundred dice to the sacrificer, he should say, “Do you play a cow against paddy; do you cut the joints without injuring.”
6. The sacrificer should win the highest throw in the game, namely, the Kṛta, and get up.
7. The players should play the cow in the hall on that day.
8. The cow should not be immolated.
9. She should be offered to the players.
10. Whatever quantity of paddy he has received in exchange for her, the sacrificer should accomplish both the rice-portions[2] and feed the Brāhmaṇas with that cooked rice.
11. In the dwelling place, in the midst of the assembly, the Adhvaryu should place a piece of gold, and offer an oblation of clarified butter upon it with the verse, “Brahmaṇaspati knows the song full of praise in which the gods Indra, Varuṇa, Mitra and Aryaman have made their dwellings.”[3]
12. The sacrificer should pray to the sacred fires with the verses, “May heaven and earth be harmonious; may the waters; and plants be harmonious; may the various fires having common vows be harmonious for my superiority.—The fires which, possessing similar thoughts, are between the heaven and earth, may they, corresponding to the two springs, enter thee as gods enter Indra.”[4]
13. Further rites up to the time of giving away dakṣiṇā should be similar.
14. The sacrificer should give away as dakṣiṇā such things as are growing. So is it said.[5]
15. The sacrificer should first give to the Āgnīdhra a pillow of variegated threads.[6]
16. A goat and the horse to the Brahman.[7]
17. A milch-cow to the Hotṛ.
18. A bullock to the Adhvaryu.
19. A couple of cow and bull, a garment and a chariot to all the officiating priests.
20. In the setting up of the sacred fires the number of dakṣiṇās should be either six or twelve or twenty-four.
21. There is a view that this number should include the prescribed dakṣiṇās.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.8.16.1.
[2]:
In the game of dice each of the four players including the sacrificer wins a share. The sacrificer should distribute his share among the remaining three players. Thus each one of the three gets two shares, a larger one and a smaller one. cf. Mānava-śrauta-sūtra I.5.5.7ff.
[5]:
cf. Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā VIII.8. By the words vardhamānā dakṣiṇā, the Sūtra-writer probably means young cattle which would be growing in age. cf. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra V.20. 15,16 and also caland’s note on Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra V.20.19.
[6]:
A goat, a potful of grains, and a pillow according to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra V.20.7.
[7]:
According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra V.20.8, the horse should be given either to the Brahman or to the Adhvaryu.