Praśna 7, Kaṇḍikā 15

1. He should heat the omentum on the Śāmitra fire with the formula, “The Rakṣas is burnt, the evil spirits are burnt.”

2. The Āgnīdhra should again take up the fire-brand and proceed ahead,

3. The Adhvaryu should proceed similarly^[1] towards the Āhavanīya fire.

4. On the nearest burning embers of the Āhavanīya fire one should bake the omentum.

5. The Āgnīdhra should put back the fire-brand into the Āhavanīya fire.

6. He should bring forth the omentum from between the cātvāla and the rubbish-heap, and between the sacrificial post and the Āhavanīya fire. The Pratiprasthātṛ, who is seated towards the south facing the north, should bake the omentum on the Āhavanīya fire.

7. Below the omentum the Adhvaryu should put the ending portion of the darbha-blade^[2] with the formula, “O Vāyu, do thou taste the drops.”^[3]

8. He should take up a spoonful of the clarified butter, and spread it around on the omentum with the verse, “Those (gods) have made thee, the baker and worthy of sacrifice, the carrier of oblations. O jātavedas Agni, possessed of power and body, do thou carry the oblations.”^[4]

9. After having spread around the clarified butter, he should give out a call (to the Maitrāvaruṇa), “Do you recite verses for the drops (of clarified butter being dropped on the omentum).”

10. When the omentum becomes reddish white while it is being baked, he should pour out clarified butter on it with that verse with which it is prescribed to be poured on the sāṃnāyya,^[5] take it down in the same manner,^[6] and place it on a twig of plakṣa arranged on the darbha-grass with the formula, “Do thou make the plants rich in berries.”^[7]

11. With the formula, “The enemies are warded off,” he should remove it from the two forks and when he hears the Hotṛ reciting the formula, “Do thou take up the ladle filled with clarified butter, O Adhvaryu...”’^[8] he should cross the altar towards the south for the last Prayāja-offering, cause the Āgnīdhra to announce and (after he has responded) call out the Maitrāvaruṇa with the words, “Do you direct the Hotṛ to recite the yājyā for Svāhākṛtis.”^[9]

12. At the vaṣaṭ-utterance, he should make the offering.

13. Having recrossed the altar (towards the north), he should pour out clarified butter from the Juhū into the Dhruvā if he is going to offer the Ājyabhāgas, then into the pṛṣadājya and then on the omentum; not into the Upabhṛt.

14. Then he should offer the Ājyabhāgas if he has to offer them.

15. Then he should make the preceding parivapya offering with the formula, “Svāhā to the gods.”^[10]

16. Then he should give out a call (to the Maitrāvaruṇa):^[11]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

That is, between the cātvāla and the rubbish-heap. cf. VII.

[2]:

VII.14.10.

[3]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.9.2.

[4]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā III.1.4.4.

[5]:

II.10.6.

[6]:

I.14.2.

[7]:

Maitrāyaṇī-saṃhitā I.2.2.; Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā.III.3.

[8]:

II.16.2.

[9]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā VI.3.9.5.

[10]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.1.4.4.

[11]:

See the next sūtra.