Praśna 10, Kaṇḍikā 13

1. He should obtain the permission of the Kṣatriya and go over to a sacrificial place, which is near the water and which is sloping towards the north-east,^[1] with the verse, “We have come to the sacrificial place on earth which formerly all gods enjoyed. Going through the rites with the Ṛk, the Sāman and the Yajus, may we rejoice with abundance of wealth and with food.”^[2]

2. Or he may not obtain the permission for the sacrificial place.

3. He should pray to the sun with this formula, “O overwhelming (Agni), look at this; O keeping asunder (Vāyu), look at this; O heaven, look at this; the pleasant abode is very admirable, the highest order, which is said to be immortal. The most excellent sun shines with his eyes upon the heaven and earth which are the children of god.”^[3]

4. There should not remain, towards the east, space sufficient for another sacrificial place.

5. Some teachers prescribe the acquisition of the sacrificial place at the very beginning.^[4]

6. One should cause a sacrificer to perform a Soma-sacrifice in a purohavis sacrificial place (in which the Hotṛ, seated in the Havirdhāna, might gaze simultaneously at the Āhavanīya fire, the river and the sun). Such optional sacrificial places have been prescribed in the Brāhmaṇa.^[5]

7. One should purchase Soma from one belonging to Kutsa gotra.^[6] So is it said.

8. According to some teachers, from a Śūdra.^[7]

9. At the spot fixed for the uttaravedi or for the uparavas, the Adhvaryu should spread the skin of a red bull with its neck towards the east and the hairy part upwards, pour out Soma on it, place a pitcher full of water towards the north, and then give out a call, “O dealer of Soma, do thou purify Soma.”^[8]

10. The dealer of Soma should select the Soma plant in an enclosure.^[9]

11. None should gaze at Soma being selected.^[10]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Or which is raised towards the south, or sloping towards the north) or sloping towards the east. Or it should be such as many Brāhmaṇas may agree to. cf. Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā XXV.3. See Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra X.20.1,2. One who has to practise exorcism should perform a sacrifice at a place from which trees, plants etc. have been rooted out. One who is accused should perform a sacrifice in a hidden place, cf. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra X.20.6-8.

[2]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.2.3.4.

[3]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.7.7.1.

[4]:

Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra X.3.1.

[5]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā VI.2.6.

[6]:

Or from a Brāḥmana belonging to another Gotra. cf. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra X.20.12.

[7]:

From a non-Brāḥmaṇa. cf. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra X.20.12.

[8]:

According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra X.20.13, the dealer should pour Soma on the southern part of the skin, and himself sit on the northern part.

[9]:

Neither the sacrificer nor his servant nor the Adhvaryu’s assistant should select Soma.

[10]:

This is based on Maitrāyaṇī-saṃhitā III.7.4. cf. also Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā XXIV.2. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra X.20.18 reads rājño vicīyamānasyo’padraṣṭāraḥ syuḥ. CALAND says that na is missing in this sūtra. Rudradatta on Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra mentions the view expressed in Bhāradvāja-śrauta-sūtra, and refutes it. SatyS follows Bhāradvāja-śrauta-sūtra.