Praśna 7, Kaṇḍikā 8

1. Then he should say (to the Hotṛ), “Do you recite verses for the sacrificial post being besmeared.”

2. He should besmear the top of the sacrificial post with the formula, “May god Savitṛ besmear thee with honey.”^[1]

3. He should besmear the caṣāla on all sides with the formula, “Thou belongest to Indra,”^[2] and set it into the sacrificial post with the formula, “For the plants having good berries thee.”^[3]

4. The sacrificer should besmear the sacrificial post from the front side towards himself by means of a chip of the same from the top to the bottom while he is touching it on all sides.

5. The Adhvaryu should touch around three times on the place where the cord is to be fixed.

6. The sacrificer should not leave contact with the sacrificial post since the besmearing of the same until the winding round of the same.

7. Then the Adhvaryu should say (to the Hotṛ), “Do you recite verses for the sacrificial post being erected.”

8. He should erect the sacrificial post with the formula, “Supporting the heaven, do thou fill in the midregion; strengthen the earth with the lower portion.”^[4]

9. He should put it into the hole with the verse, “We desire to go to thy places where there are active and strong-horned cows. Here the highest step of wide-going and mighty Viṣṇu^[5]

13. He should make it stable with the two verses, “Do you behold the deeds of Viṣṇu in which he, Indra’s trustworthy friend, saw the holy laws.—The singers always gaze upon that highest abode of Viṣṇu like an eye stretched in the heaven.”^[6]

11. The (upper) half of the sacrificial post should be leaning towards the Āhavanīya fire. It should be straight on the external (that is, eastern) side.^[7]

12. The Adhvaryu should fix the sacrificial post in such a way that the bottom of the same does not remain visible.

13. He should fix the sacrificial post in such a way that its agniṣṭha border faces the Āhavanīya fire, and pile around it with the earth by the right with the formula,“I pile around thee, the winner of the Brahmanhood, the winner of the Kṣatriya-hood, the winner of good progeny, and the winner of abundance of wealth.”^[8]

14. He should strengthen it around with the staff of the Maitrāvaruṇa with the formula, “Do thou strengthen the Brahman; do thou strengthen the Kṣatra; do thou strengthen the progeny; do thou strengthen the abundance of wealth.”^[9]

15. With the verse, “Tear the earth, break the cloud in the sky; give us the heavenly water; do thou, who ait reigning, open the bag,”^[10] he should sprinkle water around the post, and cleanse it up from the low er to the upper end by means of his hands together with the cord with the verse, “Viṣṇu strode over this (world); thrice did beset down his foot. All is gathered in its dust.”^[11]

16. He should gaze at the top of the post with the verse, “The singers always gaze upon....”^[12]

17. There should be two cords made of darbha-grass: one with two strands should be two vyāyāmas^[13] long; the other with three strands should be three vyāyāmas long.

18. Then the Adhvaryu should say (to the Hotṛ).^[14]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.6.1. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra VII.10.3 asks the Adhvaryu to anoint the border of the sacrificial post facing the fire with this formula.

[2]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.1.3.

[3]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.6.1.

[4]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.6.1.

[5]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.6.1.

[6]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.6.2.

[7]:

cf. Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā XXVI.6.

[8]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.6.2.

[9]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.6.2.

[10]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā II.4.8.2.

[11]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.2.13.1.

[12]:

VII.8.10.

[13]:

Vyāyāma is equal to four aratnis. The former cord is for the animal; the latter for the post.

[14]:

See the next sūtra.