Praśna 12, Kaṇḍikā 11

1. Now we shall explain (the preparation of) the uparavas.^[1]

2. Below the southern Havirdhāna-cart, in front of (the spot below) the axle, there should be, in the intermediate quarters, four holes each measuring a span (in diameter) and each lying at a distance of one span from the other. At the surface they should be separate from one another, and hollowed out.

3. After having taken up the shovel with the sāvitra formula, the Adhvaryu should trace around (each hole) with the formula, “The Rakṣas is marked around; the evil spirits are marked around. Here do I cut off the neck of the Rakṣas who hates us and whom we hate; here do I cut off the neck of the Rakṣas.”^[2]

4. First the front one of the two southern holes, then the rear one, then (the rear one) towards the north and then the front one (towards the north).

5. Henceforward the rites to be performed in respect of these uparavas should be performed in the very same order.

6. After having dug up as deep as one arm, the Adhvaryu should strike with the shovel with the formula, “I dig (the uparavas) dispelling the Rakṣas, dispelling the magical substance and belonging to Viṣṇu.”^[3] He should murmur this formula only once.^[4]

7. Having put his hand into the hole with the formula, “Thou art Virāṭ, killing the enemy,”^[5] he should take out the earth from it with the formula, “Here I cast out the magical substance which an equal or an unequal has buried against us.”^[5]

8. He should put the earth near the hole and press it down with the formula, “With the Gayatri metre I here put him down who, equal or unequal to us, is hostile to us.”^[6]

9. In the same way he should put his hand into the other holes respectively with the subsequent formulas,^[7] take out the earth from them and press it down with the (same formula respectively characterised by each) subsequent metre. In this connection the Triṣṭubh, Jagatī, Anuṣṭubh, and Paṅkti metres are mentioned.^[8]

10. With the formula, “The magic substance is driven away,” he should carry the earth.^[9]

11. With the formula, “The one wishing to harm is uncovered,”^[10] he should put the earth on the mound and press it down.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

According to some teachers, the uparavas should be prepared before the construction of the Sadas, cf. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XI.10.19.

[2]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.1.1.

[3]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.2.1.

[4]:

That is to say, he should murmur the formula only at the first stroke for the first hole; he should not repeat it in the case of the other holes. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XI.11.10 prescribes the repetition of the formula in the case of each hole. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XI.11.7 mentions a view (Mānava-śrauta-sūtra II.2.3.3; Maitrāyaṇī-saṃhitā I.2.11) according to which the formulas should be modified so as to be in the singular.

[5]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.2.1.

[6]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.2,1.

[7]:

Namely, “Thou art overlord, killing the enemy;” “Thou art self-ruling, killing the hostility;” “Thou art ruling the universe, smiter of all evil spirits.” (Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.2.1.)

[8]:

He should substitute for the words “with the Gāyatrī metre” (sūtra 8 above), respectively the words, “with the Triṣṭubh metre,” “with the Jagatī metre,” “with the Anuṣṭubh metre,” “with the Paṅkti metre.” The last two should be regarded as optional. According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XI.12.1, he should optionally mention “with the Gāyatrī metre” in all cases.

[9]:

According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XI.11.9, he should do so with the formula, “I carry away those belonging to Viṣṇu.”

[10]:

Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā II.11.