Prapāṭhaka IV, Kāṇḍikā 8

1.^[1] At the Śravaṇā and Āgrahāyaṇī sacrifices he should leave a remainder of fried grains.

2. Having gone out of the village in an easterly or in a northerly direction, and having put wood on the fire at a place where four roads meet, he should sacrifice (those fried grains) with his joined hands, with the single (verses of the text), 'Hearken, Rākā!' (MB. II, 6, 2-5).

3. Walking eastward (he should), looking upwards, (offer a Bali) to the hosts of divine beings, with (the formula), 'Be a giver of wealth' (ibid. 6);

4.^[2] (Walking?) towards the side, (he should offer a Bali) to the hosts of other beings, looking downwards.

5.^[3] Returning (to the fire) without looking back, he should, together with the persons belonging to his family, as far as they have been initiated (by the Upanayana), eat the fried grains.

6. (This ceremony) procures happiness.

7.^[4] (With the two formulas), 'Obeying the will' and 'Śaṅkha' (MB. II, 6, 7. 8), he should sacrifice two oblations of rice and of barley separately,

8.^[5] With reference to a person whose favour he wishes to gain.

9. This is done daily.

10.^[6] With the Ekākṣaryā verse (MB. II. 6, 9) two rites (are performed) which are connected with the observance (of fasting) for a fortnight.

11. One who is desirous of long life, should sacrifice (with that verse), in the night of the full moon, one hundred pegs of Khadira wood;

12. Of iron, if he desires that (his enemies) may be killed.

13. Now another ceremony (performed with the same verse).

14. Having gone out of the village in an easterly or in a northerly direction, he should at a place where four roads meet, or on a mountain, set an elevated surface, consisting of the dung of beasts of the forest, on fire, should sweep the coals away, and should make an oblation of butter (on that surface) with his mouth, repeating that Mantra in his mind.

15. If (that oblation of butter) catches fire, twelve villages (will be his).

16. If smoke rises, at least three.

17. They call this ceremony one which is not in vain.

18.^[7] One who desires that his means of livelihood may not be exhausted, should sacrifice green cow-dung in the evening and in the morning.

19.^[8] Of articles which he has bought, he should, after having fasted three (days and) nights, make an oblation with the formula, 'Here this Viśvakarman' (MB. II. 6, 10).

20. Of a garment he should offer some threads (with that formula),

21. Of a cow some hairs (of its tail);

22. In the same way (he should offer some part) of other articles which he has bought.

23.^[9] The sacrifice of a full oblation (with the verse, 'A full oblation I sacrifice,' MB. II, 6, 11) should be performed on the sacrificial day (i.e. on the first day of the fortnight),

24. And (on such a day let him sacrifice) with (the formula), 'Indrāmavadāt (?)' (MB. II, 6, 12).

25. One who is desirous of glory, (should offer) the first (oblation); one who is desirous of companions, the second.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

8, 1. See above, III, 7; 9. Comp. Khādira-Gṛhya III, 2, 8 seq.

[2]:

The commentary says: Tiryaṅ tiraścīnaṃ yathā bhavati tathā, iti kriyāviśeṣaṇam etat. athavā . . . tiryaṅ tiraścīnaḥ san. Arvāṅ ought to be corrected to avāṅ (comp. Khādira-Gṛhya III, 2) 13).

[3]:

The commentary explains upetaiḥ simply by samīpam āgataiḥ.

[4]:

7 seq. Khādira-Gṛhya IV, 2, 24 seq.

[5]:

Literally, to a person, &c. The meaning is, he should pronounce the name of that person. The Sūtra is repeated from IV, 5, 20; thus its expressions do not exactly fit the connection in which it stands here.

[6]:

10 seq. Khādira-Gṛhya IV, 3, 1 seq.

[7]:

Khādira-Gṛhya IV, 3, 18. On haritagomayān the commentary has the following note: yaiḥ khalu gomayaiḥ saṃkule pradeśe haritāni tṛṇāni praśastāny utpadyante tān kila gomayān haritagomayān ācakṣate. te khalv ārdrā ihābhipreyante. kathaṃ jñāyate. teshv eva tatprasiddheḥ.

[8]:

Khādira-Gṛhya IV, 3, 7.

[9]:

23 seq. Khādira-Gṛhya IV, 3, 8 seq. The Pratīka quoted in Sūtra 24 is corrupt.