Bharadvaja-srauta-sutra
by C. G. Kashikar | 1964 | 166,530 words
The English translation of the Bharadvaja-Srauta-Sutra, representing some of the oldest texts on Hindu rituals and rites of passages, dating to at least the 1st millennium BCE. The term Srautasutra refers to a class of Sanskrit Sutra literature dealing with ceremonies based on the Brahmana divisions of the Veda (Sruti). They include Vedic rituals r...
Praśna 2, Kaṇḍikā 6
1. With the formula, “Thou art the milk of the great ones, the sap of plants; I pour out that which is non-perishable for the offering to gods,”[1] he should pour out ample clarified butter in it (= the vessel) over the strainers.
2. With the verse, “Over this Viṣṇu strode...,”[2] he should put it over the Dakṣiṇa fire.
3. Or he should pour it out after first having melted it.
4. With the formula, “For food, thee,”[3] he should put it over the southern half of the Gārhapatya fire.
5. With the formula, “For strength thee,”[4] he should take it away, support it with the veda, and hand it over to the sacrificers’ wife.
6. With the formula, “Thou art the milk of the great ones, sap of plants; with undeceived eye, I gaze on thee for fair offspring,”[5] she should look at it after having closed (and then opened) her eyes and without breathing out.
7. The Āgnīdhra should put it over the northern half of the Gārhapatya fire with the formula, “Thou art brilliance.”[6]
8. With the formula, “For brilliance thee,”[7] he should take it away, support with the veda, and carry with the formula, “Thou art brilliance; do thou follow brilliance.”[7]
9. He should put it over the Āhavanīya fire with the formula, “May Agni not take away thy brilliance.”[8]
10. He should place it towards the north of the prokṣaṇī-water on the line drawn by means of the wooden sword, with the formula, “Thou art the tongue of Agni, the good one of the gods. Do thou be good for every sacrifice, for the gods, for every prayer.”[9]
11. With the formulas, “Thou art butter, thou art truth, thou art the overseer of the truth, thou art the oblation of vaiśvānara Agni, of Viśve Devas, with pure strength, of true might. Thou art power, overpowering. Overpower hostility; overpower those who practise hostility; overpower enmity; overpower those who practise enmity; thou art of a thousandfold strength; do thou quicken me. Thou art the butter of butter; thou art the truth of truth; thou hast true life; thou hast true strength; with truth I besprinkle thee. May I share thee that art such,”[10] the Adhvaryu and the sacrificer should gaze at it after first having closed and then opened their eyes and without breathing out.
12. With the formula, “Thou art the shining; thou art the radiance; thou art the brilliance,”[11] the Adhvaryu should purify it three times by means of the strainers with their ends pointing towards the north by moving backwards and forwards.
13. By means of the strainers which still remain besmeared with clarified butter, he should purify the prokṣaṇī-water with each of the three pādas of the Gāyatrī verse, “May god Savitṛ purify you with a flawless strainer, with the rays of the bright sun.”[12]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.10.2.
[2]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.2.13.1.
[3]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.1.1.
[4]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.1.1.
[5]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.10.2.
[6]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.10.3.
[7]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.10.3.
[8]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.10.3.
[9]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.10.3.
[10]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.6.1.
[11]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā II.10.3.
[12]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.1.10.3.