Praśna 15, Kaṇḍikā 1

[The Jyotiṣṭoma Sacrifice (continued)]

[The Duties of the Brahman]

1. In a Soma-sacrifice one belonging to the Vasiṣṭha gotra should become the Brahman.

2. One should appoint as the Brahman even one who does not belong to the Vasiṣṭha gotra but who knows the Stomabhāga formulas. So is it said.^[1]

3. While the Soma is being measured^[2] and is being bought,^[3] he should be on the southern side.

4. While Soma is being carried^[4] (towards the prāgvaṃśa), he should go along the south.

5. While the Mahāvedi^[5] and the uttaravedi^[6] are being prepared, he should remain towards the south.

6. While the Sadas, the Havirdhāna (and other chambers)^[7] are being measured, he should pass in between the cātvāla and the rubbish-heap, go along the northern border of the Mahāvedi, enter the prāgvaṃśa by the eastern door, cross over by the rear of the Āhavanīya fire, go put by the eastern door, go along the southern border of the Mahāvedi, and sit down to the south of the uttaravedi. So says Āśmarathya. He should pass in between the cātvāla and the rubbish-heap, cross the uttaravedi (that is, go along the front of the uttaravedi), and sit down to the south. So says Ālekhana.^[8]

7. He should remain there only until the offering of the vaisarjana oblations.^[9]

8. When the vaisarjana oblations are going to be offered, he should go round along the south of the two Havirdhāna-carts, along the south of the Mārjālīya Dhiṣṇya, and along the south of the Sadas, enter the prāgvaṃśa by the eastern door, cross over in front of the Śālāmukhīya fire, and sit down to the south. So says Āśmarathya. He should cross over to the rear of the uttaravedi, go round along the north of the Havirdhāna, along the north of the Āgnīdhra fire-chamber and along the north of the Sadas, enter the prāgvaṃśa by the eastern door, cross over along the rear of the Śālāmukhīya fire, and sit down to the south. So says Ālekhana.^[10]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ṣaḍviṃśa-brāhmaṇa I.5.3. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XIV.1.3,4 adds: The Brahman should restrain speech during the rites of the Adhvaryu, the chanting of the Sāmans and the reciting of the Śastras and during the intervals. If he speaks by mistake, he should recite a verse dedicated to Viṣṇu and then again restrain speech.

[2]:

X.16.6.

[3]:

X.16.16 ff.

[4]:

X.20.4,

[5]:

XII.4.9.

[6]:

XII.5.2.

[7]:

XII.8.7 ff.

[8]:

This view is prescribed in Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XIV.8.7.

[9]:

XII.16.15.

[10]:

This view is prescribed in Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XIV.8.9.