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...

Praśna 11, Kaṇḍikā 13

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1. One, who is going to dispose of the Pravargya, should give away a she-goat to the Āgnīdhra, a four-year old cow to the Brahman, a milch-cow to the Hotṛ, and the two plates (of gold and silver) to the Adhvaryu.

2. He should collect the western mound and put it on the eastern mound.

3. Then he should place the saṃrāḍāsandī towards the north of the Āhavanīya fire, and collect upon it all Pravargya-utensils.

4. He should take four spoonfuls of clarified butter in a ladle made of the wood of udumbara, and offer three oblations (on the Āhavanīya, fire) respectively with the formulas, “O Gharma, I hereby compensate thy glow which is in the heaven, which is in the Gāyatrī metre, which is in the Brāhmaṇa and which is in the Havirdhāna, svāhā.—O Gharma, I. hereby compensate thy glow which is in the midregion, which is in the Triṣṭubh metre, which is in the Rājanya, and which is in the Āgnīdhrīya, svāhā.—O Gharma, I hereby compensate thy glow which is on the earth_s which is in the Jagatī metre, which is in the Vaiśya, and which is in the Sadas, svāhā.”^[1]

5. Or the Pratiprasthātṛ should take three fistfuls of blades of grass, light one of them on the Āhavanīya fire, and hold it at a height level with his mouth. The Adhvaryu should offer an oblation of clarified butter upon it with the formula, “O gharma, I hereby compensate thy glow which is in the heaven....”

6. The Pratiprasthātṛ should light upon it the second fistful, throw the first fistful on the Āhavanīya fire, and hold the second fistful at a height level with his navel. The Adhvaryu should offer upon it an oblation with the formula, “O gharma, I hereby compensate thy glow which is in the midregion....”

7. The Pratiprasthātṛ should light upon it the third fistful, throw the second fistful on the Āhavanīya fire, and hold the third fistful at a height level with his knee. The Adhvaryu should offer upon it an oblation with the formula, “O gharma, I hereby compensate thy glow which is on the earth....”

8. He should throw this (third fistful) on the Āhavanīya fire itself.

9. At this stage the Pratiprasthātṛ should bring in the sacrificer’s wife in an enclosed manner^[2] with the verse, “May Anumati accompany us today and favour our sacrifice today among the gods. May she and the oblation-carrier Agni be cheerful to the worshipper.”^[3]

10. With the verse, “O Anumati, do thou favour us and give us bounty; impel us for wisdom and power; lengthen our lives,”^[4] all should proceed.

11. They should carry along the pole,^[5] carry along the pegs,^[6] and tale up the two mounds.^[7]

12. One should carry the mound for leavings along the south.

13. He should then place the saṃrāḍāsandī in such a way that its two (rear) feet remain within the altar and the two (front) feet remain outside the altar, and then give out a call, “O Prastotṛ, do you chant the Sāmans.”

14. All including the sacrificer’s wife should join in the chanting of the concluding portion (nidhana) of the Sāman three times.

15. At half the distance they should do so for the second time; to the rear of the uttaravedi for the third time.

16. After the first Sāman has been chanted, all should proceed with the verse, “For the protection of the heaven thee; guard the forms of the midregion. May we, O Pravargya, follow thee with the law of the earth for the new welfare.”¹ After the second Sāman has been chanted, all should proceed with the verse, “For the protection of the divine knowledge thee; do thou guard the forms of the Kṣatra. May we, O Pravargya, follow thee with the law of the subjects for the new welfare.”^[8] After the third Sāman has been chanted, all should proceed with the verse, “For the protection of the vital breath thee; do thou guard the forms of the sense of sight. May we, O Pravargya, follow thee with the law of the sense of hearing for the new welfare.”^[8]