Adhyāya III, Kaṇḍikā 11

1^[1]. If an animal (is to be sacrificed), let him wash it, if it is not a cow; let him walk round the fires and drive in front (of them) a Palāśa branch into the ground.

2^[2]. The winding (of a Kuśa rope) round (that branch), the touching (of the animal with the grass-blade), the binding (of it to the branch), and the sprinkling (of the animal with water) should be performed in the way prescribed (in the Śrauta-sūtra), and whatever else (is to be done).

3^[3]. After he has sacrificed the two oblations before and after the killing of the animal, (he) silently (sacrifices) five other (oblations, directed to Prajāpati).

4^[4]. And the omentum is taken out (of the killed animal). He should besprinkle it (with water) and name the deity (to whom the sacrifice is directed).

5^[5]. (He should name that deity also) at the touching (of the animal with the grass-blade), at (its) being bound (to the branch), at its being sprinkled (with water), and at (the preparation and oblation) of the mess of cooked food.

6. After he has sacrificed the omentum, he cuts off the Avadāna portions,

7^[6]. All of them, or three, or five.

8^[7]. He sacrifices the Avadāna portions together with the mess of cooked food.

9. A limb of the animal is the sacrificial fee.

10^[8]. At (a sacrifice) directed to a special deity he should sacrifice (an animal) belonging to that deity, should make a portion for that (god), and should say to him (i.e. to the messenger who is to convey that offering to a place sacred to that deity): 'Take care that this may reach that (god).'

11. If there is a river between (the sacrificer and that sacred place), he may have a boat made, or he may dispense with this.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

11, 1. The branch replaces the sacrificial post (yūpa) of the Śrauta ritual. As to agreṇa, comp. Kāty.-Śraut. VI, 2, 11 and the commentary.

[2]:

See Kāty.-Śraut. VI, 3, 15 on the parivyayaṇa, ibid. §§ 19, 26 on the upākaraṇa, § 27 on the niyojana, § 33 on the prokṣaṇa.

[3]:

Kātyāyana VI, 5, 22: He sacrifices (Ājya) with the words, Svāhā to the gods.' § 24: He sacrifices (Ājya) with the words, To the gods svāhā.' In the commentary on § 25 these two oblations are called paripaśavyāhutī.

[4]:

See Kātyāyana VI, 6, 13; Āśvalāyana-Gṛhya I, 11, 10.

[5]:

See above, Sūtra 2.

[6]:

The complete number of the Avadānas (i.e. the portions of the killed animal which have to be cut off, such as the heart, the tongue, &c.) is eleven; see Kāty.-Śraut. VI, 7, 6; Āśvalāyana-Gṛhya I, II, 12.

[7]:

Āśvalāyana-Gṛhya, loc. cit. § 13.

[8]:

10, 11. The way for interpreting these Sūtras is shown by Āśvalāyana-Gṛhya I, 12. I do not think that they have anything to do, as Jayarāma states, with reference to Sūtra II, with the offering due to a relative who has died while being absent on a journey (chap. 10, 44).