Praśna 11, Kaṇḍikā 19

1. Now (we shall describe) the Pravargya-rite to be performed on the pressing day.

2. One should perform the Pravargya-rite when it has become ruddy towards the east.

3. Or at day-break, or at dawn, or when the sun has partly risen, or when it has half risen, or when it has fully risen.

4. Or in the first division of the day (prātaḥ) or in the second division of the day (saṃgava).

5. Or (at midday) after the mādhyaṃdinapavamāna Sāman has been chanted.

6. One should perform the Pravargya-rite only once, and should perform it in the Āgnīdhra chamber.^[1] So is it said.^[2]

7. The performance of this Pravargya-rite should be regarded as optional to the performances of the Pravargya-rite on the Upasad days.

8. The formulas called ghorā tanu,^[3] and the group to be recited in the forest forming the next two Anuvākas^[4] have already^[5] been explained.

9. If a solitary jackal appears while the Pravargya-rite is being performed, the Adhvaryu should recite over him the verse, “O Indra, moving along, do thou guard the cows; do thou, O Indra, seek him who hunts the cattle and while he is sleeping; do thou mark him who is ungracious; strike him with thy thunderbolt when he is asleep for thy meal.”^[6]

10. He should light a fire-brand at both ends, and throw it at him with the verse, “O Agni, do thou converse with Agni; O death, do thou converse with death; O lord, obeisance be to thee.”^[7]

11. He should recite over him the formulas, “O Agni, obeisance to thee once; obeisance to thee twice; obeisance to thee thrice; obeisance to thee four times; obeisance to thee five times; obeisance to thee ten times; obeisance to thee a hundred times; obeisance to thee up to a thousand times; obeisance to thee for undefined times; obeisance to thee; do thou not injure me.”^[8]

12. If a vulture or a she-wolf or a dreadful wild sheep or the bird Parra jacana (dīrghamukhī) or an owl or a person possessed by evil spirits or a crow makes a sound, one should recite over him or it [if?] the relevant verse out of the following. The rite beginning with the throwing of the fire-brand should be performed as before.^[9]

(i) “Thou runnest, with thy mouth besmeared with blood, unrecognizable on account of blood, messenger of Yama, dog-footed; greedy, fair-winged, a messenger sent by both Yama and Bhava, thou devourest a corpse.

(ii) Having the speech as the divinity, having become a Vṛkasa, thou roarest; do thou roar towards one who hates me. O death, lead him unto death; let him meet with distress through distress.

(iii) The cry which the dreadful wild sheep has made being forced by somebody or of his own will, O Indra-Agni, knowing it by divine knowledge, do you turn it as auspicious in our home.

(iv) O long-mouthed one, bad-chinned, do not cry towards the south. If thou criest towards the south, distress my enemy.

(v) The owl, golden-eyed, iron-faced, has come hither. The messenger of the Rakṣases [Rakṣasas] has come;O Agni, drive him out from here.

(vi) (O Piśāca-haunted man,) remove towards our enemies the heavenly speech which thou hast uttered. O death, carry them towards death; let them meet with distress through distress. May Agni be in harmony with Agni.

(vii) O crow, thou fliest spreading thy legs; thou closest the left eye. Let nobody become ill here.”^[10]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The mound on which the Gharma is prepared should be arranged to the north of the Āgnīdhrīya fire. The Gharma should be offered on the Āhavanīya fire carried forth on the uttaravedi.

[2]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka V.6.2.

[3]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.2.22,23.

[4]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.24,25.

[5]:

The formulas called ghorā tanu have been mentioned in V.10. 13. The group forming the next two Anuvākas is prescribed in the Rājasūya. This shows that the Bhāradvāja-śrauta-sūtra originally contained a portion describing the Rājasūya, and that that portion probably preceded the Pravargya chapter.

[6]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.28.

[7]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.28.

[8]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.28.

[9]:

XI.19.10,11.

[10]:

Taittirīya-āraṇyaka IV.29-35.