Praśna 12, Kaṇḍikā 13

1. The Soma-pressing boards should have the mouth like the rim of a wheel; they should be joined towards the front, should be symmetrically cut and (should be separated) towards the rear by two or four aṅgulas.^[1]

2. They should be narrower towards the front and wider towards the rear.

3. The Adhvaryu should cover two (uparavas) with the southern board and (the other) two with the northern one with the formula, “I arrange (the two boards) smiting the Rakṣases [Rakṣasas], smiting the magical substance, and belonging to Viṣṇu.”^[2]

4. He should surround the boards with earth (dug out from the uparavas) with the formula, “I surround with earth the boards smiting the Rakṣases [Rakṣasas], smiting the magical substance, and belonging to Viṣṇu.”^[3]

5. He should strew around the boards with sacrificial grass with the formula, “I strew around with sacrificial grass the boards smiting the Rakṣases [Rakṣasas], smiting the magical substance, and belonging to Viṣṇu.”^[4]

6. He should recite over the boards the formula, “The two boards are smiting the Rakṣases [Rakṣasas], smiting the magical substance, and belonging to Viṣṇu.”^[5]

7. He should sprinkle with water, by means of the hand with the palm turned upwards, the Soma-pressing skin of a red bull with the formula “I sprinkle thee with water, smiting the Rakṣases [Rakṣasas], smiting the magical substance, and belonging to Viṣṇu.”^[6]

8. On the Soma-pressing boards he should spread out the Soma-pressing skin^[7] with its hairy side upwards and serving for a reservoir with the formula, “I spread thee which thou art smiting the Rakṣases [Rakṣasas], smiting the magical substance, and belonging to Viṣṇu.”^[8]

9. Upon that skin he should place four pressing stones (on four sides), with their tips above, in the position of pressing, and the broad-based crushing stone being the fifth in the middle, each with the formula, “Thou art big, a big stone; do thou utter a big sound for Indra.”^[9]

10. Out of the earth dug out from the uparavas the Adhvaryu should prepare, in front of the support of the southern Havirdhāna cart, a four-cornered mound such as may be adequate for accommodating the (Soma–)utensils.^[10]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The text seems to be rather defective, cf. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XI.13.6.

[2]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.2.2.

[3]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.2.2.

[4]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.2.2.

[5]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.2.2.

[6]:

cf. Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā II.11.

[7]:

According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XII.2.14, it should be cutout of the hide on which the Soma-plant was measured, should have seats for the four pressing stones, and should be rough, circular and raised alround so as to serve as a reservoir.

[8]:

cf. Caraka-kaṭha-saṃhitā II.11.

[9]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.2.2.

[10]:

Some space for passage should be left in front of the mound, cf. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra XI.13.9.