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 14
1. One, whose Agnihotra becomes disturbed, should offer a cake on eight potsherds to tantumant Agni.
2. One, whom the officiating priests caused to offer a sacrifice on another’s sacred fires, or who may have offered a sacrifice on another’s sacred fires, should offer a cake on eleven potsherds to Agni-Viṣṇu.
3. One, at whose Agnihotra the fire is carried forth and deposited on the fire previously carried forth and deposited, should offer a cake on eight potsherds to agnivant Agni.[1]
4. If, after the Agnihotra-milk has been put over the fire, or after the paddy has been poured out (in an Iṣṭi), a dog or a cart or a chariot passes between the two fires, one should offer an oblation with the verse, “The thirty-three threads which stretch themselves and which hold this sacrifice through their food—of those this broken one I restore, svāhā.”[2] So is it said.
5. According to some teachers, one whose cart or chariot passes between the two fires. So is it said.[3]
6. One should not pay regard to the time (of passing of the same between the fires).
7. One should then sprinkle the place with water, and make a cow walk over it.
8. He should cover the foot-prints with the verse,” Viṣṇu strode this...”[4]
9. He should extinguish the Āhavanīya fire and carry forth another fire with the verses, “O Agni, thy foot-print, previously impressed,
which has reached over the rays of the sun, there do thou provide this rich man. Do thou unite us with favour consisting of booty.[5]—Thou art spreading wide, O Agni, excellent and agreeable Hotṛ. Men perform a sacrifice through thee.”[6]
10. Then he should offer a cake on eight potsherds to pathikṛt Agni.[7]
11. He should fetch sacrificial grass from near the way.
12. A bull should be given away as dakṣiṇā.
13. The Iṣṭi should be concluded in the prescribed manner.
14. One should perform the same sacrifice if the Udgātṛ is puzzled with regard to the chanting of the Sāman. The same sacrifice if the Hotṛ is puzzled with regard to the reciting of the Śastra.[8]
15. One should perform the same sacrifice if one’s sacred fires are passed between by another’s fires.[9]
16. One should perform this sacrifice if the sacrificer expires among his kinsmen.[10]
17. Let one perform[11] the Iṣṭi for the expired (Āhitāgni). So is it said.
18. His Agnihotra should be offered with the milk of a cow suckling another’s calf until his body is brought into contact with the fires.[12]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
= Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra IX.10.11.
[2]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.5.10.4.
[4]:
II.6.2.
[5]:
Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa I.4.4.10.
[6]:
Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa 11,4.1.6.
[8]:
= Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra IX.10.18; II.1
[9]:
= Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra IX.11.2. According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra, this sacrifice should be performed even by one whose fire passes between another’s fires.
[10]:
= Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra IX.11.4.
[11]:
The meaning of this sūtra is not clear. The sūtra reads janayatu. Should it be jane tu?
[12]:
= Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra IX.II.5.