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...

Go directly to: Footnotes, Concepts.

Praśna 10, Kaṇḍikā 9

1. If he sits (down upon something) other than the skin of a black antelope, he should recite the formula, “The sacrifice is gone to the gods and to the human being; may its benedictions guard me.”[1]

2. One should not utter his name, one should not speak ill of him; one should not give benedictions to him; only the consecrated should give benedictions.

3. One should not eat food at his house until the Agnīṣomīya animal-sacrifice.[2]

4. If one so desires, (he should eat food) after the Agnīṣomīya animal-sacrifice is over,[3] or after the omentum has been offered,[4] or after the Soma has been bought.[5]

5-6. Or as the next best alternative, the sacrificer should first provide for the sacrifice, and then undergo the consecration. One should take food out of the remaining portion.

7. These vows are to be observed subsequent to the Dīkṣaṇīyeṣṭi.

8. Now these are the vows which involve the use of some material, namely, the scratching with the horn of a black antelope, the sitting down on the skin of a black antelope, and the holding of the staff.

9. The sacrificer’s wife should consume only milk, and should observe the vow of chastity.

10. The sacrificer should open out four of his fingers with the formula, “You are the seekers.”

11. After the milk has been milked out, (and) after he has seen the stars, he should release his speech with the words, “Do you prepare the vrata.”

12. He should keep awake through this night.[6]

13. Gruel is the vrata of a Rājanya, āmikṣā is the vrata of a Vaiśya, and milk is the vrata of a Brāhmaṇa.

14. These are the vratas pertaining to the consecration.

15. For all (the three castes), however, the graded milking of the udders (of the Agnihotra-cow) should be done with reference to the Upasad sacrifices.

Footnotes and references:

[back to top]

[1]:

cf. Maitrāyaṇī-saṃhitā III.6.6.

[2]:

cf. Maitrāyaṇī-saṃhitā III.6.7.

[3]:

XII.20.20.

[4]:

XII.20.3.

[5]:

X.20.17.

[6]:

He should keep awake also during the night following the buying of Soma and the night prior to the pressing day.

Other Dharmashastra Concepts:

[back to top]

Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘Prasna 10, Kandika 9’. Further sources in the context of Dharmashastra might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:

Black antelope, Animal sacrifice, Vow of chastity, Sacrifice to the god, Black antelope skin, Sacrificer's wife.

Concepts being referred within the main category of Hinduism context and sources.

Vows of chastity, Food consumption, Release his speech, Agnishomiya animal-sacrifice, Release of speech, Upasad sacrifice, Vows to be observed.

Let's grow together!

I humbly request your help to keep doing what I do best: provide the world with unbiased sources, definitions and images. Your donation direclty influences the quality and quantity of knowledge, wisdom and spiritual insight the world is exposed to.

Let's make the world a better place together!

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: