Praśna 7, Kaṇḍikā 5

1. Having lifted up the ladle with the formula, “To the beings thee,”^[1] he should arrange the enclosing sticks of pūtudru (Pinus deodora) round the uttaravedi: the middle one with the formula, “Thou hast all life, strengthen the earth;”^[1] the southern one with the formula, “Thou re-stest firm, strengthen the midregion;”^[1] and the northern one with the formula, “Thou restest inviolable, strengthen the heaven.”^[1]

2. He should pour down on the uttaranābhi the (following) substances: Bdellium (guggulu), fragrant substance, white wool between the horns of a goat whose wool was formerly cut—according to some, of oṇe whose wool was not previously cut—with the formula, “Thou art the ashes of the fire, thou art the excrement of fire.”^[2]

3. With the same formula, he should pour down the supporting sand towards the north.

4. When he knows the Hotṛ reciting the verse, “O Hotṛ, do thou, knowing, be seated in thy place,”^[3] he should deposit the fire on the substances with the verse, “O sacrifice, do thou, very gracious, be firm in thy favour. May the riches enter thee on all sides. Giving long life to the sacrificer, do thou anoint the worshipper with ambrosia.”^[4]

5. After having deposited the fire, he should enkindle it with the formula “The sacrifice has become firm,” and with the verse, “We place thee as Manu did; we enkindle thee as Manu did. O aṅgiras Agni, do thou carry offerings to gods for the pious sacrificer.”^[5]

6. He should offer the pūrṇāhuti at this stage with the saptavatī verse, “Seven are thy fire-sticks, O Agni, seven thy tongues; seven seers; seven dear abodes; seven priesthoods, sevenfold sacrifice to thee; do thou fill seven birth-places with ghee,”^[6] and then make the atimukti offerings with the verses, “May Agni, knowing, lead the sacrifice; may the killers of sacrifice meet him. Do thou speak of the sacrifice to the gods; do thou increase the sacrifice, svāhā.—May Vāyu, knowing, lead the sacrifice....—May Aditya, knowing, lead the sacrifice....—May the sacrificer, knowing, lead the sacrifice......”

7. Some teachers prescribe the pūrṇāhuti at this stage.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.2.12.3.

[2]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.2.12.3.

[3]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā III.5.11.2.

[4]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa II.5.8.12.

[5]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.11.6.3,4.

[6]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.5.3.2.