Praśna 11, Kaṇḍikā 9

1. Then the Adhvaryu should give out the call, “O Āgnīdhra, do thou place the two rauhiṇa cakes (within the altar).”

2. The Āgnīdhra should place upon the two uncarved ladles the two cakes after he has spread out clarified butter as base, and then pour out clarified butter upon them.

3. He should place one (of the cakes) near the southern joint of the enclosing sticks, and the other near the northern joint.

4. He should take up a cord with the sāvitra formula,^[1] go out by the eastern door, and call up the Gharma-cow three times respectively with the calls uttered to himself, “Do thou come, O Iḍā; do thou come, O Aditi; do thou come, O Sarasvatī.”^[2]

5. He should return, take up two milking pots and two tethers, go out by the southern door, and call her up loudly three times, “Do thou come N.N.; do thou come N.N.; do thou come N.N.,”^[3] as the name may be.

6. With the formula, “Thou art the turban of Aditi,”^[4] he should tether the Gharma-cow with the cord. With the formula, “Thou art wind, son of Iḍā,”^[4] he should tether the calf.

7. He should release the calf towards the cow with the formula, “May Pūṣan release thee; do thou grant (milk) for Aśvins.”^[5]

8. He should recite over the Gharma-cow the verse, “O Sarasvatī, do thou direct thy udder here, which is incessant, which is gladdening, with which thou thrivest all the treasures, which is bestowing riches and bestowing good, and which grants good gifts.”^[6]

9. With the formula, “O calf, let the Gharma remain; O calf, guard the Gharma, keep back the milk for the Gharma,”^[7] he should lether the calf and seat himself by the cow with the formula, “May Bṛhaspati sit by thee.”^[7]

10. He should touch all the udders simultaneously^[8] with the formula, “You are swelling drops, surrounded by blood on all sides.”^[9]

11. He should milk the cow in the bigger pot with the formula, “Do thou swell for Aśvins; do thou swell for Sarasvatī; do thou swell for Pūṣan; do thou swell for Bṛhaspati; do thou swell for Indra; do thou swell for Indra.”^[10]

12. The Pratiprasthātṛ should milk the she-goat in the smaller pot without reciting any formula.

13. Having handed over the two milks to the Āgnīdhra, the Adhvaryu and the Pratiprasthātṛ should hasten towards the east and take up the pair of tongs and the supporting ladle. The Adhvaryu should take up the first tong with the formula, “Thou belongest to Gāyatrī,”^[11] and the second with the formula, “Thou belongest to Triṣṭubh.”^[11] The Pratiprasthātṛ should take the supporting ladle with the formula, “Thou belongest to Jagatī.”^[11]

14. When he hears the Hotṛ reciting the verse, “Do thou get up, O Brahmaṇaspati...,”^[12] the Āgnīdhra should stand up.

15. When he hears the Hotṛ reciting the verse, “Do thou, O milker, hasten quickly with the milk...,”^[13] the Āgnīdhra should bring in the milks.

16. The Adhvaryu should recite over (the milk of the cow) being brought with the formula, “Do thou come to me together with a portion of vigour.”^[14]

17. With the formula, “O Indra, O Aśvins, do you drink the Gharma of honey procured by bees; O Vasus, accomplish the sacrificer, vaṭ,”^[15] the Adhvaryu should pour out the cow’s milk into the Mahāvīra.

18. He should follow the glow bursting out with the formula, “Svāhā, I offer thee to the rain-giving ray of the sun.”^[16]

19. He should pour out the goat’s milk with the formula, “Thou art sweet oblation; do thou burn like the heat of the sun.”^[17]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Devasya tvā savituḥ..,. Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.8.1. The next formula, adityai rāsnā’si is prescribed in Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XV.9.3 for being recited over the cord.

[2]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.8.1.

[3]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.8.1.

[4]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.8.2.

[5]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.8.2.

[6]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.8.2.

[7]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.8.2,3.

[8]:

cf. note on VI.9.4.

[9]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.8.3.

[10]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.8.3.

[11]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.8.4.

[12]:

Ṛg-veda I.40.1.

[13]:

ABr 1.22.2; ĀśvŚS VII.4.4.

[14]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.8.4.

[15]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.8.4.

[16]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.8.4.

[17]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.8.4. According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XV.10.5, he should follow the glow with the latter part of the formula.