Praśna 10, Kaṇḍikā 7

1. The Adhvaryu should recite over the goblet intended for giving the to the sacrificer the formula, “Thou art capacious; supporter of the people; guard me (from) the enemy until the completion (of the sacrifice).”

2. Then the sacrificer should close his fingers—two fingers with the formula, “Svāhā, (I grasp the sacrifice) from the spirit;” two with the formula, “Svāhā, (I grasp the sacrifice) from Dyāvāpṛthivī;” and two with the formula, “Svāhā, (I grasp the sacrifice) from the wide mid-region.”^[1]

3. He should close the two fists with the formula, “Svāhā, I grasp the sacrifice from the wind.”^[2]

4. The Adhvaryu should then make him recite the sambhārayajus formulas, “Agni (has furnished the sacrifice) with the yajus; Savitṛ with the Stomas; Indra with the pleasing praise; Mitra-Varuṇa with benedictions; Aṅgirases with the Dhiṣṇya-fires; Maruts with the Sadas and the Havirdhāna; the waters with the prokṣaṇī-waters plants with the Barhis; Aditi with the altar; Soma with the consecration; Tvaṣṭṛ with the faggot; Viṣṇu with the offering; Vasus with clarified butter; Ādityas with the dakṣiṇās; Viśve Devas with strength; Pūṣan with the svagā-utterance; Bṛhaspati with the priesthood; Prajāpati with the Udgītha; the mid-region with the woollen filter; Vāyu with the Soma-cups; myself with faith.”^[3]

5. Then the sacrificer should restrain his speech until the rising of the stars.

6. If he releases his speech before the appearance of stars, he should recite a verse dedicated either to Viṣṇu, or to Agni-Viṣṇu, or to Saras-vatī, or to Bṛhaspati, and then again restrain speech.^[4]

7. If he opens his fist or releases his speech, he should recite the verse, “O god Agni, thou art the guardian of ordinances among the mortals; thou art worthy of being honoured in sacrifices.”^[5]

8. Then the Adhvaryu should make an announcement with regard to him (=the sacrificer): “Consecrated has been this Brāhmaṇa, N.N., having N.N. as the Ṛṣi-ancestor, son of N.N., grandson of N.N., great-grandson of N.N., son of N.N. (mother), grandson of N.N. (grandmother), and great-grandson of N.N. (great-grandmother).” He should announce thrice to himself, thrice loudly.

9. Whosoever may have become consecrated, the Adhvaryu should announce him to be a Brāhmaṇa himself.

10. One should undergo consecration in the afternoon.

11. If he desires that the sacrificer may become pious, the Adhvaryu should administer consecration to him in the morning.

12. The sacrificer should get up and wear the skin of a black antelope (on his body).

13. He should observe these vows: he should not eat meat;^[6] he should not approach a woman (for sexual intercourse); he should not sit on a raised seat; he should abhor untruth.

14. He should utter secular words falteringly and adding at the end either the word canasita or the word vicakṣaṇa.

15. He should address a Brāhmaṇa with canasita, and a Rājanya and a Vaiśya with vicakṣaṇa.^[7] So is it said.

16. He may converse with a Brāhmaṇa; also with a Rājanya or a Vaiśya.^[8]

17. They should be introduced to him (= the sacrificer) from that very place (where they might be standing).

18. If a conversation with a Sūdra becomes necessary, he should say to one of them,^[9] “Inform this to him.”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.2.2.3.

[2]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.2.2.3.

[3]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka III.8.

[4]:

This injunction has been mentioned in Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra X.16.3 as the view of some Ācāryas.

[5]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.2.3.1.

[6]:

Also honey, cf Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra X.13.6.

[7]:

He should utter the word canasita or vicakṣaṇa, as the case may be, after the name of the person concerned in vocative case.

[8]:

He should give benedictions to others. He should not bow down even before his preceptor, father-in-law and the king. So the Śāṭyāyana Brāhmaṇa quoted in Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra X.12.14.

[9]:

Namely, a Brāhmaṇa, a Kṣatriya and a Vaiśya. According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra X.12.10, he should not converse with a woman.