Praśna 13, Kaṇḍikā 29

1. Then the Adhvaryu and the Pratiprasthātṛ should proceed with the offering of the Ṛtu cups.

2. The Adhvaryu should take the southern Ṛtu cup, the Pratiprasthātṛ the northern one.

3. The two should draw the first two cups simultaneously, also the last two simultaneously.

4. The Adhvaryu should draw his cup with the formula, “Thou art taken with a support; thou art Madhu. The Pratiprasthātṛ with the formula, “Thou art taken with a support; thou art Mādhava.”^[1]

5. After having gone out (of the Havirdhāna) and having crossed over, the Adhvaryu should cause the Āgnīdhra to announce and (after the the latter has responded,) give out a call (to the Maitrāvaruṇa),“Do you address a call (to the Hotṛ) to recite the yājyā relating to the offering of the Ṛtu cup.”

6. At the vaṣaṭ-utterance he should make the offering.

7. The Adhvaryu should turn back.

8. The Pratiprasthātṛ should go out, cross over, cause the Āgnīdhra to announce and (after the latter has responded,) give out a call (to the Maitrāvaruṇa), “Do you address a call (to the Potṛ) to recite the yājyā relating to the offering of the Ṛtu cup.”

9. At the vaṣaṭ-uttrance he should make the offering.

10. One should not follow the other; the two should cross each other at the door.

11. The Adhvaryu should always move by the south; the Pratiprasthātṛ always by the north.

12. The Pratiprasthātṛ should cover with his cup the Adhvaryu while he (= the Adhvaryu) is going towards the west; he should cover him with the empty cup while he (= the Adhvaryu) is going towardś the east.

13. In this manner they should take up the cups with the subsequent formulas.^[2]

14. The Adhvaryu should take up the cup with each former formula; the Pratiprasthātṛ with each latter.

15. The Adhvaryu himself should take up the thirteenth cup with the formula, “Thou art taken with a support; thou art Saṃsarpa; for Aṃhaspatya thee.”^[3]

16. Twelve cups should be taken. So is it said.^[4] Thirteen according to some teachers; fourteen according to others.

17. If thirteen are taken, they should offer the first two simultaneously.

18. If fourteen, the first two and also the last two.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.4.14.1.

[2]:

The subsequent ten formulas are as follow:—“thou art Śukra; “...thou art Śuci;” “...thou art Nabha;” “...thou arc Nabhasya;” “...thou art Iṣa;” “...thou art Ūrja;” “.. thou art Saha;” “...thou art Sahasya;” “...thou art Tapa;” “...thou art Tapasya.” (Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.4.14).

[3]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.4.14.

[4]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā VI.5.3.1.