Praśna 8, Kaṇḍikā 25

[Other forms of the Cāturmāsyas]

1. We shall now explain the Optional Cāturmāsyas.

2. A sacrificer desirous of cattle should perform the Vaiśvadevaparvan.

3. He should perform the Vaiśvadevaparvan in that season in which abundant milk would be available to him, or in that period of spring when he would get abundant milk.

4. A sacrificer desirous of cattle should be performing the Vaiśvadevaparvan only, not the other Parvans, until he obtains a thousand cattle.

5. After having obtained a thousand cattle, he should perform the other Parvans at the relevant periods.

6. A sacrificer desirous of a village,should perform the Śunāsīrīyaparvan.

7. After having reached a place where rain-water is available, a sacrificer desirous of offspring should perform this very sacrifice; a sacrificer desirous of cattle should perform the same; a sacrificer desirous of food should perforin the same; a sacrificer desirous of stability should perform the same. So is it said.

8. Now we shall explain the Cāturmāsyas involving a five years’ cycle.

9-10. After having started the performance of the Cāturmāsyas on the fullmoon day of Phālguna, the sacrificer should perform them in the relevant seasons for three years, and halt for a month. After having again started their performance on the full-moon day of Caitra, he should perform them in the relevant season for two years and stop.

11. The performance of the Vaiśvānarapārjanya Iṣṭi should be common to all the performances of the Cāturmāsyas, so also the offering of the oblation with the pañcahotṛ formula.

12. After having performed the Cāturmāsyas, one should perform a Soma-sacrifice.

13. The Cāturmāsyas are, indeed, a form of the Soma-sacrifice. So is it said.

14. If one is not capable of performing a Soma-sacrifice, he should perform an Animal-sacrifice. If he is not capable of performing an Animal-sacrifice, he should again perform the Cāturmāsyas. At every three years he should leave out one month. So is it said.