Adhyāya III, Kaṇḍikā 1

1^[1]. (Now shall be explained) the partaking of the first-fruits (of the harvest), of a person who has not set up the (sacred Śrauta) fires.

2^[2]. He cooks a mess of fresh sacrificial food, sacrifices the two Ājya portions, and two Ājya oblations, (with the formulas),

'To the hundredfold armed, hundredfold valiant, hundredfold blissful one, the vanquisher of enemies—he who may create a hundred autumns for us, Indra,—may he lead us across (the gulf of) misfortune. Svāhā!

'The four paths that go between heaven and earth, trodden by the gods—of these (paths) lead us to that which may bring us freedom from decay and decline, O all ye gods. Svāhā!'

3^[3]. Having made oblations of the mess of cooked food to the Āgrayaṇa deities, he makes another oblation to (Agni) Sviṣṭakṛt with (the verse), 'Agni, make this (sacrifice) full, that it may be well offered. And may the god destroy all hostile powers. Come hither, showing us a good path. Bestow on us long life, full of splendour and free from decay. Svāhā!'

4. He then eats (of the fresh fruits with the verses), 'May Agni eat first, for he knows how the Havis (is fit for sacrifice); may he, the friend of all human tribes, make the herbs blessed to us.

From the good you have led us to the better, ye gods! Through thee, the nouṛṣment, may we obtain thee. Thus enter into us, O potion, bringing refreshment, for the good of our children and of ourselves, and pleasant.'

5^[4]. Or with the (verse) sacred to Annapati (the Lord of food).

6^[5]. For barley, however, (he uses the Mantra), 'This barley, mixed with honey, they have ploughed through Sarasvatī under Manu. Indra was lord of the plough, the hundredfold wise one; ploughers were the Maruts, the exuberant givers.'

7. Then (follows) the feeding of the Brāhmaṇas.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

1, 1. The corresponding ceremony of the Śrauta ritual is treated of in Kāty. IV, 6.

[2]:

A fresh Sthālīpāka means probably a Sthālīpāka prepared from the fresh grain of the new harvest.

[3]:

The deities of the Āgrayaṇa ceremony, which occupies in the Śrauta ritual the place corresponding to the rite described here, are Indra and Agni, the Viśve devās, Heaven and Earth.

[4]:

The Annapatīya verse is Vāj. Saṃh. XI, 83.

[5]:

Comp. manāv adhi, Rig-veda VIII, 72, 2.