Praśna 5, Kaṇḍikā 8

1. Then all, headed by the horse, should proceed towards the east with the verse, “O Agni, do thou, knowing, go ahead towards the east. Do thou become Agni going ahead of Agni. Illuminating all directions, do thou shine. Do thou grant strength to our biped and quadruped,”^[1] and also with the four verses, “From the heaven, earth, midregion, wind, cattle, and plants—wherever O jātavedas, thou art generated, do thou, O Agni, come hither enjoying our (oblations).—O Agni do thou, knowing,...—Jātavedas Agni has shone following the early dawn, following the days, following the alround rays of the sun. He has caused the heaven and earth (with light).—Do thou step asunder; thou art great. Sitting within the altar, do thou shire in the three regions.”^[2]

2. The Adhvaryu, while carrying forth the fire, should hold it first at a height of the knee, then at a height of his navel, and then at a height of his mouth.

3. One should not pass between the fire and the sun.

4. The Adhvaryu should carry the fire ahead, and himself should follow it.

5. Towards the south, the Brahman should rotate -either a chariot or a chariot-wheel with the verse, “O Bṛhaspati, do thou fly round with thy chariot, slaying the foe, driving away the enemy, defending hosts, destroyer, victor in battle; do thou be protector of our chariots.”^[3]

6. According to some teachers, the Brahman should murmur this verse which is called apratiratha.

7. He should rotate the chariot^[4] so long as the wheel revolves three times.

8. He should revolve the wheel three times more for a sacrificer who has enemies.

9. After half the distance has teen covered, the sacrificer should give a boon (to the Adhvaryu).

10. After having crossed half the distance, the Adhvaryu should throw down a piece of gold (on the ground) and cross it with the formula, “Thou art the heaven, the sun crossing to the other world, the stability of the sacrificer.”^[5]

11. He should cause the horse facing towards the east [to stamp his right foot (within the fire-place) towards the north of the substances with the verse, “He has overcome every foe, every enemy. Agni has said that; Soma has said that; Bṛhaspati and Savitṛ have said that; Pūṣan has placed me in the world of good action.”^[6]

12. He should cause the horse to turn by the right,and when he is facing towards the west, he should make him stamp (his right foot at the very same place where the foot was formerly stamped) with the next verse (namely, “When, coming out of the ocean or the earth, thou didst cry first at thy birth, the wings of the eagle, the arms of the deer, that is, O steed, thy gracious birth.”)^[7]

13. He should make the horse stamp his foot by the side (of the substances) in such a way that the burning embers of the deposited fire may roll down upon the stamp of the foot.

14. If there is no horse, a bull may perform this rite.

15. One should deposit the fire on the stamp of a goat’s foot. So is it said.^[8]

16. According to some teachers, one should deposit the fire on the stamp of a water-pot (kamaṇḍalu).

17. The Adhvaryu should touch the horse, stand faciṇg towards the west in a bending position, and, while the Bṛhat Sāman is being chanted.^[9]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa I.1.7.1.

[2]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa I.2.1.22,23.

[3]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā IV.6.4,1.

[4]:

Or the chariot wheel.

[5]:

Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā VII.13.

[6]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā IV.2.8.1.

[7]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā IV.2.8.1.

[8]:

The source of this quotation is not known.

[9]:

See the next sūtra.