Praśna 6, Kaṇḍikā 5

1. With the verses, “May we not go astray (from the way), not from a Soma-sacrifice, O Indra. May the enemies not block our way.—Do thou bring us upwards, O Agni, furnished with ghee. Do thou unite us with abundance of wealth, and multiply us with progeny,” he should start, restraining his speech.

2. In the vicinity of the sacred fires he should restrain speech; when away from them he should release it.

3. He should go out on a journey observing the vow.

4, At the proper time he should pray (to the sacred fires).

5. If he goes out on a journey without having prayed to the sacred fires, he should pray, remaining there only, with the verse, “O Agni, remaining here, I maintain you remaining there, with Prāṇa, speech, and mind. May life not abandon me remaining beyond; I pray you with the light beneficial to all.”^[1]

6. Tāking up fire-sticks, he should approach the fires with the verses, “Maintaining thee for all time with healthy mind, may we, thy neighbours, not perish, O Agni. Obeisance to thee, bountiful, obeisance to thee who hast been attended. O Agni, do thou decorate our bodies, and unite me with wealth.”

7. When he is away from the fires, he should restrain hiś speech; when he is in their vicinity, he should release it.,

8. After having returned from the journey, be should say (to the attendant), “Do thou flare up the fires.”

9. When the fires have flared up, he should pray to them with the virāja-krama verses as in the setting up of the sacred fires.^[2]

10. He should (however) modify the verses by substituting “Thou bast guarded (ajūgupaḥ)” (for “Do thou guard”).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa I.2.1.27.

[2]:

V.II.7.