Prapāṭhaka III, Kāṇḍikā 9

1.^[1] On the Āgrahāyaṇī day (or the full-moon day of the month Mārgaśīrṣa) Bali-offerings (are made).

2.^[2] They have been explained by the Śrāvaṇa sacrifice.

3.^[3] He does not murmur (here) the Mantra, 'Adoration to the Earth’s.'

4. In the morning, after he has sacrificed the (regular) morning oblation, he should have the following (plants and branches of trees) fetched, viz. Darbha grass, a Śami (branch), Vīriṇa grass, a (Badarī branch) with fruits, Apāmārga, and Śirīṣa. He then should silently throw (a portion) of flour of fried barley into the fire, should cause the Brāhmaṇas to pronounce auspicious wishes, and should circumambulate the house, turning his right side towards it, starting from the room for the (sacred) fire, striking the smoke (of the sacred fire) with those objects (i.e. with the plants and branches mentioned above).

5. He should throw away those objects, after he has made use of them.

6.^[4] On solid stones he places a water-barrel with the two (Sāmans belonging to the verse), 'Vāstoṣpati' (Sāma-veda I, 275) and with (that) Ṛc (itself).

7. Let him pour two pots of water into that barrel with this verse, 'Some assemble' (Sāma-veda-Āraṇyaka, vol. ii, p. 292, ed. Bibl. Indica).

8.^[5] In the evening boiled rice-grains with milk (are prepared).

9. Of that (milk-rice) he should make an oblation with (the Mantra), 'She shone forth as the first' (MB. II, 2, 1).

10.^[6] The rest (should be performed) according to the Sthālīpāka rite.

11. To the west of the fire he touches the Barhis with his two hands turned downwards, and murmurs the Vyāhṛtis (i.e. the solemn utterances), 'In the Kṣatra I establish myself' (ibid. 2. 3).

12. To the west of the fire he should have a layer spread out,

13. Of northward-pointed grass,

14. Inclined towards the north.

15. After they have spread out on that (grass) new rugs, the householder sits down (thereon) on the southern side.

16. Then without an interval the others according to their age,

17. And without an interval their wives, each with her children.

18. When they are seated, the householder touches the layer (of grass) with his two hands turned downwards, and murmurs the verse, 'Be soft to us, O Earth' (ibid. 4).

19. When he has finished that (verse), they lie down on their right sides.

20.^[7] In the same way (they lie down on their right sides) three times, turning themselves towards themselves (i.e. turning round forwards, not backwards, and thus returning to their former position?).

21. They repeat the auspicious hymns as far as they know them;

22.^[8] The complex of Sāmans called Aṛṣṭa, according to some (teachers).

23. Having touched water, they may do whatever they like.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

9, 1 seq. The Āgrahāyaṇī ceremony by which the rites devoted to the Serpents are concluded. Khādira-Gṛhya III, 3, 16 seq.

[2]:

See above, chap. 7.

[3]:

Comp. chap. 7, 17: To the west of that fire he touches the p. 95 earth with his two hands turned downwards, and murmurs the Mantra, 'Adoration to the Earth’s.'

[4]:

He sings the two Kāvasha Sāmans of which the verse Sāma-veda I, 275 is considered as the Yoni, and then repeats that verse itself.

[5]:

This Sūtra is identical with chap. 7, 18.

[6]:

Comp. chap. 7, 20 note.

[7]:

The explanation which the commentary gives of this difficult Sutra can hardly be accepted: trir āvṛtya triḥkṛtvo^ऽbhyasya . . . abhyātmam ātmano gṛhapater ābhimukhyena, ātmana ārabhyety arthaḥ. kathaṃ nāma? yenaiva krameṇopaviṣṭāḥ tenaiva krameṇa saṃveśanaṃ trir āvartayeyuḥ.

[8]:

The commentary gives a second name for this Sāman p. 97 litany, aṛṣṭabhaṅga. Nārāyaṇa says: abodhy agnir (Sv. I, 73) mahi trīṇām (I, 192) iti dve tvāvata (I, 193) ityādikaṃ sarvalokaprasiddhaṃ prayujya.