Praśna 9, Kaṇḍikā 8

1. If the Agnihotra-milk spills out while being takeṇ into the ladle for the first time or for the second time or for the third time, one should not mind it. So is it said.^[1]

2. Āśmarathya has mentioned the expiation-rite in case the Agnihotra-milk spilt out after the entire quantity was taken into the ladle.^[2] Ālekhana has mentioned the expiation-rite if the Agnihotra-milk spilt out even after the Agnihotra-milk was taken for the first, the second or the third time.

3. If the Agnihotra-milk taken for the fourth time spills out, one should pour the remaining quantity of milk into the vessel, take four spoonfuls out of it, and make the offering.^[3] Or as the next best alternative, he should take clarified butter, recite the verse addressed to Varuṇa, and make the offering with another verse addressed to Varuṇa.^[4]

4. According to others, if the milking pot breaks while the cow is being milked, one should take another milking pot, wash it with water, and milk the cow in it.^[5]

5. If (the milk spills out) after the cow has been milked, one should have another cow milked over that milk. If (the milk spills out) after it has been put over the fire, one should have another cow milked over that milk. If (the milk) simmers, one should have another cow milked over that milk. If (the milk spills out) while being taken into the ladle, one should have another cow milked over that milk. If (the milk spills out) after it has been taken into the ladle, he should pour it back (into the Agnihotra-vessel), and have another cow milked over that milk.^[6]

6. If (the milk spills out) while being carried forth, one should touch it with the formula, “Thou art offered in the all-pervading form of Prajāpati, svāhā.”^[7] He should take clarified butter, recite a verse addressed to Varuṇa,^[8] and make the offering with another verse addressed to Varuṇa.^[9]

7. If the milk milked out is red or of any other colour, one should enclose the Dakṣiṇa fire-place, and offer the milk with the formula, “To rudravant Agni svāhā.”^[10]

8. If the Agnihotra-milk simmers,^[11] one should say, “Burn out N.N.” with regard to one whom he hates.

9. If the Agnihotra-milk spills out at the evening Agnihotra, one should not eat anything until the morning offering. If it spills out at the morning offering, lie should not eat anything until the evening offering.^[12]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

= Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra IX.5.9.

[2]:

This concurs with the view expressed above in sūtra 1.

[3]:

= Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra IX.5.9. 2. Compare note on IX.7.9.

[4]:

Compare note on IX.7.9.

[5]:

= Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra IX.5.7.

[6]:

According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra IX.5.8, one should offer whatever quantity has remained.

[7]:

= Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra IX.6.3.

[8]:

XIV.21.3.

[9]:

VII.23.3.

[10]:

According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra IX.5.5, one should offer it either with the vyāhṛtis or silently, and give that cow away to a Brāhmaṇa at whose house he should not take food.

[11]:

This contingency is not referred to in the Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra.

[12]:

= Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra IX.6.9.