Praśna 11, Kaṇḍikā 12

1. “Do you recite verses for (the utensils in connection with) the Gharma being set down.”

2. As soon as he hears the Hotṛ reciting the verse, “For whose sake the seven horses have come up towards the east; Dīrghaśruttama Ṛṣi indeed (said that) the Gharma is Indra’s guest,”^[1] the Adhvaryu should carry (the Pravargya-utensils) along the front of the Āhavanīya fire, and place them upon the saṃrāḍāsandī with the formula, “For the rays of the sun thee, svāhā,”^[2] at the morning Pravargya, and with the formula, “For the stars thee, svāhā,”^[2] at the evening Pravargya.

3. When he hears the Hotṛ reciting the verse, “Do thou eat grass at all times, O invulnerable (cow)...,”^[3] he should release the cow.^[4]

4. In this manner he should perform the Pravargya-rite in the evening and in the morning.

5. In a Soma-sacrifice with three Upasad-days^[5] he should perform the Pravargya-rite six times; in a Soma-sacrifice with six Upasad-days^[6] twelve times; and in a Soma-sacrifice with twelve Upasad-days^[7] twenty-four times.

6. This much is different.^[8]

7. He should offer the rauhiṇa cake with the next formula^[9] at the evening Pravargya.

8. At the evening Pravargya, he should put a thorny fire-stick on the Āhavanīya fire with the formula, “(O Agni), thou hast led me through the day; guard me through the night. This, O Agni, is thy fire-stick; do thou be enkindled with it. Give me (long) life; anoint me with glory.”^[10] At the morning Pravargya^[10] with the formula, “(O Agni), thou hast led me through the night; guard me through the day. This, O Agni, is thy fire-stick; do thou be enkindled with it. Give me (long) life; anoint me with glory.”^[11]

9. He should offer the evening Agnihotra with the formula, “Fire the light, light the fire, svāhā;”^[12] the morning Agnihotra^[13] with the formula “Sun the light, light the sun, svāhā.”^[12]

10. Or he may offer the saṃsṛṣṭa offering.^[14]

11. One should perform the Pravargya-rite in the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.

12. One should not perform the Pravargya-rite in the Ukthya sacrifice.

13. One should perform the Pravargya-rite in the Viśvajit sacrifice characterized by all Pṛṣṭhasāmans.

14. One should not perform the Pravargya-rite in the first Soma-sacrifice.

15. Or one may perform (it).

16. One should perform the Pravargya-rite in the sacrifice of one who is a theologian well-versed in Veda.

17. One should perform the Pravargya-rite in the Soma-sacrifice of a durbrāhmaṇa.^[15]

18. According to some teachers, one should perform it in the Somasacrifice of a sacrificer who is desirous of brahman-splendour.^[16]

19. A sacrificer who has performed the Pravargya-rite should not, for one year, eat flesh nor approach a woman (for sexual intercourse) nor drink in an earthen pot. A Śūdra shall not drink his leavings.

20. “Thereby he sharpens his brightness.” So is it said.^[17]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

cf. ABr I.22.11; AśvŚS IV.7.

[2]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.10.5.

[3]:

Ṛg-veda I.164.40.

[4]:

XI.9.6.

[5]:

In an Ekāha Soma-sacrifice.

[6]:

In an Ekāha Soma-sacrifice with Agnicayana.

[7]:

In an Ahīna sacrifice.

[8]:

With regard to the Pravargya-rites to be performed in the evening and onwards.

[9]:

“May the night, the light enjoy with brightness, light of the light, svāhā.” Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.10.4.

[10]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.10.4,5.

[11]:

In the mornings of the second and the subsequent days.

[12]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.10.5.

[13]:

In the mornings of the second and the subsequent days.

[14]:

In the morning with the formula, “Sun the light, light the fire svāhā;” in the evening with the formula, * Fire the light, light the sun, svāhā.” cf. Bhāradvāja-śrauta-sūtra VI.12.6.

[15]:

According to the Bhāradvāja Pariśeṣasūtra 134, one who has abandoned the practice of reciting the verse addressed to Savitṛ (in the daily Saṃdhyā prayer) is a durbrāhmaṇa.

[16]:

The injunctions given in sūtras 14-18 above are not found in Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra.

[17]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka V.8.13.