Praśna 13, Kaṇḍikā 14

1. The Adhvaryu should fill in the (other) cups out of the stream flowing through the filter.

2. If the Soma sacrifice is characterised by the Rathantarasāman as the Hotṛ’s Pṛṣṭhastotra, he should fill in the cups with the Aindravāyava cup as the first, if by the Bṛhatsāman with the Śukra cup as the first, if by the Jagatsāman with the Āgrayaṇa vessel as the first, if by both the Sāmans (= Rathantara and Bṛhat) with the Aindravāyava cup as the first.

3. The Brāhmaṇa^[1] contains injunctions in connection with the optional priorities of the various cups which begin with, “For one suffering from disease the Adhvaryu should fill in the cups with the Aindravāyava cup as the first.” The cups should, indeed, be filled with the Aindravāyava cup as the first.

4. If the Adhvaryu fills in any optional cup prior to the Aindravāyav cup, he should hold it until the placing of the Aindravāyava cup.

5. He should first place the Aindravāyava cup, and then place that cup.

6. He should fill in those cups which he takes before the Āgrayaṇa vessel with the formula recited to himself. He should fill in those which he takes after the Āgrayaṇa vessel with the formula recited loudly.^[2]

7. If he is filling the Soma cups with the Āgrayaṇa vessel as the first, he should release speech only after having filled in the Manthin cup. If he is filling the Soma cups with the Ukthya vessel as the first, he should fill in the Ukthya vessel with the formula recited to himself.

8. He should fill in the Aindravāyava cup with the mantra, “O Vāyu, drinker of the pure, come to us. A thousand are thy teams, O thou that hast all choice boons. For thee this sweet drink has been drawn, whereof, O god, thou hast the first drink. Thou art taken with a support; for Vāyu thee.”^[3]

9. After having taken off the cup, he should again fill it in with the mantra, “O Indra-Vāyu, this Soma is pressed for you; come here with pleasure, the drops of Soma long for you. Thou art taken with a support; for Indra-Vāyu thee.”^[4]

10. After having cleansed it with the woollen filter,^[5] he should place it at its proper place with the formula, “This is thy birth-place; for the companions thee.”^[6]

11. In this manner he should fill in the other cups according to the divinities, and place them at their proper places with the relevant formulas intended for placing.

12. If the formula for placing is not prescribed, be should place it with the formula, “This is thy birth-place.”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā VII.2.7.

[2]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā III.1.9.1.

[3]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.4.4.

[4]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.4.4.

[5]:

With the fringes of the woollen filter or another woollen filter according to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XII.4 10,11.

[6]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.4.4.