Praśna 7, Kaṇḍikā 10

1. “Do you recite verses for the fire being churned out.”

2. As soon as the first verse has been recited thrice, he should churn out thrice by the right with the formula, “Do thou come out following the the Gāyatrī metre; do thou come out following the Triṣṭubh metre; do thou come out following the Jagatī metre.”^[1]

3. As soon as the fire is generated, he should say (to the Hotṛ), “Do you recite verses for the fire which has been generated.”

4. When he is going to carry forth the fire, he should say, “Do you recite the verses for the fire being carried forth.”

5. When he hears the verse, “Bring forward the god, best finder of riches, for offering to the gods; may he sit down in his own birth-place,”^[2] being recited, he should put it (into the Āhavanīya fire) in front of the northern enclosing stick or in front of the northern joint of the enclosing sticks with the verse, “Do you become for us harmonious, having a common place, and non-injuring. Do you not injure the sacrifice, nor the lord of the sacrifice. Do you, O Jātavedases be auspicious to us today.”^[3]

6. He should take up clarified butter with the spoon and offer an oblation with the verse, “The fire has entered the fire, the son of the Ṛṣis, this overlord. I offer oblation to thee with the prayer accompanied by the utterance svāhā. Do not bring the false lot of the gods.”^[4]

7. After having taken up the cord with the Sāvitra formula, he should fasten the right half of the animal’s head by means of the noose^[5] with the formula, “O oblation of gods, I fasten thee with the cord of the holy order.”^[6]

8. He should then bind to the sacrificial post the animal facing towards the west with the formula, “Do thou be bold before men.^[7] I fasten thee who art agreeable to Indra-Agni.”

9. If the animals to be offered are less than eleven, one should bind them towards the north of the sacrificial post; if they are eleven, one should bind them towards the south.

10. The Adhvaryu should sprinkle with water the animal on the surface with the formula, “For water and plants thee.^[8] I sprinkle thee who art agreeable to Indra-Agni.”^[9]

11. He should cause it to drink (water) with the formula, “Thou art thirsty of water.”^[10]

12. He should sprinkle it with water from downwards with the formula, “The oblation offered to gods is well-eaten. O divine waters, make him well-eaten.”^[11]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.7.1.

[2]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā III.5.11.4

[3]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.7.1.

[4]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.7.2.

[5]:

Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra VII.3.8 prescribes that the Adhvaryu should first wind up the cord on the right forefoot of the animal, lift up the cord, and then fix it crosswise on the right half of its head by means of the noose.

[6]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I. 3.84.

[7]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.8.1.

[8]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.8.1.

[9]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.8.7.1.

[10]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.8.1.

[11]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.8.1.