Bharadvaja-srauta-sutra
by C. G. Kashikar | 1964 | 166,530 words
The English translation of the Bharadvaja-Srauta-Sutra, representing some of the oldest texts on Hindu rituals and rites of passages, dating to at least the 1st millennium BCE. The term Srautasutra refers to a class of Sanskrit Sutra literature dealing with ceremonies based on the Brahmana divisions of the Veda (Sruti). They include Vedic rituals r...
Praśna 9, Kaṇḍikā 9
1. If, after the Agnihotra-milk has been put over the fire, a dog passes between the Gārhapatya fire and the Āhavanīya fire, one should take the ashes from out of the Gārhapatya fire, and walk scattering it up to the Āhavanīya fire with the verse addressed to Viṣṇu, namely, “Viṣṇu strode this...”[1]
2. He should cover the foot-prints of the dog with the ashes.
3. This itself should be regarded as the expiation-rite if a hog or a wolf having solitary habits (ekasṛka) passes between the fires.
4. If the sun sets when the Āhavanīya fire is still not carried forth, one should tie gold to a darbha-blade and walk in front.[2]
5. Behind him a learned Brāhmaṇa belonging to the Ṛṣis should carry forth the fire. Behind him one should walk with the Agnihotra-milk.
6. After having deposited the fire and having placed the Agnihotra-milk, one should sit down holding his breath as long as he can, make the offering, give a boon (to the Adhvaryu), and pray to the fire with the vyāhṛti bhuḥ. So says Āśmarathya. He should pray with the vyāhṛtis bhūḥ bhuvaḥ suvaḥ. So says Ālekhana.[3]
7. During this night he should observe fast without eating anything.
8. Next morning he should offer a cake on ten potsherds to Varuṇa. According to some teachers, he should offer cooked rice.[4]
9. The Iṣṭi should come to an end in the prescribed manner.
10. If the proper time for the evening Agnihotra is passed over, one should offer the milk with the formula, “Obeisance to the illuminer of darkness, svāhā.”[5]
11. This itself should be regarded as the normal Agnihotra. So says Āśmarathya. Ālekhana says that after having offered the incidental oblation with this formula, one should offer the normal Agnihotra.[6]
12. For that offering the procedure should be normal.
13. This much should be different: Before offering the oblation, one should utter the three vyāhṛtis, bhūḥ bhuvaḥ suvaḥ.
14. If the proper time for the morning Agnihotra is passed over, one should offer the milk with the formula, “Obeisance to the illuminer of the morning, svāhā.”[7]
15. This should be regarded as the normal Agnihotra. So says Āśmarathya. Ālekhana says that after having made the incidental offering with this formula, one should place the normal Agnihotra milk, sit down holding his breath as long as be can, give a boon (to the Adhvaryu), and pray with the vyāhṛtis, bhūḥ bhuvaḥ suvaḥ.
16. After having extinguished the Āhavanīya fire, one should carry forth another fire with the verse, “Jātavedas Agni has appeared...”[8]
17. Then he should recite over the fire the formula, “Comfortable, do thou be here; do not abandon me, N.N., son of N.N.”
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
VII.8.15. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra IX.6.11 is parallel to this and the next sūtra.
[3]:
So also Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra.
[4]:
According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra, he should offer cooked rice on the same day.
[5]:
Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra IX.7.3 agrees with sūtras 10-13.
[6]:
So Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra.
[7]:
Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra IX.7.4-9 agrees with IX.9.14-10.4.
[8]:
IX.1.11.