Ashvalayana Grihyasutra

उक्तानि वैतानिकानि गृह्याणि वक्ष्यामः

uktāni vaitānikāni gṛhyāṇi vakṣyāmaḥ

The shrauta (vaitanika) rites have been described; we shall now teach the domestic (grihya) rites.

त्रयः पाकयज्ञाः

trayaḥ pākayajñāḥ

The cooked-offering sacrifices (pakayajnas) are three.

हुता अग्नौ हूयमाना अनग्नौ प्रहुता ब्राह्मणभोजने ब्रह्मणिहुताः

hutā agnau hūyamānā anagnau prahutā brāhmaṇabhojane brahmaṇihutāḥ

What is offered into the fire is called 'huta'; what is offered without fire is 'huyamana'; and what is offered by way of feeding a Brahmin is 'prahuta', offered 'in a Brahmin'.

अथाप्यृच उदाहरन्ति यः समिधा य आहुती यो वेदेनेति

athāpyṛca udāharanti yaḥ samidhā ya āhutī yo vedeneti

On this they also cite Rig verses: 'he who worships with the fuel-stick, he who with the oblation, and he who with Vedic recitation' — honoring the fire, the offering, and the Veda alike.

समिधमेवापि श्रद्दधान आदधन्मन्येत यज इदमिति नमस्तस्मै य आहुत्या यो वेदेनेति विद्ययैवाप्यस्ति प्रीतिस्तदेतत्पश्यन्नृषिरुवाच अगोरुधाय गविषेद्युक्षाय दस्म्यं वचः । घृतात्स्वादीयो मधुनश्च वोचतेति वच एव म इदं घृताच्च मधुनश्च स्वादीयोऽस्ति प्रीतिः स्वादीयोऽस्त्वित्येव तदाह आ ते अग्न ऋचा हविर्हृदा तष्टं भरामसि । ते ते भवन्तूक्षण ऋषभासो वशा उतेति एत एव म उक्षाणश्च ऋषभाश्च वशाश्च भवन्ति य इमं स्वाध्यायमधीयत इति यो नमसा स्वध्वर इति नमस्कारेण वै खल्वपि न वै देवा नमस्कारमति यज्ञो वै नम इति हि ब्राह्मणं भवति

samidhamevāpi śraddadhāna ādadhanmanyeta yaja idamiti namastasmai ya āhutyā yo vedeneti vidyayaivāpyasti prītistadetatpaśyannṛṣiruvāca agorudhāya gaviṣedyukṣāya dasmyaṁ vacaḥ | ghṛtātsvādīyo madhunaśca vocateti vaca eva ma idaṁ ghṛtācca madhunaśca svādīyo'sti prītiḥ svādīyo'stvityeva tadāha ā te agna ṛcā havirhṛdā taṣṭaṁ bharāmasi | te te bhavantūkṣaṇa ṛṣabhāso vaśā uteti eta eva ma ukṣāṇaśca ṛṣabhāśca vaśāśca bhavanti ya imaṁ svādhyāyamadhīyata iti yo namasā svadhvara iti namaskāreṇa vai khalvapi na vai devā namaskāramati yajño vai nama iti hi brāhmaṇaṁ bhavati

Even one who offers only the fuel-stick, if he does so with faith, should think 'by this alone I am sacrificing' — homage to him too; so also to one who does so by the oblation, and to one who does so by Vedic recitation — for by [Vedic] knowledge itself there is satisfaction of the gods. Seeing this the sage said: 'For the skillful one who desires cattle, for the owner of the bull, I offer this rare speech, said to be sweeter than ghee and honey' — meaning that this very speech should be, to me, sweeter and more pleasing than ghee and honey. Therefore it is said: 'We bring you, O Agni, an oblation fashioned by the verse and wrought by the heart; may these become for us bulls, oxen and barren cows' — for one who studies this daily recitation, these very words become oxen, bulls and cows. '[Offered] with reverence, for the well-performed sacrifice' — indeed the gods do not disregard reverence (namaskara), for the sacrifice itself is reverence — so runs this Brahmana passage.

Note: Dense Brahmana-style exegesis quoting Rigvedic fragments (cf. RV-adjacent verses on namaskara and the value of svadhyaya); the translation follows the standard interpretive reading but the antecedents of some pronouns are compressed in the source.

अथ सायंप्रातःसिद्धस्य हविष्यस्य जुहुयात्

atha sāyaṁprātaḥsiddhasya haviṣyasya juhuyāt

Then he should make oblation from the food prepared evening and morning.

अग्निहोत्रदेवताभ्यः सोमाय वनस्पतयेऽग्नीषोमाभ्यामिन्द्राग्निभ्यां द्यावापृथिवीभ्यां धन्वन्तरय इन्द्राय विश्वेभ्यो देवेभ्यो ब्रह्मणे

agnihotradevatābhyaḥ somāya vanaspataye'gnīṣomābhyāmindrāgnibhyāṁ dyāvāpṛthivībhyāṁ dhanvantaraya indrāya viśvebhyo devebhyo brahmaṇe

He offers to the deities of the Agnihotra, to Soma, to Vanaspati, to Agni-and-Soma jointly, to Indra-and-Agni jointly, to Heaven-and-Earth, to Dhanvantari, to Indra, to the All-Gods, and to Brahman.

स्वाहेत्यथ बलिहरणम्

svāhetyatha baliharaṇam

Each with 'svaha'. Then follows the offering of the bali.

एताभ्यश्चैव देवताभ्योऽद्भ्य ओषधिवनस्पतिभ्यो गृहाय गृहदेवताभ्यो वास्तुदेवताभ्यः

etābhyaścaiva devatābhyo'dbhya oṣadhivanaspatibhyo gṛhāya gṛhadevatābhyo vāstudevatābhyaḥ

This bali is offered to these same deities, and to the waters, to the plants and trees, to the house, to the house-deities, and to the deities of the building-site.

इन्द्रायेन्द्रपुरुषेभ्यो यमाय यमपुरुषेभ्यो वरुणाय वरुणपुरुषेभ्यः सोमाय सोमपुरुषेभ्य इति प्रतिदिशम्

indrāyendrapuruṣebhyo yamāya yamapuruṣebhyo varuṇāya varuṇapuruṣebhyaḥ somāya somapuruṣebhya iti pratidiśam

To Indra and Indra's attendants, to Yama and Yama's attendants, to Varuna and Varuna's attendants, to Soma and Soma's attendants — thus in each of the directions in turn.

ब्रह्मणे ब्रह्मपुरुषेभ्य इति मध्ये

brahmaṇe brahmapuruṣebhya iti madhye

In the middle, to Brahman and Brahman's attendants.

विश्वेभ्यो देवेभ्यः

viśvebhyo devebhyaḥ

To the All-Gods.

सर्वेभ्यो भूतेभ्यो दिवाचारिभ्य इति दिवा

sarvebhyo bhūtebhyo divācāribhya iti divā

By day, to all beings that roam by day.

नक्तञ्चारिभ्य इति नक्तम्

naktañcāribhya iti naktam

By night, to those that roam by night.

रक्षोभ्य इत्युत्तरतः

rakṣobhya ityuttarataḥ

On the north, to the rakshasas.

स्वधा पितृभ्य इति प्राचीनावीती शेषं दक्षिणा निनयेत्

svadhā pitṛbhya iti prācīnāvītī śeṣaṁ dakṣiṇā ninayet

With the sacred thread over the right shoulder (pracinaviti), saying 'svadha to the fathers', he offers; the remainder he pours out to the south.

अथ खलु यत्र क्व च होष्यन्त्यस्यादिषुमात्रावरं सर्वतः स्थण्डिलमुपलिप्योल्लिख्य षड्लेखा उदगायतां पश्चात्प्रागायते नानान्तयोस्तिस्रो मध्ये तदभ्युक्ष्याग्निं प्रतिष्ठाप्यान्वाधाय परिसमूह्य परिस्तीर्य पुरस्ताद्दक्षिणतः पश्चादुत्तरत इत्युदकसंस्थन्तूष्णीं पर्युक्षणम्

atha khalu yatra kva ca hoṣyantyasyādiṣumātrāvaraṁ sarvataḥ sthaṇḍilamupalipyollikhya ṣaḍlekhā udagāyatāṁ paścātprāgāyate nānāntayostisro madhye tadabhyukṣyāgniṁ pratiṣṭhāpyānvādhāya parisamūhya paristīrya purastāddakṣiṇataḥ paścāduttarata ityudakasaṁsthantūṣṇīṁ paryukṣaṇam

Now wherever the offering is to be made, the ground — measuring not less than an arrow's length on every side — is smeared and marked as an altar-plot: six lines drawn running north, and then three more at each end and three in the middle running east-west; having sprinkled it, set up the fire, laid on fuel, swept around it and strewn grass, he silently sprinkles water in front, on the south, behind, and on the north — this is called the 'water-arrangement' (udakasamstha).

Note: The precise layout of the six marked lines (shadlekhah) is technical altar-geometry that later ritual manuals describe somewhat differently.

पवित्राभ्यामाज्यस्योत्पवनम्

pavitrābhyāmājyasyotpavanam

The clarified butter is purified with the two kusha-grass purifiers.

अप्रच्छिन्नाग्रावनन्तर्गर्भौ प्रादेशमात्रौ कुशौ नानान्तयोर्गृहीत्वाङ्गुष्ठोपकनिष्ठिकाभ्यामुत्तानाभ्यां पाणिभ्यां सवितुष्ट्वा प्रसव उत्पुनाम्यच्छिद्रेण पवित्रेण वसोः सूर्यस्य रश्मिभिरिति प्रागुत्पुनाति सकृन्मन्त्रेण द्विस्तूष्णीम्

apracchinnāgrāvanantargarbhau prādeśamātrau kuśau nānāntayorgṛhītvāṅguṣṭhopakaniṣṭhikābhyāmuttānābhyāṁ pāṇibhyāṁ savituṣṭvā prasava utpunāmyacchidreṇa pavitreṇa vasoḥ sūryasya raśmibhiriti prāgutpunāti sakṛnmantreṇa dvistūṣṇīm

Taking two kusha blades a span long, with uncut tips and unsplit pith, held one at each end between thumb and ring-finger with palms turned upward, he says: 'At Savitri's impulse I purify with the flawless purifier, with the rays of the good Sun' — and purifies toward the east; once with the formula, and twice silently.

कृताकृतमाज्यहोमेषु परिस्तरणम्

kṛtākṛtamājyahomeṣu paristaraṇam

In the ghee-oblations, the strewing of grass may be done or left undone.

तथाज्यभागौ पाकयज्ञेषु

tathājyabhāgau pākayajñeṣu

Likewise the two ghee-portions in the cooked-food sacrifices.

ब्रह्मा च धन्वन्तरियज्ञशूलगववर्जम्

brahmā ca dhanvantariyajñaśūlagavavarjam

And the presence of a Brahman priest is likewise optional, except in the Dhanvantari sacrifice and the Shulagava.

अमुष्मै स्वाहेति जुहुयात्

amuṣmai svāheti juhuyāt

He should offer saying, 'To so-and-so, svaha'.

अग्निरिन्द्रः प्रजापतिर्विश्वेदेवा ब्रह्मेत्यनादेशे

agnirindraḥ prajāpatirviśvedevā brahmetyanādeśe

When no particular deity is named, the offerings go to Agni, Indra, Prajapati, the All-Gods, and Brahman.

एकबर्हिराद्याज्यस्विष्टकृतः स्युस्तुल्यकालाः

ekabarhirādyājyasviṣṭakṛtaḥ syustulyakālāḥ

The strewing of grass, the first ghee-oblation, and the Svishtakrit offering should be made only once, at the same time.

तदेषाभियज्ञगाथा गीयते । पाकयज्ञान्समासाद्यैकाज्यानेकबर्हिषः । एकस्विष्टकृतः कुर्यान्नानापि सति दैवते इति

tadeṣābhiyajñagāthā gīyate | pākayajñānsamāsādyaikājyānekabarhiṣaḥ | ekasviṣṭakṛtaḥ kuryānnānāpi sati daivate iti

On this, this verse in praise of the sacrifice is sung: 'Having brought the cooked-food sacrifices together, one should perform them with a single ghee-oblation, a single strewing of grass, and a single Svishtakrit — even though the deities differ.'

उदगयन आपूर्यमाणपक्षे कल्याणे नक्षत्रे चौलकर्मोपनयनगोदानविवाहाः

udagayana āpūryamāṇapakṣe kalyāṇe nakṣatre caulakarmopanayanagodānavivāhāḥ

The tonsure, investiture, first beard-shaving, and marriage should be done in the sun's northern course, in the waxing fortnight, under an auspicious asterism.

सार्वकालमेके विवाहम्

sārvakālameke vivāham

Some hold that marriage may be performed at any time.

तेषां पुरस्ताच्चतस्र आज्याहुतीर्जुहुयात्

teṣāṁ purastāccatasra ājyāhutīrjuhuyāt

Before these rites, he should offer four oblations of ghee.

अग्न आयूंषि पवस इति तिसृभिः प्रजापते न त्वदेतान्यन्य इति च व्याहृतिभिर्वा

agna āyūṁṣi pavasa iti tisṛbhiḥ prajāpate na tvadetānyanya iti ca vyāhṛtibhirvā

With the three verses beginning 'Agne ayumshi pavasa', and with 'Prajapate na tvad etany anyah', or with the Vyahritis (bhuh, bhuvah, svah).

समुच्चयमेके

samuccayameke

Some prescribe doing both together.

नैके काञ्चन

naike kāñcana

Some prescribe none of these additional oblations at all.

त्वमर्यमा भवसि यत्कनीनामिति विवाहे चतुर्थीम्

tvamaryamā bhavasi yatkanīnāmiti vivāhe caturthīm

At a marriage, he offers the fourth oblation with 'tvam aryama bhavasi yat kaninam' ('you become Aryaman for maidens').

कुलमग्रे परीक्षेत ये मातृतः पितृश्चेति यथोक्तं पुरस्तात्

kulamagre parīkṣeta ye mātṛtaḥ pitṛśceti yathoktaṁ purastāt

First he should examine the family of the bride, on both the mother's and the father's side, as already described before.

बुद्धिमते कन्यां प्रयच्छेत्

buddhimate kanyāṁ prayacchet

He should give the girl to a man of intelligence.

बुद्धिरूपशीललक्षणसम्पन्नामरोगामुपयच्छेत

buddhirūpaśīlalakṣaṇasampannāmarogāmupayaccheta

He should take in marriage a girl endowed with intelligence, beauty, good character and auspicious marks, and free from disease.

दुर्विज्ञेयानि लक्षणानीति

durvijñeyāni lakṣaṇānīti

For such marks are hard to discern.

अष्टौ पिण्डान्कृत्वा ऋतमग्रे प्रथमं जज्ञ ऋते सत्यं प्रतिष्ठितं यदियं कुमार्यभिजाता तदियमिह प्रतिपद्यतां यत्सत्यं तद्दृश्यतामिति पिण्डानभिमन्त्र्य कुमारीं ब्रूयादेषामेकं गृहाणेति

aṣṭau piṇḍānkṛtvā ṛtamagre prathamaṁ jajña ṛte satyaṁ pratiṣṭhitaṁ yadiyaṁ kumāryabhijātā tadiyamiha pratipadyatāṁ yatsatyaṁ taddṛśyatāmiti piṇḍānabhimantrya kumārīṁ brūyādeṣāmekaṁ gṛhāṇeti

Having made eight balls of earth, he consecrates them with 'In the beginning Rita was first born; on Rita truth is established; whatever this maiden was born to, may she here attain; may what is true be seen' — and then says to the girl, 'Take one of these.'

क्षेत्राच्चेदुभयतःसस्याद्गृह्णीयादन्नवत्यस्याः प्रजा भविष्यतीति विद्याद्गोष्ठात्पशुमती वेदिपुरीषाद्ब्रह्मवर्चस्विन्यविदासिनो ह्रदात्सर्वसम्पन्ना देवनात्कितवी चतुष्पथाद्द्विप्रव्राजिनीरिणादधन्या श्मशानात् पतिघ्नी

kṣetrāccedubhayataḥsasyādgṛhṇīyādannavatyasyāḥ prajā bhaviṣyatīti vidyādgoṣṭhātpaśumatī vedipurīṣādbrahmavarcasvinyavidāsino hradātsarvasampannā devanātkitavī catuṣpathāddvipravrājinīriṇādadhanyā śmaśānāt patighnī

If she takes it from a field with crops on both sides, one should know her offspring will be rich in food; from a cow-pen, rich in cattle; from the altar-earth, rich in Brahmanic splendor; from an unfailing lake, that she will have everything; from a gambling-place, that she will be a gambler; from a crossroads, that she will be unfaithful; from barren ground, that she will be unlucky; from a cremation-ground, that she will be the death of her husband.

अलंकृत्य कन्यामुदकपूर्वां दद्यादेष ब्राह्मो विवाहः । तस्यां जातो द्वादशावरान्द्वादश परान्पुनात्युभयतः । ऋत्विजे वितते कर्मणि दद्यादलंकृत्य स दैवो दशावरान्दश परान्पुनात्युभयतः । सह धर्मं चरत इति प्राजापत्योऽष्टावरानष्ट परान्पुनात्युभयतः । गोमिथुनं दत्त्वोपयच्छेत स आर्षः सप्तावरा न्सप्त परान्पुनात्युभयतः । मिथः समयं कृत्वोपयच्छेत स गान्धर्वः। धनेनोपतोष्योपयच्छेत स आसुरः । सुप्तानां प्रमत्तानां वापहरेत् स पैशाचः । हत्वा भित्त्वा च शीर्षाणि रुदतीं रुदद्भ्यो हरेत् स राक्षसः

alaṁkṛtya kanyāmudakapūrvāṁ dadyādeṣa brāhmo vivāhaḥ | tasyāṁ jāto dvādaśāvarāndvādaśa parānpunātyubhayataḥ | ṛtvije vitate karmaṇi dadyādalaṁkṛtya sa daivo daśāvarāndaśa parānpunātyubhayataḥ | saha dharmaṁ carata iti prājāpatyo'ṣṭāvarānaṣṭa parānpunātyubhayataḥ | gomithunaṁ dattvopayaccheta sa ārṣaḥ saptāvarā nsapta parānpunātyubhayataḥ | mithaḥ samayaṁ kṛtvopayaccheta sa gāndharvaḥ| dhanenopatoṣyopayaccheta sa āsuraḥ | suptānāṁ pramattānāṁ vāpaharet sa paiśācaḥ | hatvā bhittvā ca śīrṣāṇi rudatīṁ rudadbhyo haret sa rākṣasaḥ

Adorning the girl and giving her together with water to the groom — this is the Brahma marriage; a son born of it purifies twelve ancestors before and twelve after, on both sides. Giving her, adorned, to the officiating priest during a sacrifice — this is the Daiva; it purifies ten before and ten after, on both sides. Giving her with 'walk together in duty' — this is the Prajapatya; it purifies eight before and eight after, on both sides. Taking her after giving a pair of cattle — this is the Arsha; it purifies seven before and seven after, on both sides. Taking her by private mutual agreement — this is the Gandharva. Taking her by satisfying the family with wealth — this is the Asura. Carrying her off while asleep or unguarded — this is the Paishacha. Slaying and wounding her kin and severing heads, carrying off a weeping girl from weeping kin — this is the Rakshasa marriage.

अथ खलूच्चावचा जनपदधर्मा ग्रामधर्माश्च तान्विवाहे प्रतीयात्

atha khalūccāvacā janapadadharmā grāmadharmāśca tānvivāhe pratīyāt

The customs of countries and villages vary greatly; these one should follow at the marriage.

यत्तु समानं तद्वक्ष्यामः

yattu samānaṁ tadvakṣyāmaḥ

But what is common to all, we shall describe.

पश्चादग्नेर्दृषदमश्मानं प्रतिष्ठाप्योत्तरपुरस्तादुदकुम्भं समन्वारब्धायां हुत्वा तिष्ठन् प्रत्यङ्मुखः प्राङ्मुख्या आसीनाया गृह्णामि ते सौभगत्वाय हस्तमित्यङ्गुष्ठमेव गृह्णीयाद्यदि कामयीत पुमांस एव मे पुत्रा जायेरन्निति

paścādagnerdṛṣadamaśmānaṁ pratiṣṭhāpyottarapurastādudakumbhaṁ samanvārabdhāyāṁ hutvā tiṣṭhan pratyaṅmukhaḥ prāṅmukhyā āsīnāyā gṛhṇāmi te saubhagatvāya hastamityaṅguṣṭhameva gṛhṇīyādyadi kāmayīta pumāṁsa eva me putrā jāyeranniti

Setting up a grinding-stone and a stone behind the fire, and a water-jar to the northeast, having offered while she touches him, standing facing west while she sits facing east, he says, 'I take your hand for good fortune' — grasping only the thumb if he wishes for only sons.

अङ्गुलीरेव स्त्रीकामः

aṅgulīreva strīkāmaḥ

One who desires only daughters should grasp only the fingers.

रोमान्ते हस्तं साङ्गुष्ठमुभयकामः

romānte hastaṁ sāṅguṣṭhamubhayakāmaḥ

One who desires both should grasp the whole hand with the thumb, at the wrist.

प्रदक्षिणमग्निमुदकुम्भञ्च त्रिः परिणयञ्जपति । अमोऽहमस्मि सा त्वं सा त्वमस्यमोऽहं द्यौरहं पृथिवी त्वं सामाहमृक्त्वं तावेह विवहावहै प्रजां प्रजनयावहै सम्प्रियौ रोचिष्णू सुमनस्यमानौ जीवेव शरदः शतमिति

pradakṣiṇamagnimudakumbhañca triḥ pariṇayañjapati | amo'hamasmi sā tvaṁ sā tvamasyamo'haṁ dyaurahaṁ pṛthivī tvaṁ sāmāhamṛktvaṁ tāveha vivahāvahai prajāṁ prajanayāvahai sampriyau rociṣṇū sumanasyamānau jīveva śaradaḥ śatamiti

Leading her three times clockwise around the fire and the water-jar, he recites: 'I am the sky, you are the earth; you are the earth, I am the sky; I am the Saman, you are the Rik — let us marry here, let us beget offspring, loving each other, radiant, well-disposed in mind, let us live a hundred autumns.'

परिणीय परिणीयाश्मानमारोहयतीममश्मानमारोहाश्मेव त्वं स्थिरा भव । सहस्व पृतनायतोऽभितिष्ठ प्रतन्यत इति

pariṇīya pariṇīyāśmānamārohayatīmamaśmānamārohāśmeva tvaṁ sthirā bhava | sahasva pṛtanāyato'bhitiṣṭha pratanyata iti

After each circling, he makes her step on the stone: 'Step on this stone; be firm like a stone. Withstand those who assail us; overcome those who oppose.'

वध्वञ्जला उपस्तीर्य भ्राता भ्रातृस्थानो वा द्विर्लाजानावपति

vadhvañjalā upastīrya bhrātā bhrātṛsthāno vā dvirlājānāvapati

The bride's garment-fold being spread out as a container, her brother — or one standing in a brother's place — pours parched grain into it twice.

त्रिर्जामदग्न्यानाम्

trirjāmadagnyānām

Three times, among the Jamadagnyas.

प्रत्यभिघार्य हविः

pratyabhighārya haviḥ

The oblation is besprinkled with ghee again.

अवत्तञ्च

avattañca

And a portion is cut off and offered.

एषोऽवदानधर्मः

eṣo'vadānadharmaḥ

This is the rule for cutting off the offering-portion.

अर्यमणं नु देवं कन्या अग्निमयक्षत स इमां देवो अर्यमा प्रेतो मुञ्चातु नामुतः स्वाहा । वरुणं नु देवं कन्या अग्निमयक्षत स इमां देवो वरुणः प्रेतो मुञ्चातु नामुतः स्वाहा । पूषणं नु देवं कन्या अग्निमयक्षत स इमां देवः पूषा प्रेतो मुञ्चातुनामुतः स्वाहेत्यविच्छिन्दत्यञ्जलिं स्रुचेव जुहुयात्

aryamaṇaṁ nu devaṁ kanyā agnimayakṣata sa imāṁ devo aryamā preto muñcātu nāmutaḥ svāhā | varuṇaṁ nu devaṁ kanyā agnimayakṣata sa imāṁ devo varuṇaḥ preto muñcātu nāmutaḥ svāhā | pūṣaṇaṁ nu devaṁ kanyā agnimayakṣata sa imāṁ devaḥ pūṣā preto muñcātunāmutaḥ svāhetyavicchindatyañjaliṁ sruceva juhuyāt

'The maiden worshipped the god Aryaman through Agni; may that god Aryaman release her from here, not from there — svaha. The maiden worshipped the god Varuna through Agni; may Varuna release her from here, not from there — svaha. The maiden worshipped the god Pushan through Agni; may Pushan release her from here, not from there — svaha' — offering thus, using her cupped hands as the ladle, without letting go.

अपरिणीय शूर्पपुटेनाभ्यात्मं तूष्णीं चतुर्थम्

apariṇīya śūrpapuṭenābhyātmaṁ tūṣṇīṁ caturtham

Without circling again, he offers the fourth oblation silently, holding a winnowing-basket toward himself.

ओप्योप्य हैके लाजान्परिणयन्ति तथोत्तमे आहुती न सन्निपततः

opyopya haike lājānpariṇayanti tathottame āhutī na sannipatataḥ

Some lead her around only while pouring in the grain each time; thus for the last two oblations the circling and the pouring do not coincide.

अथास्यै शिखे विमुञ्चति यदि कृते भवतः

athāsyai śikhe vimuñcati yadi kṛte bhavataḥ

Then he unties her two locks of hair, if they have been tied.

ऊर्णास्तुके केशपक्षयोर्बद्धे भवतः । प्र त्वा मुञ्चामि वरुणस्य पाशादिति

ūrṇāstuke keśapakṣayorbaddhe bhavataḥ | pra tvā muñcāmi varuṇasya pāśāditi

The locks are tied with tufts of wool. He says: 'I release you from the noose of Varuna.'

उत्तरामुत्तरया

uttarāmuttarayā

The next lock is untied with the next verse.

अथैनामपराजितायान्दिशि सप्तपदान्यभ्युत्क्रामयतीष एकपद्यूर्जे द्विपदी रायस्पोषाय त्रिपदी मायोभव्याय चतुष्पदी प्रजाभ्यः पञ्चपद्यृतुभ्यः षट्पदी सखा सप्तपदी भव सा मामनुव्रता भव पुत्रान्विन्दावहै बहूंस्ते सन्तु जरदष्टय इति

athaināmaparājitāyāndiśi saptapadānyabhyutkrāmayatīṣa ekapadyūrje dvipadī rāyaspoṣāya tripadī māyobhavyāya catuṣpadī prajābhyaḥ pañcapadyṛtubhyaḥ ṣaṭpadī sakhā saptapadī bhava sā māmanuvratā bhava putrānvindāvahai bahūṁste santu jaradaṣṭaya iti

Then in the northeast (unconquered) direction he makes her step seven steps: 'One step for sap, two for wealth and increase, three for prosperity, four for offspring, five for the seasons, six — be my friend, at the seventh step be my friend; be devoted to me; may we find sons; may you have many, living to old age.'

उभयोः सन्निधाय शिरसी उदकुम्भेनावसिच्य

ubhayoḥ sannidhāya śirasī udakumbhenāvasicya

Bringing their two heads close together, he sprinkles them with water from the jar.

ब्राह्मण्याश्च वृद्धाया जीवपत्न्या जीवप्रजाया अगार एतां रात्रिं वसेत्

brāhmaṇyāśca vṛddhāyā jīvapatnyā jīvaprajāyā agāra etāṁ rātriṁ vaset

That night the couple should stay in the house of an elderly Brahmin woman whose husband and children are living.

ध्रुवमरुन्धतीं सप्तऋषीनिति दृष्ट्वा वाचं विसृजेत जीवपत्नीं प्रजां विन्देयेति

dhruvamarundhatīṁ saptaṛṣīniti dṛṣṭvā vācaṁ visṛjeta jīvapatnīṁ prajāṁ vindeyeti

Having looked at the pole-star, Arundhati, and the Seven Sages, he should break silence: 'May I obtain a living wife and offspring.'

प्रयाण उपपद्यमाने पूषा त्वेतो नयतु हस्तगृह्येति यानमारोहयेत्

prayāṇa upapadyamāne pūṣā tveto nayatu hastagṛhyeti yānamārohayet

When departure is at hand, he makes her mount the vehicle, saying 'May Pushan lead you from here, taking your hand.'

अश्मन्वतीरीयते संरभध्वमित्यर्द्धर्चेन नावमारोहयेत्

aśmanvatīrīyate saṁrabhadhvamityarddharcena nāvamārohayet

With the half-verse 'The stony rivers are crossed — hold fast', he makes her mount a boat.

उत्तरेणोक्त्रमयेत्

uttareṇoktramayet

He should tie it with a rope from the north.

जीवं रुदन्तीति रुदत्याम्

jīvaṁ rudantīti rudatyām

If she weeps, he recites 'jivam rudanti...' ('living, weeping...').

विवाहाग्निमग्रतोऽजस्रन्नयन्ति

vivāhāgnimagrato'jasrannayanti

They carry the wedding-fire continuously in front of the procession.

कल्याणेषु देशवृक्षचतुष्पथेषु माविदन्परिपन्थिन इति जपेत्

kalyāṇeṣu deśavṛkṣacatuṣpatheṣu māvidanparipanthina iti japet

At auspicious places, trees, and crossroads, he should recite 'may waylayers not find us'.

वासेवासे सुमङ्गलीरियं वधूरितीक्षकानीक्षेत

vāsevāse sumaṅgalīriyaṁ vadhūritīkṣakānīkṣeta

At every halting-place he has the onlookers say, 'This bride is of good fortune', and look at her.

इह प्रियं प्रजया ते समृध्यतामिति गृहं प्रवेशयेत्

iha priyaṁ prajayā te samṛdhyatāmiti gṛhaṁ praveśayet

'May what is dear here prosper for you with offspring' — saying this, he leads her into the house.

विवाहाग्निमुपसमाधाय पश्चादस्यानडुहं चर्मास्तीर्य प्राग्ग्रीवमुत्तरलोम तस्मिन्नुपविष्टायां समन्वारब्धायाम् आ नः प्रजां जनयतु प्रजापतिरिति चतसृभिः प्रत्यृचं हुत्वा समञ्जन्तु विश्वेदेवा इति दध्नः प्राश्य प्रतिप्रयच्छेदाज्यशेषेण वानक्ति हृदये

vivāhāgnimupasamādhāya paścādasyānaḍuhaṁ carmāstīrya prāggrīvamuttaraloma tasminnupaviṣṭāyāṁ samanvārabdhāyām ā naḥ prajāṁ janayatu prajāpatiriti catasṛbhiḥ pratyṛcaṁ hutvā samañjantu viśvedevā iti dadhnaḥ prāśya pratiprayacchedājyaśeṣeṇa vānakti hṛdaye

Having set up the wedding-fire, and spread an ox-hide behind it with the neck east and the hair upward, she sits on it and while she touches him he offers one oblation to each of four verses beginning 'May Prajapati beget offspring for us'; then, reciting 'May the All-Gods anoint you', he tastes curds and hands the rest back to her, or anoints her heart with the remaining ghee.

अक्षारालवणाशिनौ ब्रह्मचारिणावलंकुर्वाणावधःशायिनौ स्याताम्

akṣārālavaṇāśinau brahmacāriṇāvalaṁkurvāṇāvadhaḥśāyinau syātām

The two should eat without pungent seasoning or salt, live as chastely as students, not adorn themselves, and sleep on the ground.

अत ऊर्द्ध्वं त्रिरात्रं द्वादशरात्रम्

ata ūrddhvaṁ trirātraṁ dvādaśarātram

This continues for three nights, or for twelve nights, thereafter.

संवत्सरं वैक ऋषिर्जायत इति

saṁvatsaraṁ vaika ṛṣirjāyata iti

Or for a full year — for it is said, 'a seer is born from such continence'.

चरितव्रतः सूर्याविदे वधूवस्त्रं दद्यात्

caritavrataḥ sūryāvide vadhūvastraṁ dadyāt

Having completed the vow, he should give the bride's garment to a Brahmin woman versed in the Suryasukta.

अन्नं ब्राह्मणेभ्यः

annaṁ brāhmaṇebhyaḥ

Food to the Brahmins.

अथ स्वस्त्ययनं वाचयीत

atha svastyayanaṁ vācayīta

Then he should have a blessing for prosperity recited.

पाणिग्रहणादि गृह्यं परिचरेत्स्वयं पत्न्यपि वा पुत्रः कुमार्यन्तेवासी वा

pāṇigrahaṇādi gṛhyaṁ paricaretsvayaṁ patnyapi vā putraḥ kumāryantevāsī vā

From the wedding onward, he should himself tend the domestic fire, or his wife, son, unmarried daughter, or pupil may do so.

नित्यानुगृहीतं स्यात्

nityānugṛhītaṁ syāt

It should be tended continuously.

यदि तूपशाम्येत्पत्न्युपवसेदित्येके

yadi tūpaśāmyetpatnyupavasedityeke

But if it goes out, some say the wife should fast.

तस्याग्निहोत्रेण

tasyāgnihotreṇa

It is rekindled by the Agnihotra procedure for it.

प्रादुष्करणहोमकालौ व्याख्यातौ

prāduṣkaraṇahomakālau vyākhyātau

The manner of producing fire anew, and the time for the oblation, have already been explained.

हौम्यं च मांसवर्जम्

haumyaṁ ca māṁsavarjam

And what is to be offered may be anything except meat.

कामं तु व्रीहियवतिलैः

kāmaṁ tu vrīhiyavatilaiḥ

But preferably with rice, barley, or sesame.

अग्नये स्वाहेति सायं जुहुयात् सूर्याय स्वाहेति प्रातस्तूष्णीं द्वितीये उभयत्र

agnaye svāheti sāyaṁ juhuyāt sūryāya svāheti prātastūṣṇīṁ dvitīye ubhayatra

In the evening he offers saying 'To Agni, svaha'; in the morning, 'To Surya, svaha' — the second oblation silently, on both occasions.

अथ पार्वणस्थालीपाकः

atha pārvaṇasthālīpākaḥ

Now the Parvana Sthalipaka, the new- and full-moon pot-cooked offering.

तस्य दर्शपूर्णमासाभ्यामुपवासः

tasya darśapūrṇamāsābhyāmupavāsaḥ

For it, the fast is observed on the days of new and full moon.

इध्माबर्हिषोश्च सन्नहनम्

idhmābarhiṣośca sannahanam

And the tying together of the fuel-sticks and the sacrificial grass.

देवताश्चोपांशुयाजेन्द्रमहेन्द्रवर्जम्

devatāścopāṁśuyājendramahendravarjam

And the deities are worshipped with the silent (upamshu) offering, except Indra and Mahendra.

काम्या इतराः

kāmyā itarāḥ

The others are optional, chosen according to one's wish.

तस्यै तस्यै देवतायै चतुरश्चतुरो मुष्टीन्निर्वपति पवित्रे अन्तर्द्धायामुष्मै त्वा जुष्टं निर्वपामीति

tasyai tasyai devatāyai caturaścaturo muṣṭīnnirvapati pavitre antarddhāyāmuṣmai tvā juṣṭaṁ nirvapāmīti

For each deity in turn he pours out four handfuls of grain onto the laid-down purifier, saying 'I pour you out, dear to so-and-so'.

अथैनान्प्रोक्षति यथानिरुप्तममुष्मै त्वा जुष्टं प्रोक्षामीति

athainānprokṣati yathāniruptamamuṣmai tvā juṣṭaṁ prokṣāmīti

Then he sprinkles them, in the order poured out, saying 'I sprinkle you, dear to so-and-so'.

अवहतांस्त्रिष्फलीकृतान्नाना श्रपयेत्

avahatāṁstriṣphalīkṛtānnānā śrapayet

Having had the grains husked and split into three, he should cook them separately.

समोप्य वा

samopya vā

Or mix them together and cook as one.

यदि नाना श्रपयेद्विभज्य तण्डुलानभिमृशेदिदममुष्मा इदममुष्मा इति

yadi nānā śrapayedvibhajya taṇḍulānabhimṛśedidamamuṣmā idamamuṣmā iti

If he cooks them separately, he should divide the rice-grains and touch each portion, saying 'This is for so-and-so, this is for so-and-so'.

यद्यु वै समोप्य व्युद्धारं जुहुयात्

yadyu vai samopya vyuddhāraṁ juhuyāt

But if he mixes and cooks them together, he offers by separating out a portion for each deity at the time of oblation.

शृतानि हवींष्यभिघार्योदगुद्वास्य बर्हिष्यासाद्येध्मभिघार्यायन्त इध्म आत्मा जातवेदस्तेनेध्यस्व वर्द्धस्व चेद्ध वर्द्धय चास्मान् प्रजया पशुभिर्ब्रह्मवर्चसेनान्नाद्येन समेधय स्वाहेति

śṛtāni havīṁṣyabhighāryodagudvāsya barhiṣyāsādyedhmabhighāryāyanta idhma ātmā jātavedastenedhyasva varddhasva ceddha varddhaya cāsmān prajayā paśubhirbrahmavarcasenānnādyena samedhaya svāheti

Having sprinkled ghee on the cooked oblations, lifted them off to the north, and set them on the strewn grass, he sprinkles the fuel-stick, saying: 'This fuel-stick, O Jatavedas, is your self; by it be kindled, grow; and being kindled, make us grow in offspring, in cattle, in Brahmanic splendor, in food — svaha.'

तूष्णीमाघारावाघार्याज्यभागौ जुहुयादग्नये स्वाहा सोमाय स्वाहेति

tūṣṇīmāghārāvāghāryājyabhāgau juhuyādagnaye svāhā somāya svāheti

Having silently made the two preliminary besprinklings, he offers the two ghee-portions: 'To Agni, svaha; to Soma, svaha.'

उत्तरमाग्नेयं दक्षिणं सौम्यम्

uttaramāgneyaṁ dakṣiṇaṁ saumyam

The northern portion belongs to Agni, the southern to Soma.

विज्ञायते चक्षुषी वा एते यज्ञस्य यदाज्यभागौ

vijñāyate cakṣuṣī vā ete yajñasya yadājyabhāgau

It is understood that these two ghee-portions are indeed the two eyes of the sacrifice.

तस्मात्पुरुषस्य हि प्रत्यङ्मुखस्यासीनस्य दक्षिणमक्ष्युत्तरं भवत्युत्तरं दक्षिणम्

tasmātpuruṣasya hi pratyaṅmukhasyāsīnasya dakṣiṇamakṣyuttaraṁ bhavatyuttaraṁ dakṣiṇam

For this reason: for a man seated facing west, his right eye is toward the north and his left toward the south.

मध्ये हवींषि प्रत्यक्तरं वा प्राक्संस्थान्युदक्संस्थानि वोत्तरपुरस्तात्सौविष्टकृतम्

madhye havīṁṣi pratyaktaraṁ vā prāksaṁsthānyudaksaṁsthāni vottarapurastātsauviṣṭakṛtam

The oblations are placed in the middle, or more to the west; ending toward the east or toward the north; the Svishtakrit portion to the northeast.

मध्यात्पूर्वार्द्धाच्च हविषोऽवद्यति

madhyātpūrvārddhācca haviṣo'vadyati

He cuts the offering-portion from the middle and from the front half of the oblation.

मध्यात्पूर्वार्द्धात् पश्चार्द्धादिति पञ्चावत्तिनाम्

madhyātpūrvārddhāt paścārddhāditi pañcāvattinām

'From the middle, from the front half, from the back half' — thus for the rule of five cuttings.

उत्तरार्द्धात् सौविष्टकृतम्

uttarārddhāt sauviṣṭakṛtam

The Svishtakrit portion is cut from the back half.

नात्र हवींषि प्रत्यभिघारयति स्विष्टकृतं द्विरभिघारयति

nātra havīṁṣi pratyabhighārayati sviṣṭakṛtaṁ dvirabhighārayati

Here he does not re-sprinkle the oblations after cutting; the Svishtakrit portion he sprinkles twice.

यदस्य कर्मणोऽत्यरीरिचं यद्वा न्यूनमिहाकरम् । अग्निष्टत्स्विष्टकृद्विद्वान्सर्वं स्विष्टं सुहुतं करोतु मे । अग्नये स्विष्टकृते सुहुतहुते सर्वप्रायश्चित्ताहुतीनां कामानां समर्द्धयित्रे सर्वान्नः कामान्त्समर्द्धय स्वाहेति

yadasya karmaṇo'tyarīricaṁ yadvā nyūnamihākaram | agniṣṭatsviṣṭakṛdvidvānsarvaṁ sviṣṭaṁ suhutaṁ karotu me | agnaye sviṣṭakṛte suhutahute sarvaprāyaścittāhutīnāṁ kāmānāṁ samarddhayitre sarvānnaḥ kāmāntsamarddhaya svāheti

'Whatever excess I have made in this rite, or whatever deficiency I have made — may Agni Svishtakrit, who knows, make it all well-offered for me. To Agni Svishtakrit, who fulfills all wishes through the expiatory oblations — fulfill all our wishes — svaha.'

बर्हिषि पूर्णपात्रं निनयेत्

barhiṣi pūrṇapātraṁ ninayet

He should place the full vessel on the sacrificial grass.

एषोऽवभृथः

eṣo'vabhṛthaḥ

This is the substitute for the concluding bath (avabhritha).

पाकयज्ञानामेतत्तन्त्रम्

pākayajñānāmetattantram

This is the general procedure for the cooked-food sacrifices.

हविरुच्छिष्टं दक्षिणा

havirucchiṣṭaṁ dakṣiṇā

The remnant of the oblation is itself the priest's fee.

अथ पशुकल्पः

atha paśukalpaḥ

Now the procedure for a domestic animal offering.

उत्तरतोऽग्नेः शामित्रस्यायतनं कृत्वा पाययित्वा पशुमाप्लाव्य पुरस्तात् प्रत्यङ्मुखमवस्थाप्याग्निं दूतमिति द्वाभ्यां हुत्वा सपलाशयार्द्रशाखया पश्चादुपस्पृशेदमुष्मै त्वा जुष्टमुपाकरोमीति

uttarato'gneḥ śāmitrasyāyatanaṁ kṛtvā pāyayitvā paśumāplāvya purastāt pratyaṅmukhamavasthāpyāgniṁ dūtamiti dvābhyāṁ hutvā sapalāśayārdraśākhayā paścādupaspṛśedamuṣmai tvā juṣṭamupākaromīti

Having made the place for the slaughtering-fire to the north of the main fire, given the animal water to drink and bathed it, stationed it in front facing west, he offers with the two verses 'Agni the messenger', and then touches it from behind with a moist leafy branch, saying 'I prepare you, dear to so-and-so.'

व्रीहियवमतीभिरद्भिः पुरस्तात्प्रोक्षत्यमुष्मै त्वा जुष्टं प्रोक्षामीति

vrīhiyavamatībhiradbhiḥ purastātprokṣatyamuṣmai tvā juṣṭaṁ prokṣāmīti

He sprinkles it in front with water mixed with rice and barley, saying 'I sprinkle you, dear to so-and-so.'

तासां पाययित्वा दक्षिणमनु बाहुं शेषं निनयेत्

tāsāṁ pāyayitvā dakṣiṇamanu bāhuṁ śeṣaṁ ninayet

Having given it that water to drink, he pours the rest down along its right foreleg.

आवृतैव पर्यग्नि कृत्वोदञ्चं नयन्ति

āvṛtaiva paryagni kṛtvodañcaṁ nayanti

Turning it round the fire, they lead it northward.

तस्य पुरस्तादुल्मुकं हरन्ति

tasya purastādulmukaṁ haranti

They carry a firebrand ahead of it.

शामित्र एष भवति

śāmitra eṣa bhavati

This becomes the slaughtering-fire.

वपाश्रपणीभ्यां कर्ता पशुमन्वारभते

vapāśrapaṇībhyāṁ kartā paśumanvārabhate

The performer touches the animal with the two vapa-roasting spits.

कर्तारं यजमानः

kartāraṁ yajamānaḥ

The sacrificer in turn touches the performer.

पश्चाच्छमित्रस्य प्राक्शिरसं प्रत्यक्शिरसं वोदक्पादं संज्ञप्य पुरा नाभेस्तृणमन्तर्द्धाय वपामुत्खिद्य वपामवदाय वपाश्रपणीभ्यां परिगृह्याद्भिरभिषिच्य शामित्रे प्रताप्याग्रेणैनमग्निं हुत्वा दक्षिणत आसीनः श्रपयित्वा परीत्य जुहुयात्

paścācchamitrasya prākśirasaṁ pratyakśirasaṁ vodakpādaṁ saṁjñapya purā nābhestṛṇamantarddhāya vapāmutkhidya vapāmavadāya vapāśrapaṇībhyāṁ parigṛhyādbhirabhiṣicya śāmitre pratāpyāgreṇainamagniṁ hutvā dakṣiṇata āsīnaḥ śrapayitvā parītya juhuyāt

Behind the slaughtering-fire, having quieted the animal with its head east or west and feet north, screened with grass in front of the navel, he extracts the omentum, cuts off a portion, clamps it in the two spits, besprinkles it with water, roasts it at the slaughtering-fire, offers it at the main fire in front, and, sitting to the south, having had it cooked, goes around and makes the oblation.

Note: The exact sequencing of the animal's dispatch relative to the fire-rites is compressed in sutra style; later manuals spell out the order in more detail.

एतस्मिन्नेवाग्नौ स्थालीपाकं श्रपयन्ति

etasminnevāgnau sthālīpākaṁ śrapayanti

At this same fire they also cook the sthalipaka.

एकादश पशोरवदानानि सर्वाङ्गेभ्योऽवदाय शामित्रे श्रपयित्वा हृदयं शूले प्रताप्य स्थालीपाकस्याग्रतो जुहुयात्

ekādaśa paśoravadānāni sarvāṅgebhyo'vadāya śāmitre śrapayitvā hṛdayaṁ śūle pratāpya sthālīpākasyāgrato juhuyāt

Cutting eleven portions from all the animal's limbs and cooking them at the slaughtering-fire, and having roasted the heart on a spit, he offers it in front of the sthalipaka.

अवदानैर्वा सह

avadānairvā saha

Or together with the other cut portions.

एकैकस्यावदानस्य द्विर्द्विरवद्यति

ekaikasyāvadānasya dvirdviravadyati

From each single portion he cuts twice.

आवृतैव हृदयशूलेन चरन्ति

āvṛtaiva hṛdayaśūlena caranti

They proceed, carrying the heart on the spit, going around the fire.

चैत्ययज्ञे प्राक् स्विष्टकृतश्चैत्याय बलिं हरेत्

caityayajñe prāk sviṣṭakṛtaścaityāya baliṁ haret

In the Chaitya sacrifice, before the Svishtakrit offering, he should carry a bali to the Chaitya (sacred tree/shrine).

यद्यु वै विदेशस्थं पलाशदूतेन यत्र वेत्थ वनस्पत इत्येतयर्चा द्वौ पिण्डौ कृत्वा वीवधेऽभ्याधाय दूताय प्रयच्छेदिमन्तस्मै बलिं हरेति चैनं ब्रूयादयं तुभ्यमिति यो दूताय

yadyu vai videśasthaṁ palāśadūtena yatra vettha vanaspata ityetayarcā dvau piṇḍau kṛtvā vīvadhe'bhyādhāya dūtāya prayacchedimantasmai baliṁ hareti cainaṁ brūyādayaṁ tubhyamiti yo dūtāya

But if the Chaitya is located in a foreign land, he should make two balls of food, using a palasha-leaf as messenger, with the verse 'where you know, O Lord of the forest', place them in a carrying-yoke, and give one to the messenger, saying 'carry this offering to him', and tell him 'this is for you' — the portion for the messenger himself.

प्रतिभयं चेदन्तरा शस्त्रमपि किञ्चित्

pratibhayaṁ cedantarā śastramapi kiñcit

If there is danger on the way, some weapon too should be placed with it.

नाव्या चेन्नद्यन्तरा प्लवरूपमपि किञ्चिदनेन तरितव्यमिति

nāvyā cennadyantarā plavarūpamapi kiñcidanena taritavyamiti

If a navigable river lies on the way, something in the shape of a boat should be placed too, meaning 'by this it is to be crossed'.

धन्वन्तरियज्ञे ब्रह्माणमग्निं चान्तरा पुरोहितायाग्रे बलिं हरेत्

dhanvantariyajñe brahmāṇamagniṁ cāntarā purohitāyāgre baliṁ haret

In the Dhanvantari sacrifice, he should carry the bali first, between the Brahman priest and the fire, for the officiating priest.

उपनिषदि गर्भलम्भनं पुंसवनमनवलोभनञ्च

upaniṣadi garbhalambhanaṁ puṁsavanamanavalobhanañca

In the Upanishad (secret section) are told the rite for obtaining conception, the rite for a male child (pumsavana), and the rite against miscarriage.

यदि नाधीयात्तृतीये गर्भमासे तिष्येणोपोषितायाः सरूपवत्साया गोर्दधनि द्वौ द्वौ माषौ यवञ्च दधि प्रसृतेन प्राशयेत्

yadi nādhīyāttṛtīye garbhamāse tiṣyeṇopoṣitāyāḥ sarūpavatsāyā gordadhani dvau dvau māṣau yavañca dadhi prasṛtena prāśayet

If he has not studied that section, then in the third month of pregnancy, on the Pushya asterism, having had her fast, he should give her to drink, from a handful, curds from a cow whose calf matches her in colour, with two beans and barley mixed in.

किं पिबसि किं पिबसीति पृष्ट्वा पुंसवनं पुंसवनमिति त्रिः प्रतिजानीयात्

kiṁ pibasi kiṁ pibasīti pṛṣṭvā puṁsavanaṁ puṁsavanamiti triḥ pratijānīyāt

Having asked her 'what do you drink? what do you drink?', she should answer three times, 'pumsavana, pumsavana' (the male-begetting rite).

एवं त्रीन्प्रसृतान्

evaṁ trīnprasṛtān

Thus three handfuls in all.

अथास्यै मण्डलागारच्छायायां दक्षिणस्यां नासिकायामजीतामोषधीं नस्तःकरोति

athāsyai maṇḍalāgāracchāyāyāṁ dakṣiṇasyāṁ nāsikāyāmajītāmoṣadhīṁ nastaḥkaroti

Then, in the shade of a round hut, he administers the ajita plant as nasal drops into her right nostril.

प्रजावज्जीवपुत्राभ्यां हैके आ ते गर्भो योनिमेतु पुमान्वाण इवेषुधिम् । आ वीरो जायतां पुत्रस्ते दशमास्यः । अग्निरेतु प्रथमो देवतानां सौऽस्यै प्रजां मुञ्चतु मृत्युपाशात् । तदयं राजा वरुणोऽनुमन्यतां यथेयं स्त्री पौत्रमघं न रोदादिति

prajāvajjīvaputrābhyāṁ haike ā te garbho yonimetu pumānvāṇa iveṣudhim | ā vīro jāyatāṁ putraste daśamāsyaḥ | agniretu prathamo devatānāṁ sau'syai prajāṁ muñcatu mṛtyupāśāt | tadayaṁ rājā varuṇo'numanyatāṁ yatheyaṁ strī pautramaghaṁ na rodāditi

Some do this with the help of a woman whose husband and children are living: 'may a male germ come into the womb, as an arrow into the quiver; may a hero be born, your ten-month son. May Agni, first of the gods, come; may he release her offspring from the noose of death. May King Varuna grant that this woman not weep for the loss of a grandson.'

प्राजापत्यस्य स्थालीपाकस्य हुत्वा हृदयदेशमस्या आलभेत यत्ते सुसीमे हृदये हितमन्तः प्रजापतौ । मन्येऽहं मां तद्विद्वांसं माहं पौत्रमघन्नियामिति

prājāpatyasya sthālīpākasya hutvā hṛdayadeśamasyā ālabheta yatte susīme hṛdaye hitamantaḥ prajāpatau | manye'haṁ māṁ tadvidvāṁsaṁ māhaṁ pautramaghanniyāmiti

Having offered a sthalipaka to Prajapati, he should touch the region of her heart: 'what is set within your heart, O fair one, in Prajapati — I, knowing it, claim it as mine; may I not go without a grandson.'

Note: The mantra's syntax is compressed and its precise sense is read variously by commentators.

चतुर्थे गर्भमासे सोमन्तोन्नयनम्

caturthe garbhamāse somantonnayanam

In the fourth month of pregnancy is performed the Simantonnayana (upward parting of the hair).

आपूर्यमाणपक्षे यदा पुंसा नक्षत्रेण चन्द्रमा युक्तः स्यात्

āpūryamāṇapakṣe yadā puṁsā nakṣatreṇa candramā yuktaḥ syāt

In the waxing fortnight, when the moon is conjoined with a masculine asterism.

अथाग्निमुपसमाधाय पश्चादस्यानडुहं चर्मास्तीर्य प्राग्ग्रीवमुत्तरलोम तस्मिन्नुपविष्टायां समन्वारब्धायां धाता ददातु दाशुष इति द्वाभ्यां राकामहमिति द्वाभ्यां नेजमेष इति तिसृभिः प्रजापते न त्वदेतान्यन्य इति च

athāgnimupasamādhāya paścādasyānaḍuhaṁ carmāstīrya prāggrīvamuttaraloma tasminnupaviṣṭāyāṁ samanvārabdhāyāṁ dhātā dadātu dāśuṣa iti dvābhyāṁ rākāmahamiti dvābhyāṁ nejameṣa iti tisṛbhiḥ prajāpate na tvadetānyanya iti ca

Having set up the fire and spread an ox-hide behind it with the neck east and hair upward, she sits on it, and while she touches him he offers: two oblations with 'may Dhatri give to the worshipper', two with 'I invoke Raka', three with 'Nejamesha', and with 'Prajapati, none other than you encompasses these'.

अथास्यै युग्मेन शलाटुग्लप्सेन त्र्येण्या च शलल्या त्रिभिश्च कुशपिञ्जूलैरूर्ध्वं सीमन्तं व्यूहति भूर्भुवः स्वरोमिति त्रिः

athāsyai yugmena śalāṭuglapsena tryeṇyā ca śalalyā tribhiśca kuśapiñjūlairūrdhvaṁ sīmantaṁ vyūhati bhūrbhuvaḥ svaromiti triḥ

Then, with an even number of unripe udumbara fruits on a string, with a three-pronged porcupine quill, and with three tufts of kusha grass, he parts her hair upward, saying 'bhur bhuvah svah' three times.

चतुर्वा

caturvā

Or four.

वीणागाथिनौ संशास्ति सोमं राजानं संगायेतामिति

vīṇāgāthinau saṁśāsti somaṁ rājānaṁ saṁgāyetāmiti

He instructs a lute-player and a ballad-singer, 'let them sing together of King Soma.'

सोमो नो राजाऽवतु मानुषीः प्रजा निविष्टचक्रासाविति यां नदीमुपवसिता भवन्ति

somo no rājā'vatu mānuṣīḥ prajā niviṣṭacakrāsāviti yāṁ nadīmupavasitā bhavanti

'May King Soma protect our human offspring, like a chariot with fixed wheels' — recited by the river near which they are staying.

ब्राह्मण्यश्च वृद्धा जीवपत्यो जीवप्रजा यद्यदुपदिशेयुस्तत्तत्कुर्युः

brāhmaṇyaśca vṛddhā jīvapatyo jīvaprajā yadyadupadiśeyustattatkuryuḥ

And whatever elderly Brahmin women with living husbands and children instruct, that they should do.

वृषभो दक्षिणा

vṛṣabho dakṣiṇā

A bull is the fee.

कुमारं जातं पुरान्यैरालम्भात्सर्पिर्मधुनी हिरण्यनिकाषं हिरण्येन प्राशयेत्प्र ते ददामि मधुनो घृतस्य वेदं सवित्रा प्रसूतं मघोनाम् । आयुष्मान्गुप्तो देवताभिः शतं जीव शरदो लोके अस्मिन्निति

kumāraṁ jātaṁ purānyairālambhātsarpirmadhunī hiraṇyanikāṣaṁ hiraṇyena prāśayetpra te dadāmi madhuno ghṛtasya vedaṁ savitrā prasūtaṁ maghonām | āyuṣmāngupto devatābhiḥ śataṁ jīva śarado loke asminniti

Before others touch the newborn boy, he feeds him ghee and honey rubbed with gold, by means of gold: 'I give you this share of honey and ghee, impelled by Savitri, of the bounteous ones; long-lived, protected by the gods, live a hundred autumns in this world.'

कर्णयोरुपनिधाय मेधाजननं जपति । मेधान्ते देवः सविता मेधां देवी सरस्वती । मेधान्ते अश्विनौ देवावाधत्तां पुष्करस्रजौ । इति

karṇayorupanidhāya medhājananaṁ japati | medhānte devaḥ savitā medhāṁ devī sarasvatī | medhānte aśvinau devāvādhattāṁ puṣkarasrajau | iti

Placing his mouth at the ears, he recites the intelligence-begetting formula: 'may god Savitri place intelligence in you; may goddess Sarasvati place intelligence in you; may the two lotus-wreathed Ashvins place intelligence in you.'

अंसावभिमृशति अश्मा भव परशुर्भव हिरण्यमस्तृतं भव । वेदो वै पुत्रनामासि स जीव शरदः शतमिति । इन्द्र श्रेष्ठानि द्रविणानि धेह्यस्मे प्रयन्धि मघवन्नृजीषिन्निति च

aṁsāvabhimṛśati aśmā bhava paraśurbhava hiraṇyamastṛtaṁ bhava | vedo vai putranāmāsi sa jīva śaradaḥ śatamiti | indra śreṣṭhāni draviṇāni dhehyasme prayandhi maghavannṛjīṣinniti ca

He touches the two shoulders: 'be a stone, be an axe, be unassailable gold. You are indeed named Veda, O son; live a hundred autumns' — and also 'O Indra, bestow on us the best of riches; grant them, O bounteous, mighty one.'

नाम चास्मै दद्युः

nāma cāsmai dadyuḥ

And they should give him a name.

घोषवदाद्यन्तरन्तस्थमभिनिष्ठानान्तं द्व्यक्षरम्

ghoṣavadādyantarantasthamabhiniṣṭhānāntaṁ dvyakṣaram

The name should be of two syllables, beginning with a voiced consonant, having a semivowel in the middle, and ending firmly.

Note: The phonetic prescriptions for the birth-name are technical Shiksha-style rules whose exact reference is read variously by commentators.

चतुरक्षरं वा

caturakṣaraṁ vā

Or of four syllables.

द्व्यक्षरं प्रतिष्ठाकामश्चतुरक्षरं ब्रह्मवर्चसकामः

dvyakṣaraṁ pratiṣṭhākāmaścaturakṣaraṁ brahmavarcasakāmaḥ

One who desires stability gives a two-syllable name; one who desires Brahmanic splendor, a four-syllable name.

युग्मानि त्वेव पुंसाम्

yugmāni tveva puṁsām

But for boys, the syllable-count should be even.

अयुजानि स्त्रीणाम्

ayujāni strīṇām

Odd, for girls.

अभिवादनीयं च समीक्षेत तन्मातापितरौ विद्यातामोपनयनात्

abhivādanīyaṁ ca samīkṣeta tanmātāpitarau vidyātāmopanayanāt

And he should also settle on a name for greeting by elders, known only to the parents until the investiture.

प्रवासादेत्य पुत्रस्य शिरः परिगृह्य जपति अङ्गादङ्गात्सम्भवसि हृदयादधिजायसे । आत्मा वै पुत्रनामासि स जीव शरदः शतमिति मूर्द्धनि त्रिरवघ्राय

pravāsādetya putrasya śiraḥ parigṛhya japati aṅgādaṅgātsambhavasi hṛdayādadhijāyase | ātmā vai putranāmāsi sa jīva śaradaḥ śatamiti mūrddhani triravaghrāya

Returning from a journey, having taken hold of his son's head, he recites: 'from every limb you arise, you are born from the heart; you are indeed named self, O son; live a hundred autumns' — smelling his head three times.

आवृतैव कुमार्यै

āvṛtaiva kumāryai

The same, repeated, for a daughter.

षष्ठे मास्यन्नप्राशनम्

ṣaṣṭhe māsyannaprāśanam

In the sixth month, the first feeding of solid food.

आजमन्नाद्यकामः

ājamannādyakāmaḥ

One who desires abundance of food gives goat's meat.

तैत्तिरं ब्रह्मवर्चसकामः

taittiraṁ brahmavarcasakāmaḥ

One who desires Brahmanic splendor, partridge meat.

घृतौदनं तेजस्कामः

ghṛtaudanaṁ tejaskāmaḥ

One who desires vigor, rice cooked in ghee.

दधिमधुघृतमिश्रमन्नं प्राशयेदन्नपतेऽत्रस्य नो देह्यनमीवस्य शुष्मिणः । प्र प्रदातारन्तारिष ऊर्जन्नो धेहि द्विपदे चतुष्पद इति

dadhimadhughṛtamiśramannaṁ prāśayedannapate'trasya no dehyanamīvasya śuṣmiṇaḥ | pra pradātārantāriṣa ūrjanno dhehi dvipade catuṣpada iti

He should feed him food mixed with curds, honey, and ghee: 'O lord of food, give us of this food, free of sickness, full of vigor; prosper the giver, bestow strength on us, on our bipeds and quadrupeds.'

आवृतैव कुमार्यै

āvṛtaiva kumāryai

The same, repeated, for a daughter.

तृतीये वर्षे चौलं यथाकुलधर्मं वा

tṛtīye varṣe caulaṁ yathākuladharmaṁ vā

In the third year, the tonsure — or according to family custom.

उत्तरतोऽग्नेर्व्रीहियवमाषतिलानां पृथक्पूर्णशरावाणि निदधाति

uttarato'gnervrīhiyavamāṣatilānāṁ pṛthakpūrṇaśarāvāṇi nidadhāti

To the north of the fire he places separate dishes filled with rice, barley, beans, and sesame.

पश्चात्कारयिष्यमाणो मातुरुपस्थ आनडुहं गोमयं नवे शरावे शमीपर्णानि चोपनिहितानि भवन्ति

paścātkārayiṣyamāṇo māturupastha ānaḍuhaṁ gomayaṁ nave śarāve śamīparṇāni copanihitāni bhavanti

For the one about to be tonsured, ox-dung is placed in a new dish with shami-leaves, in his mother's lap.

मातुः पिता दक्षिणत एकविंशतिकुशपिञ्जूलान्यादाय

mātuḥ pitā dakṣiṇata ekaviṁśatikuśapiñjūlānyādāya

The mother's father sits to the south, holding twenty-one tufts of kusha grass.

ब्रह्मा वैतानि धारयेत्

brahmā vaitāni dhārayet

Or the Brahman priest should hold these.

पश्चात्कारयिष्यमाणस्यावस्थाय शीतोष्णा अपः समानीयोष्णेन वा य उदकेनेहीति

paścātkārayiṣyamāṇasyāvasthāya śītoṣṇā apaḥ samānīyoṣṇena vā ya udakenehīti

Standing behind the boy, having brought both cold and warm water, he says with the warm water, 'come with the water.'

तासां गृहीत्वा नवनीतं दधिद्रप्सान्वा प्रदक्षिणं शिरस्त्रिरुन्दति अदितिः केशान्वपत्वाप उन्दन्तु वर्चस इति

tāsāṁ gṛhītvā navanītaṁ dadhidrapsānvā pradakṣiṇaṁ śirastrirundati aditiḥ keśānvapatvāpa undantu varcasa iti

Taking some of that water, and butter or drops of curds, he moistens the head three times clockwise: 'may Aditi shave the hair; may the waters moisten it for splendor.'

दक्षिणे केशपक्षे त्रीणि त्रीणि कुशपिञ्जूलान्यभ्यात्माग्राणि निदधाति ओषधे त्रायस्वैनमिति

dakṣiṇe keśapakṣe trīṇi trīṇi kuśapiñjūlānyabhyātmāgrāṇi nidadhāti oṣadhe trāyasvainamiti

On the right lock of hair he places three tufts of kusha grass each, tips toward the body: 'O plant, protect him.'

स्वधिते मैनं हिंसीरिति निष्पोड्य लौहेन क्षुरेण

svadhite mainaṁ hiṁsīriti niṣpoḍya lauhena kṣureṇa

'O axe, do not harm him' — pressing the hair together with an iron razor.

प्रछिनत्ति येनावपत्सविता क्षुरेण सोमस्य राज्ञो वरुणस्य विद्वान् । तेन ब्रह्माणो वपतेदमस्यायुष्माञ्जरदष्टिर्यथासदिति

prachinatti yenāvapatsavitā kṣureṇa somasya rājño varuṇasya vidvān | tena brahmāṇo vapatedamasyāyuṣmāñjaradaṣṭiryathāsaditi

He cuts: 'with the razor with which Savitri, knowing King Soma and Varuna, once shaved — with that let the Brahmins shave this one, that he may be long-lived, reaching old age.'

प्रच्छिद्यप्रच्छिद्य प्रागग्राञ्छमीपर्णैः सह मात्रे प्रयच्छति तानानडुहे गोमये निदधाति

pracchidyapracchidya prāgagrāñchamīparṇaiḥ saha mātre prayacchati tānānaḍuhe gomaye nidadhāti

Cutting off each lock one by one, tips eastward, he gives it with the shami-leaves to the mother; she places them in the ox-dung.

येन धाता बृहस्पतेरग्नेरिन्द्रस्य चायुषेऽवपत् । तेन त आयुषे वपामि सुश्लोक्याय स्वस्तय इति द्वितीयम् । येन भूयश्चरात्र्यां ज्योक्च पश्याति सूर्यम् । तेन त आयुषे वपामि सुश्लोक्याय स्वस्तय इति तृतीयम्

yena dhātā bṛhaspateragnerindrasya cāyuṣe'vapat | tena ta āyuṣe vapāmi suślokyāya svastaya iti dvitīyam | yena bhūyaścarātryāṁ jyokca paśyāti sūryam | tena ta āyuṣe vapāmi suślokyāya svastaya iti tṛtīyam

'With that razor by which Dhatri shaved for the life of Brihaspati, Agni, and Indra — with that I shave you for life, good repute, and well-being' — for the second lock. 'With that by which one may see the sun again by night and long into life — with that I shave you for life, good repute, and well-being' — for the third.

सर्वैर्मन्त्रैश्चतुर्थम्

sarvairmantraiścaturtham

With all the formulas together, for the fourth.

एवमुत्तरतस्त्रिः

evamuttaratastriḥ

In the same way, three times more toward the north.

क्षुरतेजो निमृजेद्यत्क्षुरेण मर्चयता सुपेशसा वप्ता वपसि केशान् । शुन्धि शिरो मास्यायुः प्रमोषीरिति

kṣuratejo nimṛjedyatkṣureṇa marcayatā supeśasā vaptā vapasi keśān | śundhi śiro māsyāyuḥ pramoṣīriti

He wipes clean the edge of the razor: 'O shaver, with the sharp, well-fashioned razor with which you shave the hair — cleanse the head, do not steal my life.'

नापितं शिष्याच्छीतोष्णाभिरद्भिरवर्थं कुर्वाणोऽक्षण्वन्कुशलीकुर्विति

nāpitaṁ śiṣyācchītoṣṇābhiradbhiravarthaṁ kurvāṇo'kṣaṇvankuśalīkurviti

He instructs the barber, using both cold and warm water: 'working carefully, with open eyes, make him well.'

यथाकुलधर्मं केशवेशान् कारयेत्

yathākuladharmaṁ keśaveśān kārayet

He should have the hair-styling done according to family custom.

आवृतैव कुमार्य्यै

āvṛtaiva kumāryyai

The same, repeated, for a daughter.

एतेन गोदानम्

etena godānam

By this same procedure, the Godana (first beard-shaving).

षोडशे वर्षे

ṣoḍaśe varṣe

In the sixteenth year.

केशशब्दे तु श्मश्रुशब्दान्कारयेत्

keśaśabde tu śmaśruśabdānkārayet

But wherever the word 'hair' occurs, one should substitute the word 'beard'.

श्मश्रूणीहोन्दति

śmaśrūṇīhondati

He should moisten the beard here.

शुन्धि शिरो मुखं मास्यायुः प्रमोषीरिति

śundhi śiro mukhaṁ māsyāyuḥ pramoṣīriti

'Cleanse the head and face; do not steal my life.'

केशश्मश्रुलोमनखान्युदक्संस्थानि कुर्विति संप्रेष्यति

keśaśmaśrulomanakhānyudaksaṁsthāni kurviti saṁpreṣyati

He instructs the barber: 'dispose of the hair, beard, body-hair, and nail-clippings into the water.'

आप्लुत्य वाग्यतः स्थित्वाऽहःशेषमाचार्यसकाशे वाचं विसृजेत वरं ददामीति

āplutya vāgyataḥ sthitvā'haḥśeṣamācāryasakāśe vācaṁ visṛjeta varaṁ dadāmīti

Having bathed, remaining silent, he spends the rest of the day near his teacher, and only then breaks silence: 'I give a boon.'

गोमिथुनं दक्षिणा

gomithunaṁ dakṣiṇā

A pair of cattle is the fee.

संवत्सरमादिशेत्

saṁvatsaramādiśet

He should assign a further year of study.

अष्टमे वर्षे ब्राह्मणमुपनयेत्

aṣṭame varṣe brāhmaṇamupanayet

In the eighth year, one should invest a Brahmin boy.

गर्भाष्टमे वा

garbhāṣṭame vā

Or in the eighth year counted from conception.

एकादशे क्षत्रियम्

ekādaśe kṣatriyam

In the eleventh year, a Kshatriya.

द्वादशे वैश्यम्

dvādaśe vaiśyam

In the twelfth year, a Vaishya.

आ षोडशाद्ब्राह्मणस्यानतीतः कालः

ā ṣoḍaśādbrāhmaṇasyānatītaḥ kālaḥ

For a Brahmin, the time is not yet overpassed up to the sixteenth year.

आ द्वाविंशात् क्षत्रियस्या चतुर्विंशाद्वैश्यस्यात ऊर्ध्वं पतितसावित्रीका भवन्ति

ā dvāviṁśāt kṣatriyasyā caturviṁśādvaiśyasyāta ūrdhvaṁ patitasāvitrīkā bhavanti

For a Kshatriya, up to the twenty-second; for a Vaishya, up to the twenty-fourth; beyond that they become 'fallen from the Savitri', excluded from the initiation.

नैनानुपनयेन्नाध्यापयेन्न याजयेन्नैभिर्व्यवहरेयुः

nainānupanayennādhyāpayenna yājayennaibhirvyavahareyuḥ

One should not invest them, nor teach them, nor sacrifice for them, nor have ordinary dealings with them.

अलङ्कृतं कुमारं कुशलीकृतशिरसमहतेन वाससा संवीतमैणेयेन वाजिनेन ब्राह्मणं रौरवेण क्षत्रियमाजेन वैश्यम्

alaṅkṛtaṁ kumāraṁ kuśalīkṛtaśirasamahatena vāsasā saṁvītamaiṇeyena vājinena brāhmaṇaṁ rauraveṇa kṣatriyamājena vaiśyam

The boy, adorned, his head neatly done, is to be clothed in a new garment — a Brahmin covered with a black-antelope skin, a Kshatriya with a spotted-deer skin, a Vaishya with a goat-skin.

यदि वासांसि वसीरन्रक्तानि वसीरन्काषायं ब्राह्मणो माञ्जिष्टं क्षत्रियो हारिद्रं वैश्यः

yadi vāsāṁsi vasīranraktāni vasīrankāṣāyaṁ brāhmaṇo māñjiṣṭaṁ kṣatriyo hāridraṁ vaiśyaḥ

If they wear cloth garments, let them be dyed: the Brahmin ochre, the Kshatriya madder-red, the Vaishya turmeric-yellow.

तेषां मेखलाः

teṣāṁ mekhalāḥ

For them there are appropriate girdles.

मौञ्जी ब्राह्मणस्य धनुर्ज्या क्षत्रियस्यावी वैश्यस्य

mauñjī brāhmaṇasya dhanurjyā kṣatriyasyāvī vaiśyasya

A munja-grass girdle for the Brahmin, a bowstring for the Kshatriya, a woolen cord for the Vaishya.

तेषां दण्डाः

teṣāṁ daṇḍāḥ

For them there are also appropriate staffs.

पालाशो ब्राह्मणस्यौडुम्बरः क्षत्रियस्य बैल्वो वैश्यस्य । केशसंमितो ब्राह्मणस्य ललाटसंमितः क्षत्रियस्य प्राणसंमितो वैश्यस्य

pālāśo brāhmaṇasyauḍumbaraḥ kṣatriyasya bailvo vaiśyasya | keśasaṁmito brāhmaṇasya lalāṭasaṁmitaḥ kṣatriyasya prāṇasaṁmito vaiśyasya

A palasha-wood staff for the Brahmin, udumbara for the Kshatriya, bilva for the Vaishya. In height, reaching the hair for the Brahmin, the forehead for the Kshatriya, the nose for the Vaishya.

सर्वे वा सर्वेषाम्

sarve vā sarveṣām

Or all varieties may be used for all.

समन्वारब्धे हुत्वोत्तरतोऽग्नेः प्राङ्मुख आचार्योऽवतिष्ठते

samanvārabdhe hutvottarato'gneḥ prāṅmukha ācāryo'vatiṣṭhate

While the boy touches him and the oblation is made, the teacher stands to the north of the fire, facing east.

पुरस्तात्प्रत्यङ्मुख इतरः

purastātpratyaṅmukha itaraḥ

The other, the boy, stands in front, facing west.

अपामञ्जली पूरयित्वा तत्सवितुर्वृणीमह इति पूर्णेनास्य पूर्णमवक्षारयत्यासिच्य देवस्य त्वा सवितुः प्रसवेऽश्विनोर्बाहुभ्यां पुष्णो हस्ताभ्यां हस्तं गृह्णाम्यसाविति तस्य पाणिना पाणिं साङ्गुष्ठं गृह्णीयात्

apāmañjalī pūrayitvā tatsaviturvṛṇīmaha iti pūrṇenāsya pūrṇamavakṣārayatyāsicya devasya tvā savituḥ prasave'śvinorbāhubhyāṁ puṣṇo hastābhyāṁ hastaṁ gṛhṇāmyasāviti tasya pāṇinā pāṇiṁ sāṅguṣṭhaṁ gṛhṇīyāt

Filling both their cupped hands with water, reciting 'tat savitur vrinimahe', he pours his full handful into the boy's; having poured it, he says 'at the impulse of god Savitri, with the arms of the Ashvins, with the hands of Pushan, I take your hand, so-and-so', and grasps his hand, thumb included.

सविता ते हस्तमग्रभीदसाविति द्वितीयम् । अग्निराचार्यस्तवासाविति तृतीयम्

savitā te hastamagrabhīdasāviti dvitīyam | agnirācāryastavāsāviti tṛtīyam

'Savitri has taken your hand, so-and-so' — for the second grasping. 'Agni is your teacher, so-and-so' — for the third.

आदित्यमीक्षयेत् देव सवितरेष ते ब्रह्मचारी तं गोपाय स मामृतेत्याचार्यः

ādityamīkṣayet deva savitareṣa te brahmacārī taṁ gopāya sa māmṛtetyācāryaḥ

He should make him look at the sun: 'O god Savitri, this is your student; protect him; may he not die' — spoken by the teacher.

कस्य ब्रह्मचार्यसि प्राणस्य ब्रह्मचार्यसि कस्त्वाकमुपनयते काय त्वा परिददामीति

kasya brahmacāryasi prāṇasya brahmacāryasi kastvākamupanayate kāya tvā paridadāmīti

'Whose student are you? You are the student of Prana, the life-breath. Who invests you? To whom do I hand you over?' — the mystic answer to each is 'ka', the name of Prajapati.

युवा सुवासाः परिवीत आगादित्यर्द्धर्चेनैनं प्रदक्षिणमावर्तयेत्

yuvā suvāsāḥ parivīta āgādityarddharcenainaṁ pradakṣiṇamāvartayet

With the half-verse 'young, well-clothed, girded, he has come', he turns him around clockwise.

तस्याध्यंसौ पाणी कृत्वा हृदयदेशमालभेतोत्तरेण

tasyādhyaṁsau pāṇī kṛtvā hṛdayadeśamālabhetottareṇa

Placing his hands on the boy's shoulders, he touches the region of his heart with the verse 'uttarena'.

अग्निं परिसमूह्य ब्रह्मचारी तूष्णीं समिधमादध्यात् तूष्णीं वै प्राजापत्यं प्राजापत्यो ब्रह्मचारी भवतीति विज्ञायते

agniṁ parisamūhya brahmacārī tūṣṇīṁ samidhamādadhyāt tūṣṇīṁ vai prājāpatyaṁ prājāpatyo brahmacārī bhavatīti vijñāyate

Having swept around the fire, the student should silently place a fuel-stick on it — for it is understood that silence belongs to Prajapati, and the student thereby becomes dedicated to Prajapati.

मन्त्रेण हैके अग्नये समिधमाहार्षं बृहते जातवेदसे तया त्वमग्ने वर्द्धस्व समिधा ब्रह्मणा वयं स्वाहेति

mantreṇa haike agnaye samidhamāhārṣaṁ bṛhate jātavedase tayā tvamagne varddhasva samidhā brahmaṇā vayaṁ svāheti

Some do it with a formula: 'I have brought a fuel-stick to Agni, to the great Jatavedas; by it, O Agni, grow; by the fuel-stick, by the sacred word, may we grow too — svaha.'

स समिधमाधायाग्निमुपस्पृश्य मुखं निमार्ष्टि त्रिस्तेजसा मा समनज्मीति

sa samidhamādhāyāgnimupaspṛśya mukhaṁ nimārṣṭi tristejasā mā samanajmīti

Having placed the fuel-stick and touched the fire, he wipes his face three times: 'with splendor I anoint myself.'

तेजसा ह्येवात्मानं समनक्तीति विज्ञायते

tejasā hyevātmānaṁ samanaktīti vijñāyate

For it is understood that he thereby indeed anoints himself with splendor.

मयि मेधां मयि प्रजां मय्यग्निस्तेजो दधातु मयि मेधां मयि प्रजां मयीन्द्र इन्द्रियं दधातु मयि मेधां मयि प्रजां मयि सूर्यो भ्राजो दधातु । यत्ते अग्ने तेजस्तेनाहं तेजस्वी भूयासं यत्ते अग्ने वर्चस्तेनाहं वर्चस्वी भूयासं यत्ते अग्ने हरस्तेनाहं हरस्वी भूयासं इत्युपस्थाय जान्वाच्योपसंगृह्य ब्रूयादधीहि भोः सावित्रीं भो३ अनुब्रू३ हीति

mayi medhāṁ mayi prajāṁ mayyagnistejo dadhātu mayi medhāṁ mayi prajāṁ mayīndra indriyaṁ dadhātu mayi medhāṁ mayi prajāṁ mayi sūryo bhrājo dadhātu | yatte agne tejastenāhaṁ tejasvī bhūyāsaṁ yatte agne varcastenāhaṁ varcasvī bhūyāsaṁ yatte agne harastenāhaṁ harasvī bhūyāsaṁ ityupasthāya jānvācyopasaṁgṛhya brūyādadhīhi bhoḥ sāvitrīṁ bho3 anubrū3 hīti

'May Agni place in me intelligence, offspring, and splendor; may Indra place in me intelligence, offspring, and power; may Surya place in me intelligence, offspring, and radiance. Whatever splendor is yours, O Agni, by that may I be splendid; whatever glory is yours, by that may I be glorious; whatever force is yours, by that may I be forceful' — having said this while standing close, he kneels, takes hold of the teacher, and says: 'recite, sir. The Savitri, sir. Recite it after me, sir.'

तस्य वाससा पाणिभ्यां च पाणी संगृह्य सावित्रीमन्वाह पच्छोऽर्द्धर्चशः सर्वाम्

tasya vāsasā pāṇibhyāṁ ca pāṇī saṁgṛhya sāvitrīmanvāha paccho'rddharcaśaḥ sarvām

Taking hold of the boy's hands with his own, through the cloth, he recites the Savitri to him, word by word, half-verse by half-verse, then wholly.

यथाशक्ति वाचयीत

yathāśakti vācayīta

He should have him recite it according to his ability.

हृदयदेशेऽस्योर्द्ध्वाङ्गुलिं पाणिमुपदधाति मम व्रते हृदयन्ते दधामि मम चित्तमनु चित्तं ते अस्तु । मम वाचमेकव्रतो जुषस्व बृहस्पतिष्ट्वा नियुनक्तु मह्यमिति

hṛdayadeśe'syorddhvāṅguliṁ pāṇimupadadhāti mama vrate hṛdayante dadhāmi mama cittamanu cittaṁ te astu | mama vācamekavrato juṣasva bṛhaspatiṣṭvā niyunaktu mahyamiti

He places his hand, fingers upward, on the region of the boy's heart: 'I place your heart within my vow; may your mind follow my mind. Devoted to a single vow, delight in my word; may Brihaspati join you to me.'

मेखलामाबध्य दण्डं प्रदाय ब्रह्मचर्यमादिशेत्

mekhalāmābadhya daṇḍaṁ pradāya brahmacaryamādiśet

Having tied the girdle and given the staff, he should enjoin the vow of studentship.

ब्रह्मचार्यस्यपोऽशान कर्म कुरु दिवा मास्वाप्सीराचार्याधीनो वेदमधीष्वेति

brahmacāryasyapo'śāna karma kuru divā māsvāpsīrācāryādhīno vedamadhīṣveti

'You are a student; sip water; do your work; do not sleep by day; being dependent on your teacher, study the Veda.'

द्वादश वर्षाणि वेदब्रह्मचर्यम्

dvādaśa varṣāṇi vedabrahmacaryam

The period of studentship for a Veda is twelve years.

ग्रहणान्तं वा

grahaṇāntaṁ vā

Or until the Veda is mastered.

सायं प्रातर्भिक्षेत

sāyaṁ prātarbhikṣeta

He should beg alms evening and morning.

सायं प्रातः समिधमादध्यात्

sāyaṁ prātaḥ samidhamādadhyāt

Evening and morning he should place a fuel-stick on the fire.

अप्रत्याख्यायिनमग्रे भिक्षेताप्रत्याख्यायिनीं वा

apratyākhyāyinamagre bhikṣetāpratyākhyāyinīṁ vā

He should first beg from one who does not refuse, man or woman.

भवान् भिक्षां ददात्वित्यनुप्रवचनीयमिति वा

bhavān bhikṣāṁ dadātvityanupravacanīyamiti vā

'Sir, please give alms' — or simply 'alms for my studies'.

तदाचार्याय वेदयीत तिष्ठेदहःशेषम्

tadācāryāya vedayīta tiṣṭhedahaḥśeṣam

He should report this to his teacher and spend the rest of the day standing in attendance.

अस्तमिते ब्रह्मौदनमनुप्रवचनीयं श्रपयित्वाचार्याय वेदयीत

astamite brahmaudanamanupravacanīyaṁ śrapayitvācāryāya vedayīta

At sunset, having had the alms-rice cooked as an offering for instruction, he should report it to the teacher.

आचार्यः समन्वारब्धे जुहुयात्सदसस्पतिमद्भुतमिति

ācāryaḥ samanvārabdhe juhuyātsadasaspatimadbhutamiti

The teacher, the student touching him, offers with 'sadasaspatim adbhutam'.

सावित्र्या द्वितीयम्

sāvitryā dvitīyam

With the Savitri, for the second oblation.

यद्य त्किञ्चात ऊर्ध्वमनूक्तं स्यात्

yadya tkiñcāta ūrdhvamanūktaṁ syāt

If anything beyond this has not yet been recited.

ऋषिभ्यस्तृतीयम्

ṛṣibhyastṛtīyam

To the Rishis, for the third.

सौविष्टकृतं चतुर्थम्

sauviṣṭakṛtaṁ caturtham

The Svishtakrit oblation, the fourth.

ब्राह्मणान्भोजयित्वा वेदसमाप्तिं वाचयीत

brāhmaṇānbhojayitvā vedasamāptiṁ vācayīta

Having fed Brahmins, he should have a completion-of-Veda recital made.

अत ऊर्ध्वमक्षारलवणाशी ब्रह्मचार्यधःशायी त्रिरात्रं द्वादशरात्रं संवत्सरं वा

ata ūrdhvamakṣāralavaṇāśī brahmacāryadhaḥśāyī trirātraṁ dvādaśarātraṁ saṁvatsaraṁ vā

After this, he remains a student eating without pungent seasoning or salt, sleeping on the ground, for three nights, or twelve nights, or a year.

चरितव्रताय मेधाजननं करोति

caritavratāya medhājananaṁ karoti

For one who has completed the vow, he performs the intelligence-begetting rite.

अनिन्दितायान्दिश्येकमूलं पलाशं कुशस्तम्बं वा पलाशापचारे प्रदक्षिणमुदकुम्भेन त्रिः परिषिञ्चन्तं वाचयति सुश्रवः सुश्रवा असि यथा त्वं सुश्रवः सुश्रवा अस्येवं मां सुश्रवः सौश्रवसं कुरु । यथा त्वं देवानां यज्ञस्य निधिपोऽस्येवमहं मनुष्याणां वेदस्य निधिपो भूयासमिति

aninditāyāndiśyekamūlaṁ palāśaṁ kuśastambaṁ vā palāśāpacāre pradakṣiṇamudakumbhena triḥ pariṣiñcantaṁ vācayati suśravaḥ suśravā asi yathā tvaṁ suśravaḥ suśravā asyevaṁ māṁ suśravaḥ sauśravasaṁ kuru | yathā tvaṁ devānāṁ yajñasya nidhipo'syevamahaṁ manuṣyāṇāṁ vedasya nidhipo bhūyāsamiti

In an unblamed direction, at a single-rooted palasha tree — or, lacking that, a clump of kusha grass — sprinkling it three times clockwise with a water-jar, he has him recite: 'you are of good fame, well-famed; as you are well-famed, so make me well-famed. As you are the treasure-keeper of the gods' sacrifice, so may I become the treasure-keeper of men's Veda.'

एतेन वापनादिपरिदानान्तं व्रतादेशनं व्याख्यातम्

etena vāpanādiparidānāntaṁ vratādeśanaṁ vyākhyātam

By this, the prescription of the vow, from the hair-shaving up to the final handing-over, has been explained.

इत्यनुपेतपूर्वस्य

ityanupetapūrvasya

This applies to one not previously invested.

अथोपेतपूर्वस्य

athopetapūrvasya

Now for one previously invested.

कृताकृतं केशवपनं मेधाजननं च

kṛtākṛtaṁ keśavapanaṁ medhājananaṁ ca

The hair-shaving and the intelligence-begetting rite are optional.

अनिरुक्तं परिदानम्

aniruktaṁ paridānam

The final handing-over is not specifically prescribed.

कालश्च

kālaśca

And so is the time.

तत्सवितुर्वृणीमह इति सावित्रीं

tatsaviturvṛṇīmaha iti sāvitrīṁ

He has the Savitri recited, beginning 'tat savitur vrinimahe'.

ऋत्विजो वृणीतेऽन्यूनानतिरिक्ताङ्गान्ये मातृतः पितृतश्चेति यथोक्तं पुरस्तात्

ṛtvijo vṛṇīte'nyūnānatiriktāṅgānye mātṛtaḥ pitṛtaśceti yathoktaṁ purastāt

He should choose priests whose limbs are neither deficient nor excessive, examined on both mother's and father's side, as already described before.

यून ऋत्विजो वृणीत इत्येके

yūna ṛtvijo vṛṇīta ityeke

Some say he should choose young priests.

ब्रह्माणमेव प्रथमं वृणीतेऽथ होतारमथाध्वर्युमथोद्गातारम्

brahmāṇameva prathamaṁ vṛṇīte'tha hotāramathādhvaryumathodgātāram

He should choose the Brahman priest first, then the Hotri, then the Adhvaryu, then the Udgatri.

सर्वान्वा येऽहीनैकाहैर्याजयन्ति

sarvānvā ye'hīnaikāhairyājayanti

Or all together, for those officiating at multi-day or one-day sacrifices.

सदस्यं सप्तदशं कौषीतकिनः समामनन्ति स कर्मणामुपद्रष्टा भवतीति तदुक्तमृग्भ्यां यमृत्विजो बहुधा कल्पयन्त इति

sadasyaṁ saptadaśaṁ kauṣītakinaḥ samāmananti sa karmaṇāmupadraṣṭā bhavatīti taduktamṛgbhyāṁ yamṛtvijo bahudhā kalpayanta iti

The Kaushitakins recognize a seventeenth priest, the Sadasya; he becomes overseer of the rites — as stated in the two verses beginning 'whom the priests variously appoint'.

होतारमेव प्रथमं वृणीते

hotārameva prathamaṁ vṛṇīte

In another view, he should choose the Hotri first.

अग्निर्मे होता स मे होता होतारं त्वामुं वृण इति होतारं

agnirme hotā sa me hotā hotāraṁ tvāmuṁ vṛṇa iti hotāraṁ

'Agni is my Hotri; he is my Hotri; I choose you, so-and-so, as Hotri' — for the Hotri.

चन्द्रमा मे ब्रह्मा स मे ब्रह्मा ब्रह्माणं त्वामुं वृण इति ब्रह्माणं

candramā me brahmā sa me brahmā brahmāṇaṁ tvāmuṁ vṛṇa iti brahmāṇaṁ

'The Moon is my Brahman; he is my Brahman; I choose you, so-and-so, as Brahman' — for the Brahman priest.

आदित्यो मेऽध्वर्युरित्यध्वर्युम् । पर्जन्यो म उद्गातेत्युद्गातारम् । आपो मे होत्राशंसिन इति होत्रकान् । रश्मयो मे चमसाध्वर्यव इति चमसाध्वर्यून् । आकाशो मे सदस्य इति सदस्यम् । स वृतो जपेन्महन्मेऽवोचो भर्गो मेऽवोचो भगो मेऽवोचो यशो मेऽवोचः स्तोमं मेऽवोचः कॢप्तिं मेऽवोचस्तृप्तिं मेऽवोचो भुक्तिं मेऽवोचः सर्वं मेऽवोच इति

ādityo me'dhvaryurityadhvaryum | parjanyo ma udgātetyudgātāram | āpo me hotrāśaṁsina iti hotrakān | raśmayo me camasādhvaryava iti camasādhvaryūn | ākāśo me sadasya iti sadasyam | sa vṛto japenmahanme'voco bhargo me'voco bhago me'voco yaśo me'vocaḥ stomaṁ me'vocaḥ kḷptiṁ me'vocastṛptiṁ me'voco bhuktiṁ me'vocaḥ sarvaṁ me'voca iti

'The Sun is my Adhvaryu' — for the Adhvaryu. 'Parjanya is my Udgatri' — for the Udgatri. 'The Waters are my Hotrakas' — for the assistant Hotrakas. 'The Rays are my Chamasadhvaryus' — for those. 'Space is my Sadasya' — for the Sadasya. Having thus chosen, he recites: 'you have spoken greatness to me, splendor, fortune, glory, praise, order, satisfaction, enjoyment, everything.'

जपित्वाग्निष्टे होता स ते होता होताहं ते मानुष इति होता प्रतिजानीते

japitvāgniṣṭe hotā sa te hotā hotāhaṁ te mānuṣa iti hotā pratijānīte

Having recited this, the Hotri accepts: 'Agni is your Hotri, he is your Hotri; I, human, am your Hotri.'

चन्द्रमास्ते ब्रह्मा स ते ब्रह्मा

candramāste brahmā sa te brahmā

'The Moon is your Brahman; he is your Brahman' — the Brahman priest likewise accepts.

एवमितरे यथादेशं तन्मामवतु तन्मा विशतु तेन भुक्षिषीयेति च याजयिष्यन्

evamitare yathādeśaṁ tanmāmavatu tanmā viśatu tena bhukṣiṣīyeti ca yājayiṣyan

The others likewise, each according to his own designation; and each, about to officiate, adds: 'may that protect me, may that enter me, by that may I be sustained.'

न्यस्तमार्त्विज्यमकार्यम्

nyastamārtvijyamakāryam

A priesthood once resigned should not be resumed.

अहीनस्य नीचदक्षिणस्य

ahīnasya nīcadakṣiṇasya

Nor the priesthood of a multi-day sacrifice with a meager fee.

व्याधितस्यातुरस्य

vyādhitasyāturasya

Nor one undertaken for a person who is diseased or ailing.

यक्ष्मगृहीतस्य

yakṣmagṛhītasya

Nor for one seized by consumption.

अनुदेश्यभिशस्तस्य

anudeśyabhiśastasya

Nor for one falsely accused without cause.

क्षिप्तयोनेरिति चैतेषाम्

kṣiptayoneriti caiteṣām

Nor for one whose lineage is disgraced — for all these reasons a priesthood may rightly be declined.

सोमप्रवाकं परिपृच्छेत्को यज्ञः क ऋत्विजः का दक्षिणा इति

somapravākaṁ paripṛcchetko yajñaḥ ka ṛtvijaḥ kā dakṣiṇā iti

He should question the Soma-announcer: 'what is the sacrifice? who are the priests? what is the fee?'

कल्याणैः सह सम्प्रयोगः

kalyāṇaiḥ saha samprayogaḥ

Association in the rite should be with worthy persons.

न मांसमश्नीयुर्न स्त्रियमुपेयुरा क्रतोरपवर्गात्

na māṁsamaśnīyurna striyamupeyurā kratorapavargāt

They should not eat meat nor approach a woman until the completion of the rite.

एतेनाग्ने ब्रह्मणा वावृधस्वेति दक्षिणाग्नावाज्याहुतिं हुत्वा यथार्थं प्रव्रजेत्

etenāgne brahmaṇā vāvṛdhasveti dakṣiṇāgnāvājyāhutiṁ hutvā yathārthaṁ pravrajet

'By this, O Agni, may you grow through the sacred word' — offering a ghee-oblation with this at the southern fire, he should depart to his own purpose.

एवमनाहिताग्निर्गृह्य इमामग्ने शरणिं मीमृषो न इत्येतयर्चा

evamanāhitāgnirgṛhya imāmagne śaraṇiṁ mīmṛṣo na ityetayarcā

Likewise, one who has not established the shrauta fires does this at the domestic fire, with the verse 'do not, O Agni, forgo this shelter of ours'.

ऋत्विजो वृत्वा मधुपर्कमाहरेत्

ṛtvijo vṛtvā madhuparkamāharet

Having chosen the priests, he should bring the madhuparka.

स्नातकायोपस्थिताय

snātakāyopasthitāya

This is offered to a graduate (snataka) who has arrived.

राज्ञे च

rājñe ca

And to a king.

आचार्यश्वशुरपितृव्यमातुलानाञ्च

ācāryaśvaśurapitṛvyamātulānāñca

And to one's teacher, father-in-law, paternal uncle, and maternal uncle.

दधनि मध्वानीय

dadhani madhvānīya

Having brought honey mixed into curds.

सर्पिर्वा मध्वलाभे

sarpirvā madhvalābhe

Or ghee, when honey is unavailable.

विष्टरः पाद्यमर्घ्यमाचमनीयं मधुपर्क्को गौरित्येतेषां त्रिस्त्रिरेकैकं वेदयन्ते

viṣṭaraḥ pādyamarghyamācamanīyaṁ madhuparkko gaurityeteṣāṁ tristrirekaikaṁ vedayante

A seat, foot-water, guest-water, sipping-water, the madhuparka, and a cow — of each of these they announce the offer three times, one by one.

अहं वर्ष्म सजातानां विद्युतामिव सूर्यः । इदन्तमधितिष्ठामि यो मा कश्चाभिदासतीत्युदगग्रे विष्टर उपविशेदाक्रम्य वा

ahaṁ varṣma sajātānāṁ vidyutāmiva sūryaḥ | idantamadhitiṣṭhāmi yo mā kaścābhidāsatītyudagagre viṣṭara upaviśedākramya vā

'I am the summit of my kin, like the sun among the lightnings; I take my stand upon this seat, whoever should assail me' — saying this he sits on the seat, tips pointing north, or first stepping onto it.

पादौ प्रक्षालापयीत दक्षिणमग्रे ब्राह्मणाय प्रयच्छेत्

pādau prakṣālāpayīta dakṣiṇamagre brāhmaṇāya prayacchet

He should have his feet washed; offering the right foot first, for a Brahmin.

सव्यं शूद्राय

savyaṁ śūdrāya

The left, for a Shudra.

प्रक्षालितपादोऽर्घ्यमञ्जलिना प्रतिगृह्य

prakṣālitapādo'rghyamañjalinā pratigṛhya

With feet washed, he receives the guest-water in cupped hands.

अथाचमनीयेनान्वाचामति अमृतोपस्तरणमसीति

athācamanīyenānvācāmati amṛtopastaraṇamasīti

Then he sips the sipping-water: 'you are the strewing beneath immortality.'

मधुपर्कमाह्रियमाणमीक्षेत मित्रस्य त्वा चक्षुषा प्रतीक्ष इति

madhuparkamāhriyamāṇamīkṣeta mitrasya tvā cakṣuṣā pratīkṣa iti

As the madhuparka is brought, he looks at it: 'I look upon you with the eye of Mitra.'

देवस्य त्वा सवितुः प्रसवेऽश्विनोर्बाहुभ्यां पूष्णो हस्ताभ्यां प्रतिगृह्णामीति तदञ्जलिना प्रतिगृह्य सव्ये पाणौ कृत्वा मधुवाता ऋतायत इति तृचेनावेक्ष्यानामिकया चाङ्गुष्ठेन च त्रिः प्रदक्षिणमालोड्य वसवस्त्वा गायत्रेण च्छन्दसा भक्षयन्त्विति पुरस्तान्निमार्ष्टि

devasya tvā savituḥ prasave'śvinorbāhubhyāṁ pūṣṇo hastābhyāṁ pratigṛhṇāmīti tadañjalinā pratigṛhya savye pāṇau kṛtvā madhuvātā ṛtāyata iti tṛcenāvekṣyānāmikayā cāṅguṣṭhena ca triḥ pradakṣiṇamāloḍya vasavastvā gāyatreṇa cchandasā bhakṣayantviti purastānnimārṣṭi

'At the impulse of god Savitri, with the arms of the Ashvins, with the hands of Pushan, I receive you' — receiving it thus in cupped hands, placing it in the left hand, looking at it with the three verses beginning 'sweet blow the winds for the righteous', stirring it clockwise three times with ring-finger and thumb, and saying 'may the Vasus eat you with the Gayatri metre', he wipes the vessel's rim in front.

रुद्रास्त्वा त्रैष्टुभेन च्छन्दसा भक्षयन्त्विति दक्षिणत आदित्यास्त्वा जागतेन च्छन्दसा भक्षयन्त्विति पश्चाद्विश्वे त्वा देवा आनुष्टुभेन च्छन्दसा भक्षयन्त्वित्युत्तरतो भूतेभ्यस्त्वेति मध्यात्त्रिरुद्गृह्य

rudrāstvā traiṣṭubhena cchandasā bhakṣayantviti dakṣiṇata ādityāstvā jāgatena cchandasā bhakṣayantviti paścādviśve tvā devā ānuṣṭubhena cchandasā bhakṣayantvityuttarato bhūtebhyastveti madhyāttrirudgṛhya

'May the Rudras eat you with the Trishtubh metre' — wiping to the south; 'may the Adityas eat you with the Jagati metre' — behind; 'may the All-Gods eat you with the Anushtubh metre' — to the north; 'to the beings, you' — taking a portion from the middle, three times.

विराजो दोहोऽसीति प्रथमं प्राश्नीयाद्विराजो दोहमशीयेति द्वितीयं मयि दोहः पद्यायै विराज इति तृतीयम्

virājo doho'sīti prathamaṁ prāśnīyādvirājo dohamaśīyeti dvitīyaṁ mayi dohaḥ padyāyai virāja iti tṛtīyam

'You are the milk of the Viraj' — he first tastes it; 'may I obtain the milk of the Viraj' — for the second; 'may the milk be in me, for the Viraj set in feet' — for the third.

न सर्वम्

na sarvam

Not all of it should be eaten.

न तृप्तिङ्गच्छेत्

na tṛptiṅgacchet

He should not eat to the point of satiation.

ब्राह्मणायोदङ्ङुच्छिष्टं प्रयच्छेदलाभेऽप्सु

brāhmaṇāyodaṅṅucchiṣṭaṁ prayacchedalābhe'psu

He should give the remainder, turning northward, to a Brahmin; if none is available, into water.

सर्वं वा

sarvaṁ vā

Or all of it may be eaten, in some cases.

अथाचमनीयेनान्वाचामत्यमृतापिधानमसीति

athācamanīyenānvācāmatyamṛtāpidhānamasīti

Then he sips the sipping-water again: 'you are the covering-lid of immortality.'

सत्यं यशः श्रीर्मयि श्रीः श्रयतामिति द्वितीयम्

satyaṁ yaśaḥ śrīrmayi śrīḥ śrayatāmiti dvitīyam

'Truth, glory, fortune — may fortune abide in me' — for the second sipping.

आचान्तोदकाय गां वेदयन्ते

ācāntodakāya gāṁ vedayante

After the sipping-water, they announce the offer of a cow.

हतो मे पाप्मा पाप्मा मे हत इति जपित्वॐकुरुतेति कारयिष्यन्

hato me pāpmā pāpmā me hata iti japitvaoṁkuruteti kārayiṣyan

Having recited 'my sin is slain, my sin is slain' — if he intends the cow to be slaughtered, he says 'Om, do it.'

Note: This records the ancient (already contested by classical times) practice of the guest-cow's slaughter; later custom simply releases the cow unharmed.

माता रुद्राणां दुहिता वसूनामिति जपित्वोमुत्सृजतेत्युत्स्रक्ष्यन्

mātā rudrāṇāṁ duhitā vasūnāmiti japitvomutsṛjatetyutsrakṣyan

Or, having recited 'mother of the Rudras, daughter of the Vasus' — if he intends to release the cow, he says 'Om, release it.'

नामांसो मधुपर्को भवति भवति

nāmāṁso madhuparko bhavati bhavati

The madhuparka is not without meat. Thus ends the first chapter.

Note: This closing sutra records the archaic rule that madhuparka hospitality traditionally involved the guest-cow's flesh; classical and later practice had already replaced this with simply releasing the cow unharmed.

श्रावण्यां पौर्णमास्यां श्रवणाकर्म

śrāvaṇyāṁ paurṇamāsyāṁ śravaṇākarma

On the full moon of Shravana, the Shravana rite is performed.

अक्षतसक्तूनां नवङ्कलशं पूरयित्वा दर्वीञ्च बलिहरणीं नवे शिक्ये निदधाति

akṣatasaktūnāṁ navaṅkalaśaṁ pūrayitvā darvīñca baliharaṇīṁ nave śikye nidadhāti

Having filled a new pot with unbroken grain-meal, he places it, with a ladle for carrying the bali, on a new sling-basket.

अक्षतधानाः कृत्वा सर्पिषाऽर्द्धा अनक्ति

akṣatadhānāḥ kṛtvā sarpiṣā'rddhā anakti

Having prepared unbroken parched grain, he anoints half of it with ghee.

अस्तमिते स्थालीपाकं श्रपयित्वैककपालञ्च पुरोडाशं अग्ने नय सुपथा राये अस्मानिति चतसृभिः प्रत्यृचं हुत्वा पाणिनैककपालमच्युताय भौमाय स्वाहेति

astamite sthālīpākaṁ śrapayitvaikakapālañca puroḍāśaṁ agne naya supathā rāye asmāniti catasṛbhiḥ pratyṛcaṁ hutvā pāṇinaikakapālamacyutāya bhaumāya svāheti

At sunset, having cooked a sthalipaka and a cake baked on one potsherd, he offers with the four verses 'lead us, O Agni, by a good path to wealth', one oblation to each verse; then by hand he offers the one-potsherd cake: 'to the unshaken, earthly one, svaha.'

अविप्लुतः स्यादाविःपृष्ठो वा

aviplutaḥ syādāviḥpṛṣṭho vā

It should be unbroken, or with the top surface unblemished.

मा नो अग्नेऽवसृजो अघायेत्येनमाशयेनाभिजुहोति

mā no agne'vasṛjo aghāyetyenamāśayenābhijuhoti

'Do not, O Agni, cast us off to the malicious one' — with this he offers it placed face-down.

शन्नो भवन्तु वाजिनो हवेष्वित्यक्ता धाना अञ्जलिना

śanno bhavantu vājino haveṣvityaktā dhānā añjalinā

'May the strong ones be auspicious to us at our invocations' — saying this, he offers the anointed grain with cupped hands.

अमात्येभ्य इतरा दद्यात्

amātyebhya itarā dadyāt

The remaining unanointed grain he should give to his household members.

कलशात्सक्तूनान्दर्वीं पूरयित्वा प्रागुपनिष्क्रम्य शुचौ देशेऽपोऽवनिनीय सर्पदेवजनेभ्यः स्वाहेति हुत्वा नमस्करोति ये सर्पाः पार्थिवा य आन्तरिक्ष्या ये दिव्या ये दिश्यास्तेभ्य इमं बलिमाहार्षं तेभ्य इमं बलिमुपाकरोमीति

kalaśātsaktūnāndarvīṁ pūrayitvā prāgupaniṣkramya śucau deśe'po'vaninīya sarpadevajanebhyaḥ svāheti hutvā namaskaroti ye sarpāḥ pārthivā ya āntarikṣyā ye divyā ye diśyāstebhya imaṁ balimāhārṣaṁ tebhya imaṁ balimupākaromīti

Filling a ladle with the meal from the pot, he goes out toward the east, and in a clean place, having spread water down, offers 'to the serpent-folk, svaha', and pays homage: 'whatever serpents are of the earth, of the mid-air, of the sky, of the quarters — for them I have brought this offering; for them I present it.'

प्रदक्षिणं परीत्य पश्चाद्बलेरुपविश्य सर्पोऽसि सर्पतां सर्पाणामधिपतिरस्यन्नेन मनुष्यांस्त्रायसेऽपूपेन सर्पा न्यज्ञेन देवांस्त्वयि मा सन्तं त्वयि सन्तः सर्पा मा हिंसिषुर्ध्रुवान्ते परिददामीति

pradakṣiṇaṁ parītya paścādbalerupaviśya sarpo'si sarpatāṁ sarpāṇāmadhipatirasyannena manuṣyāṁstrāyase'pūpena sarpā nyajñena devāṁstvayi mā santaṁ tvayi santaḥ sarpā mā hiṁsiṣurdhruvānte paridadāmīti

Having circled it clockwise and sat down behind the offering: 'you are a serpent, lord of serpents, of those that creep; with food you protect men, with cake the serpents, with sacrifice the gods; may what is in you remain; may the serpents in you not harm me; I hand you over to the fixed ones.'

Note: The addressee shifts within this mantra (the cake, personified, and a serpent-deity) in a way typical of archaic ritual formulas; the translation follows the most natural reading.

ध्रुवामुन्ते ध्रुवामुन्त इत्यमात्याननुपूर्वम्

dhruvāmunte dhruvāmunta ityamātyānanupūrvam

'To so-and-so the fixed one, to so-and-so the fixed one' — naming the household members in order.

ध्रुव मां ते परिददामीत्यात्मानमन्ततः

dhruva māṁ te paridadāmītyātmānamantataḥ

'O fixed one, I hand myself over to you' — naming himself last.

नैनमन्तरा व्यवेयुरा परिदानात्

nainamantarā vyaveyurā paridānāt

No one should pass between them until the handing-over is complete.

सर्पदेवजनेभ्यः स्वाहेति सायं प्रातर्बलिं हरेदा प्रत्यवरोहणात्

sarpadevajanebhyaḥ svāheti sāyaṁ prātarbaliṁ haredā pratyavarohaṇāt

'To the serpent-folk, svaha' — he should carry this bali evening and morning until the Pratyavarohana.

प्रसङ्ख्याय हैके तावतो बलींस्तदहरेवोपहरन्ति

prasaṅkhyāya haike tāvato balīṁstadaharevopaharanti

Some, having counted the days in advance, offer that many balis together on that one day.

आश्वयुज्यामाश्वयुजीकर्म

āśvayujyāmāśvayujīkarma

On the full moon of Ashvina, the Ashvayuji rite is performed.

निवेशनमलंकृत्य स्नाताः शुचिवाससः पशुपतये स्थालीपाकं निरुप्य जुहुयुः पशुपतये शिवाय शङ्कराय पृषातकाय स्वाहेति

niveśanamalaṁkṛtya snātāḥ śucivāsasaḥ paśupataye sthālīpākaṁ nirupya juhuyuḥ paśupataye śivāya śaṅkarāya pṛṣātakāya svāheti

Having adorned the dwelling, bathed, in clean garments, having prepared a sthalipaka for Pashupati, they offer: 'to Pashupati, to Shiva, to Shankara, to Prishataka, svaha.'

पृषातकमञ्जलिना जुहुयादूनं मे पूर्यतां पूर्णं मे मोपसदत्पृषातकाय स्वाहेति

pṛṣātakamañjalinā juhuyādūnaṁ me pūryatāṁ pūrṇaṁ me mopasadatpṛṣātakāya svāheti

He offers the prishataka, a curds-and-ghee mixture, with cupped hands: 'may what is lacking in me be filled; may what is full in me not diminish — to Prishataka, svaha.'

सजूरृतुभिः सजूर्विधाभिः सजूरिन्द्राग्निभ्यां स्वाहा सजूरृतुभिः सजूर्विधाभिः सजूर्विश्वेभ्यो देवेभ्यः स्वाहा । सजूरृतुभिः सजूर्विधाभिः सजूर्द्यावापृथिवीभ्यां स्वाहेत्याहिताग्नेराग्रयणस्थालीपाकः

sajūrṛtubhiḥ sajūrvidhābhiḥ sajūrindrāgnibhyāṁ svāhā sajūrṛtubhiḥ sajūrvidhābhiḥ sajūrviśvebhyo devebhyaḥ svāhā | sajūrṛtubhiḥ sajūrvidhābhiḥ sajūrdyāvāpṛthivībhyāṁ svāhetyāhitāgnerāgrayaṇasthālīpākaḥ

'Together with the seasons, the lunar phases, and Indra-and-Agni, svaha. Together with the seasons, the phases, and the All-Gods, svaha. Together with the seasons, the phases, and Heaven-and-Earth, svaha' — this is the first-fruits sthalipaka for one who has established the shrauta fires.

अनाहिताग्नेरपि शालाग्नौ

anāhitāgnerapi śālāgnau

For one who has not established the shrauta fires too, it is done in the house-fire.

मार्गशीर्ष्यां प्रत्यवरोहणं चतुर्दश्याम्

mārgaśīrṣyāṁ pratyavarohaṇaṁ caturdaśyām

The Pratyavarohana is performed on the fourteenth of Margashirsha.

पौर्णमास्यां वा

paurṇamāsyāṁ vā

Or on the full moon.

निवेशनं पुनर्नवीकृत्य लेपनस्तरणोपस्तरणैरस्तमिते पायसस्य जुहुयुरपश्वेतपदा जहि पूर्वेण चापरेण च । सप्त च वारुणीरिमाः सर्वाश्च राजबान्धवीः स्वाहा न वै श्वेतस्याभ्यागारेऽहिर्जघान किञ्चन । श्वेताय वैदार्वाय नमः स्वाहेति

niveśanaṁ punarnavīkṛtya lepanastaraṇopastaraṇairastamite pāyasasya juhuyurapaśvetapadā jahi pūrveṇa cāpareṇa ca | sapta ca vāruṇīrimāḥ sarvāśca rājabāndhavīḥ svāhā na vai śvetasyābhyāgāre'hirjaghāna kiñcana | śvetāya vaidārvāya namaḥ svāheti

Having renewed the dwelling with plastering, spreading, and underlayers, they offer a milk-rice preparation at sunset: 'O white-footed one, strike down the serpent with fore and hind foot. These seven, belonging to Varuna, and all the king's kin — svaha. Never has a serpent slain anything in the house of the white one. Homage to the white, wood-born one — svaha.'

Note: The exact referent of 'the white one' (a protective horse or spirit invoked against snakes) is read variously by commentators.

नात्र सौविष्टकृत्

nātra sauviṣṭakṛt

Here there is no Svishtakrit offering.

अभयन्नः प्राजापत्येम्यो भूयादित्यग्निमीक्षमाणो जपति शिवो नः सुमना भवेति हेमन्तं मनसा ध्यायात्

abhayannaḥ prājāpatyemyo bhūyādityagnimīkṣamāṇo japati śivo naḥ sumanā bhaveti hemantaṁ manasā dhyāyāt

'May there be freedom from fear for us from the creatures of Prajapati' — looking at the fire, he recites this; and 'be auspicious and well-disposed to us' — he should meditate on winter in his mind.

पश्चादग्नेः स्वस्तरः स्वास्तीर्णस्तस्मिन्नुपविश्य स्योना पृथिवि भवेति जपित्वा संविशेत्सामात्यः प्राक्शिरा उदङ्मुखः

paścādagneḥ svastaraḥ svāstīrṇastasminnupaviśya syonā pṛthivi bhaveti japitvā saṁviśetsāmātyaḥ prākśirā udaṅmukhaḥ

A well-strewn bed being behind the fire, sitting on it he recites 'be gentle to us, O Earth', and then lies down with his household, head to the east, facing north.

यथावकाशमितरे

yathāvakāśamitare

The others lie down as space permits.

ज्यायान्ज्यायान्वानन्तरः

jyāyānjyāyānvānantaraḥ

Or the eldest nearest to him.

मन्त्रविदो मन्त्रान्जपेयुः

mantravido mantrānjapeyuḥ

Those who know the formulas should recite them.

संहाय अतो देवा अवन्तु न इति त्रिः

saṁhāya ato devā avantu na iti triḥ

Together they recite 'may the gods protect us from this' three times.

एतां दक्षिणामुखाः प्रत्यङ्मुखा उदङ्मुखाश्चतुर्थम्

etāṁ dakṣiṇāmukhāḥ pratyaṅmukhā udaṅmukhāścaturtham

The same again facing south, facing west, facing north — for the fourth time.

संहाय सौर्याणि स्वस्त्ययनानि च जपित्वान्नं संस्कृत्य ब्राह्मणान्भोजयित्वा स्वस्त्ययनं वाचयीत

saṁhāya sauryāṇi svastyayanāni ca japitvānnaṁ saṁskṛtya brāhmaṇānbhojayitvā svastyayanaṁ vācayīta

Together reciting the sun-hymns and blessings for prosperity, having prepared food and fed the Brahmins, he should have a blessing recited.

हेमन्तशिशिरयोश्चतुर्णामपरपक्षाणामष्टमीष्वष्टकाः

hemantaśiśirayoścaturṇāmaparapakṣāṇāmaṣṭamīṣvaṣṭakāḥ

The Ashtakas are performed on the eighth of the dark fortnights of the four months of Hemanta and Shishira (winter).

एकस्यां वा

ekasyāṁ vā

Or on just one of them.

पूर्वेद्युः पितृभ्यो दद्यात्

pūrvedyuḥ pitṛbhyo dadyāt

The day before, he should give an offering to the ancestors.

ओदनं कृसरं पायसम्

odanaṁ kṛsaraṁ pāyasam

Boiled rice, a rice-and-sesame dish, and milk-rice.

चतुःशरावस्य वापूपान्

catuḥśarāvasya vāpūpān

Or cakes made from four dishfuls of flour.

उदीरतामवर उत्परास इत्यष्टाभिर्हुत्वा यावतीभिर्वा कामयीत

udīratāmavara utparāsa ityaṣṭābhirhutvā yāvatībhirvā kāmayīta

Offering with the eight verses of 'let the lower and the higher rise up', or as many as he wishes.

अथ श्वोभूतेऽष्टकाः पशुना स्थालीपाकेन च

atha śvobhūte'ṣṭakāḥ paśunā sthālīpākena ca

Then on the following day, the Ashtaka proper is performed with an animal-offering and a sthalipaka.

अप्यनडुहो यवसमाहरेत्

apyanaḍuho yavasamāharet

He may even bring fodder for the oxen instead of the animal.

अग्निना वा कक्षमुपोषेत्

agninā vā kakṣamupoṣet

Or he may merely heat a room with fire.

एष मेऽष्टकेति

eṣa me'ṣṭaketi

He should say, 'this is my Ashtaka.'

न त्वेवानष्टकः स्यात्

na tvevānaṣṭakaḥ syāt

But he should not be without the Ashtaka altogether.

तां हैके वैश्वदेवीं ब्रुवत आग्नेयीमेके सौर्यामेके प्राजापत्यामेके रात्रिदेवतामेके नक्षत्रदेवतामेक ऋतुदेवतामेके पितृदेवतामेके पशुदेवतामेके

tāṁ haike vaiśvadevīṁ bruvata āgneyīmeke sauryāmeke prājāpatyāmeke rātridevatāmeke nakṣatradevatāmeka ṛtudevatāmeke pitṛdevatāmeke paśudevatāmeke

Some call it the Vaishvadevi; some the Agneyi; some the Saurya; some the Prajapatya; some say its deity is Night; some, the constellations; some, the seasons; some, the ancestors; some, cattle.

पशुकल्पेन पशुं संज्ञप्य प्रोक्षणोपाकरणवर्जं वपामुत्खिद्य जुहुयाद्वह वपां जातवेदः पितृभ्यो यत्रैनान्वेत्थ निहितान्पराके मेदसः कुल्या उपैनान्स्रवन्तु सत्या एता आशिषः सन्तु सर्वाः स्वाहेति

paśukalpena paśuṁ saṁjñapya prokṣaṇopākaraṇavarjaṁ vapāmutkhidya juhuyādvaha vapāṁ jātavedaḥ pitṛbhyo yatrainānvettha nihitānparāke medasaḥ kulyā upainānsravantu satyā etā āśiṣaḥ santu sarvāḥ svāheti

Having dispatched the animal by the animal-kalpa procedure, except for the sprinkling and preparation, he extracts the omentum and offers: 'carry the omentum, O Jatavedas, to the ancestors, wherever you know them lodged, far away; may streams of fat flow to them; may all these wishes be truly fulfilled — svaha.'

अथावदानानां स्थालीपाकस्य च अग्ने नय सुपथा राये अस्मानिति द्वे । ग्रीष्मो हेमन्त ऋतवः शिवा नो वर्षाः शिवा अभया शरन्नः । संवत्सरोऽधिपतिः प्राणदो नोऽहोरात्रे कृणुतां दीर्घमायुः स्वाहा । शान्ता पृथिवी शिवमन्तरिक्षं द्यौर्नो देव्यभयन्नो अस्तु । शिवा दिशः प्रदिश उद्दिशो न आपो विद्युतः परिपान्तु सर्वतः स्वाहा। आपो मरीचीः प्रवहन्तु नो धियो धाता समुद्रो वहन्तु पापं भूतं भविष्यदभयं विश्वमस्तु मे ब्रह्माधिगुप्तः स्वाराक्षराणि स्वाहा । विश्व आदित्या वसवश्च देवा रुद्रा गोप्तारो मरुतः सदन्तु । ऊर्जं प्रजाममृतं पिन्वमानः प्रजापतिर्मयि परमेष्ठी दधातु स्वाहा । प्रजापते न त्वदेतान्यन्यः

athāvadānānāṁ sthālīpākasya ca agne naya supathā rāye asmāniti dve | grīṣmo hemanta ṛtavaḥ śivā no varṣāḥ śivā abhayā śarannaḥ | saṁvatsaro'dhipatiḥ prāṇado no'horātre kṛṇutāṁ dīrghamāyuḥ svāhā | śāntā pṛthivī śivamantarikṣaṁ dyaurno devyabhayanno astu | śivā diśaḥ pradiśa uddiśo na āpo vidyutaḥ paripāntu sarvataḥ svāhā| āpo marīcīḥ pravahantu no dhiyo dhātā samudro vahantu pāpaṁ bhūtaṁ bhaviṣyadabhayaṁ viśvamastu me brahmādhiguptaḥ svārākṣarāṇi svāhā | viśva ādityā vasavaśca devā rudrā goptāro marutaḥ sadantu | ūrjaṁ prajāmamṛtaṁ pinvamānaḥ prajāpatirmayi parameṣṭhī dadhātu svāhā | prajāpate na tvadetānyanyaḥ

Then for the cut portions and the sthalipaka: two verses of 'lead us, O Agni, by a good path to wealth'; then: 'summer, winter, the seasons — auspicious to us; the rains — auspicious; fearless to us the autumn. May the Year, the overlord, the life-giver, grant us long life day and night — svaha. Peaceful the Earth, auspicious the mid-air, may heaven be free of fear for us. Auspicious the quarters and intermediate quarters, may the waters and lightnings protect on every side — svaha. May the waters and rays carry off our cares; may the Maker, the ocean, carry away sin, past and future; may fearlessness be everywhere for me, protected by the sacred word — svaha. May all the Adityas, the Vasus, the gods, the protecting Rudras, the Maruts, abide; may Prajapati, swelling with strength, offspring and immortality, bestow it on me — svaha. O Prajapati, none other than you encompasses these.'

सौविष्टकृत्यष्टमी

sauviṣṭakṛtyaṣṭamī

The eighth oblation is the Svishtakrit.

ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेदित्युक्तम्

brāhmaṇānbhojayedityuktam

'He should feed Brahmins' — this has already been stated.

अपरेद्युरन्वष्टक्यम्

aparedyuranvaṣṭakyam

The next day, the Anvashtakya.

तस्यैव मांसस्य प्रकल्प्य दक्षिणाप्रवणेऽग्निमुपसमाधाय परिश्रित्योत्तरतः परिश्रितस्य द्वारं कृत्वा समूलं बर्हिस्त्रिरपसलैरविधून्वन्परिस्तीर्य हवींष्यासादयेदोदनं कृसरं पायसं दधिमन्थान्मधुमन्थांश्च

tasyaiva māṁsasya prakalpya dakṣiṇāpravaṇe'gnimupasamādhāya pariśrityottarataḥ pariśritasya dvāraṁ kṛtvā samūlaṁ barhistrirapasalairavidhūnvanparistīrya havīṁṣyāsādayedodanaṁ kṛsaraṁ pāyasaṁ dadhimanthānmadhumanthāṁśca

Having prepared some of that same meat, and set up the fire on ground sloping south, enclosed it with a door to the north, and strewn the grass roots-and-all, shaking it three times counter-clockwise, he sets out the oblations: boiled rice, the rice-sesame dish, milk-rice, curd-drink, and honey-drink.

पिण्डपितृयज्ञकल्पेन

piṇḍapitṛyajñakalpena

According to the procedure of the Pindapitriyajna.

हुत्वा मधुमन्थवर्जं पितृभ्यो दद्यात्

hutvā madhumanthavarjaṁ pitṛbhyo dadyāt

Having offered all but the honey-drink, he should give the rest to the ancestors.

स्त्रीभ्यश्च सुरा चाचाममित्यधिकम्

strībhyaśca surā cācāmamityadhikam

And additionally, to the women ancestors he gives liquor too, saying 'sip this'.

कर्षूष्वेके द्वयोः षट्सु वा

karṣūṣveke dvayoḥ ṣaṭsu vā

Some offer into furrows — into two, or into six.

पूर्वासु पितृभ्यो दद्यात्

pūrvāsu pitṛbhyo dadyāt

In the front furrows he gives to the ancestors.

अपरासु स्त्रीभ्यः

aparāsu strībhyaḥ

In the back furrows, to the women.

एतेन माघ्यावर्षं प्रोष्ठपद्या अपरपक्षे

etena māghyāvarṣaṁ proṣṭhapadyā aparapakṣe

By this same procedure, the rainy-season Ashtaka in Magha, and in the dark fortnight of Proshthapada.

मासि मासि चैवं पितृभ्योऽयुक्षु प्रतिष्ठापयेत्

māsi māsi caivaṁ pitṛbhyo'yukṣu pratiṣṭhāpayet

And thus, month by month, on odd tithis, he should establish offerings to the ancestors.

नवावरान्भोजयेत्

navāvarānbhojayet

He should feed nine Brahmins at the least.

अयुजो वा

ayujo vā

Or an odd number.

युग्मान् वृद्धिपूर्तेषु

yugmān vṛddhipūrteṣu

An even number, at prosperity-rites.

अयुग्मानितरेषु

ayugmānitareṣu

An odd number at the others.

प्रदक्षिणमुपचारो यवैस्तिलार्थः

pradakṣiṇamupacāro yavaistilārthaḥ

The ritual attendance is clockwise; barley may be used in place of sesame when unavailable.

रथमारोक्ष्यन्नाना पाणिभ्यां चक्रे अभिमृशेत् । अहन्ते पूर्वं पादावालभेद्बृहद्रथन्तरे ते चक्रे

rathamārokṣyannānā pāṇibhyāṁ cakre abhimṛśet | ahante pūrvaṁ pādāvālabhedbṛhadrathantare te cakre

About to mount the chariot, he should touch the two wheels with separate hands: 'aha, I touch first your two feet — Brihat and Rathantara are your two wheels.'

वामदेव्यमक्ष इत्यक्षाधिष्ठाने

vāmadevyamakṣa ityakṣādhiṣṭhāne

'The Vamadevya chant is in the axle' — stationed at the axle.

दक्षिणपूर्वाभ्यामारोहेत् वायोष्ट्वा वीर्येणारोहामीन्द्रस्यौजसाधिपत्येनेति

dakṣiṇapūrvābhyāmārohet vāyoṣṭvā vīryeṇārohāmīndrasyaujasādhipatyeneti

He mounts with the right foot first: 'with the vigor of Vayu I mount you, with the might and lordship of Indra.'

रश्मीन्संमृशेदरश्मिकान्वा दण्डेन ब्रह्मणो वस्तेजसा संगृह्णामि सत्येन वस्संगृह्णामीति

raśmīnsaṁmṛśedaraśmikānvā daṇḍena brahmaṇo vastejasā saṁgṛhṇāmi satyena vassaṁgṛhṇāmīti

He grasps the reins — or, if reinless, the pole with a stick: 'with the splendor of Brahman I grasp you; with truth I grasp you.'

अभिप्रवर्त्तमानेषु जपेत् सहस्रसनिं वाजमभिवर्त्तस्व रथ देव प्रवह वनस्पते वीड्वङ्गो हि भूया इति

abhipravarttamāneṣu japet sahasrasaniṁ vājamabhivarttasva ratha deva pravaha vanaspate vīḍvaṅgo hi bhūyā iti

As they set out, he recites: 'win for us the thousand-fold prize, O chariot; convey us, O divine one, O lord of the forest; for you have become firm-limbed.'

एतयान्यान्यपि वानस्पत्यानि

etayānyānyapi vānaspatyāni

With this same verse, other things made of wood too may be consecrated.

स्थिरौ गावौ भवतां वीडुरक्ष इति रथाङ्गमभिमृशेत्

sthirau gāvau bhavatāṁ vīḍurakṣa iti rathāṅgamabhimṛśet

'May the two oxen be steady, firm be the axle' — with this he touches the chariot-wheel.

सुत्रामाणं पृथिवीं द्यामनेहसमिति नावम्

sutrāmāṇaṁ pṛthivīṁ dyāmanehasamiti nāvam

'The well-protecting Earth, the flawless Heaven' — this for a boat.

नवरथेन यशस्विनं वृक्षं ह्रदं वाविदासिनं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा फलवतीः शाखा आहरेत्

navarathena yaśasvinaṁ vṛkṣaṁ hradaṁ vāvidāsinaṁ pradakṣiṇaṁ kṛtvā phalavatīḥ śākhā āharet

With a new chariot he should circle clockwise around a glorious tree, or an unfailing lake, and bring back fruit-laden branches.

अन्यद्वा कौटुम्बम्

anyadvā kauṭumbam

Or something else belonging to the household.

संसदमुपयायात्

saṁsadamupayāyāt

He should go to the assembly.

अस्माकमुत्तमं कृधीत्यादित्यमीक्षमाणो जपित्वावरोहेत्

asmākamuttamaṁ kṛdhītyādityamīkṣamāṇo japitvāvarohet

'Make us foremost' — looking at the sun, having recited this, he should descend.

ऋषभं मा समानानामित्यभिक्रामन्

ṛṣabhaṁ mā samānānāmityabhikrāman

'Make me the bull among my equals' — while proceeding forward.

वयमद्येन्द्रस्य प्रेष्ठा इत्यस्तं यात्यादित्ये

vayamadyendrasya preṣṭhā ityastaṁ yātyāditye

'Today may we be the dearest of Indra' — when the sun is setting.

तद्वो दिवो दुहितरो विभातीरिति व्युष्टायाम्

tadvo divo duhitaro vibhātīriti vyuṣṭāyām

'That, O daughters of Heaven, shining forth' — at daybreak.

अथातो वास्तुपरीक्षा

athāto vāstuparīkṣā

Now, the examination of a building-site.

अनूषरमविवदिष्णु भूम

anūṣaramavivadiṣṇu bhūma

He should choose ground that is not saline and not disputed.

ओषधिवनस्पतिवत्

oṣadhivanaspativat

And having plants and trees growing well.

यस्मिन्कुशवीरिणं प्रभूतम्

yasminkuśavīriṇaṁ prabhūtam

On which kusha grass and virina reed grow abundantly.

कण्टकिक्षीरिणस्तु समूलान्परिखायोद्वासयेदपामार्गः शाकस्तिल्वकः परिव्याध इति चैतानि

kaṇṭakikṣīriṇastu samūlānparikhāyodvāsayedapāmārgaḥ śākastilvakaḥ parivyādha iti caitāni

But thorny and milk-sap plants — apamarga, shaka, tilvaka, parivyadha — should be dug up with their roots and removed.

यत्र सर्वत आपो मध्यं समेत्य प्रदक्षिणं शयनीयं परीत्य प्राच्यः स्यन्देरन्नप्रवदत्यस्तत्सर्वं समृद्धम्

yatra sarvata āpo madhyaṁ sametya pradakṣiṇaṁ śayanīyaṁ parītya prācyaḥ syanderannapravadatyastatsarvaṁ samṛddham

Where, when a shallow pool is dug in the middle, water flows in from all sides and, circling the site clockwise, drains off eastward — that land is entirely prosperous.

समवस्रवे भक्तशरणं कारयेत्

samavasrave bhaktaśaraṇaṁ kārayet

Where the water flows evenly on all sides, one should build the dwelling-house there.

बह्वन्नं ह भवति

bahvannaṁ ha bhavati

Such a place indeed yields much food.

दक्षिणाप्रवणे सभां मापयेत्साऽद्यूता ह भवति

dakṣiṇāpravaṇe sabhāṁ māpayetsā'dyūtā ha bhavati

On ground sloping to the south, he should have an assembly-hall measured out; that becomes free of gambling.

युवानस्तस्यां कितवाः कलहिनः प्रमायुका भवन्ति

yuvānastasyāṁ kitavāḥ kalahinaḥ pramāyukā bhavanti

Otherwise, the young men who frequent it become gamblers, quarrelsome, and short-lived.

यत्र सर्वत आपः प्रस्यन्देरन् सा स्वस्त्ययन्यद्यूता च

yatra sarvata āpaḥ prasyanderan sā svastyayanyadyūtā ca

Where the water flows away on all sides — that assembly-hall site is also auspicious and free of gambling.

अथैतैर्वास्तु परीक्षेत

athaitairvāstu parīkṣeta

Now, one should examine the building-site by these further tests.

जानुमात्रङ्गर्तं खात्वा तैरेव पांसुभिः प्रतिपूरयेत्

jānumātraṅgartaṁ khātvā taireva pāṁsubhiḥ pratipūrayet

Having dug a knee-deep pit, he should fill it back with the very same soil.

अधिके प्रशस्तं समे वार्त्तं न्यूने गर्हितम्

adhike praśastaṁ same vārttaṁ nyūne garhitam

If the earth is in excess, the site is excellent; if level, acceptable; if deficient, blameworthy.

अस्तमितेऽपां सुपूर्णं परिवासयेत्

astamite'pāṁ supūrṇaṁ parivāsayet

At sunset, he should leave the pit filled full with water overnight.

सोदके प्रशस्तमार्द्रे वार्त्तं शुष्के गर्हितं श्वेतं मधुरास्वादम्

sodake praśastamārdre vārttaṁ śuṣke garhitaṁ śvetaṁ madhurāsvādam

If water remains, excellent; if merely moist, acceptable; if dry, blameworthy. Good soil is white, of sweet taste.

सिकतोत्तरं ब्राह्मणस्य

sikatottaraṁ brāhmaṇasya

Sandy soil is best for a Brahmin.

लोहितं क्षत्रियस्य

lohitaṁ kṣatriyasya

Reddish soil for a Kshatriya.

पीतं वैश्यस्य

pītaṁ vaiśyasya

Yellow soil for a Vaishya.

तत्सहस्रसीतं कृत्वा यथादिक्समचतुरस्रं मापयेत्

tatsahasrasītaṁ kṛtvā yathādiksamacaturasraṁ māpayet

Having had it ploughed a thousand furrows, he should measure it out square, aligned to the directions.

आयतं चतुरस्रं वा

āyataṁ caturasraṁ vā

Or oblong and rectangular.

तच्छमीशाखयोडुम्बरशाखया वा शन्तातीयेन त्रिः परिव्रजन्प्रोक्षति

tacchamīśākhayoḍumbaraśākhayā vā śantātīyena triḥ parivrajanprokṣati

He sprinkles it, walking around it three times, with a shami or udumbara branch, with the Shantatiya hymn.

अविच्छिन्नया चोदकधारयापो हि ष्ठा मयोभुव इति तृचेन

avicchinnayā codakadhārayāpo hi ṣṭhā mayobhuva iti tṛcena

And with an unbroken stream of water, with the three verses 'waters, you are indeed beneficial'.

वंशान्तरेषु शरणानि कारयेत्

vaṁśāntareṣu śaraṇāni kārayet

Between the bamboo-poles, he should have the rooms constructed.

गर्तेष्ववकां शीपालमित्यवधापयेन्नास्याग्निर्दाहुको भवतीति विज्ञायते

garteṣvavakāṁ śīpālamityavadhāpayennāsyāgnirdāhuko bhavatīti vijñāyate

In the pillar-pits he should deposit avaka and shipala water-plants; it is understood that fire then does not burn the house.

मध्यमस्थूणाया गर्तेऽवधाय प्रागग्रोदग्रान्कुशानास्तीर्य व्रीहियवमतीरप आसेचयेदच्युताय भौमाय स्वाहेति

madhyamasthūṇāyā garte'vadhāya prāgagrodagrānkuśānāstīrya vrīhiyavamatīrapa āsecayedacyutāya bhaumāya svāheti

Having placed these in the pit of the middle pillar, and strewn kusha grass tips east and pointed upward, he pours in water mixed with rice and barley: 'to the unshaken, earthly one, svaha.'

अथैनामुच्छ्रियमाणामनुमन्त्रयेतेहैव तिष्ठ निमिता तिल्विलास्तामिरावतीं मध्ये पोषस्य तिष्ठन्तीम् । आ त्वा प्रापन्नघायव आ त्वा कुमारस्तरुण आ वत्सो जायतां सह । आ त्वा परिश्रितः कुम्भ आ दध्नः कलशैरयन्निति

athaināmucchriyamāṇāmanumantrayetehaiva tiṣṭha nimitā tilvilāstāmirāvatīṁ madhye poṣasya tiṣṭhantīm | ā tvā prāpannaghāyava ā tvā kumārastaruṇa ā vatso jāyatāṁ saha | ā tvā pariśritaḥ kumbha ā dadhnaḥ kalaśairayanniti

Then, as the pillar is being raised, he consecrates it: 'stand here, fixed, rich, standing in the midst of abundance. May those free of malice come to you; may a young man come to you; may a calf be born with you. May the encircling pot come to you; may they come with jars of curds.'

वंशमाधोयमानम्

vaṁśamādhoyamānam

While the ridge-bamboo is being raised.

ऋतेन स्थूणामधिरोह वंश द्राघीय आयुः प्रतरन्दधान इति

ṛtena sthūṇāmadhiroha vaṁśa drāghīya āyuḥ pratarandadhāna iti

'By cosmic order, ascend the pillar, O bamboo, extending a longer life.'

सदूर्वासु चतसृषु शिलासु मणिकं प्रतिष्ठापयेत् पृथिव्या अधि सम्भवेति

sadūrvāsu catasṛṣu śilāsu maṇikaṁ pratiṣṭhāpayet pṛthivyā adhi sambhaveti

On four stones with durva grass on them, he sets up a jar: 'arise from off the earth.'

अरङ्गरो वावदीति त्रेधा बद्धो वरत्रया । इरामु ह प्रशंसत्यनिरामपबाधतामिति वा

araṅgaro vāvadīti tredhā baddho varatrayā | irāmu ha praśaṁsatyanirāmapabādhatāmiti vā

'Let it not creak' — bound in three places with a rope. Or: 'it indeed praises abundance; let it drive away lack of abundance.'

अथास्मिन्नप आसेचयेत् ऐतु राजा वरुणो रेवतीभिरस्मिन् स्थाने तिष्ठतु मोदमानः । इरां वहन्तो घृतमुक्षमाणा मित्रेण साकं सह संविशन्त्विति

athāsminnapa āsecayet aitu rājā varuṇo revatībhirasmin sthāne tiṣṭhatu modamānaḥ | irāṁ vahanto ghṛtamukṣamāṇā mitreṇa sākaṁ saha saṁviśantviti

Then he pours water into it: 'may King Varuna come with his abundant waters; may he stand rejoicing in this place. Bearing refreshment, sprinkling ghee, may they dwell together with Mitra.'

अथैनच्छमयति

athainacchamayati

Then he quiets it.

व्रीहियवमतीभिरद्भिर्हिरण्यमवधाय शन्तातीयेन त्रिः प्रदक्षिणं परिव्रजन्प्रोक्षति

vrīhiyavamatībhiradbhirhiraṇyamavadhāya śantātīyena triḥ pradakṣiṇaṁ parivrajanprokṣati

Having placed gold in water mixed with rice and barley, he sprinkles the house, walking around it three times clockwise, with the Shantatiya hymn.

अविच्छिन्नया चोदकधारया आपो हि ष्ठा मयोभुव इति तृचेन

avicchinnayā codakadhārayā āpo hi ṣṭhā mayobhuva iti tṛcena

And with an unbroken stream of water, with the three verses 'waters, you are indeed beneficial'.

मध्येऽगारस्य स्थालीपाकं श्रपयित्वा वास्तोष्यते प्रतिजानीह्यस्मानिति चतसृभिः प्रत्यृचं हुत्वान्नं संस्कृत्य ब्राह्मणान्भोजयित्वा शिवं वास्तु शिवं वास्त्विति वाचयीत

madhye'gārasya sthālīpākaṁ śrapayitvā vāstoṣyate pratijānīhyasmāniti catasṛbhiḥ pratyṛcaṁ hutvānnaṁ saṁskṛtya brāhmaṇānbhojayitvā śivaṁ vāstu śivaṁ vāstviti vācayīta

In the middle of the house, having cooked a sthalipaka, he offers with the four verses 'O Vastoshpati, acknowledge us', one oblation to each; having fed Brahmins, he has recited: 'auspicious be the house, auspicious be the house.'

उक्तं गृहप्रपदनम्

uktaṁ gṛhaprapadanam

The entry into the house has already been described.

बीजवतो गृहान् प्रपद्येत

bījavato gṛhān prapadyeta

He should enter the house with seed-grain brought along.

क्षेत्रं प्रकर्षयेदुत्तरैः प्रोष्ठपदैः फाल्गुनीभी रोहिण्या वा

kṣetraṁ prakarṣayeduttaraiḥ proṣṭhapadaiḥ phālgunībhī rohiṇyā vā

He should have the field ploughed under the asterisms Uttara Proshthapada, Phalguni, or Rohini.

क्षेत्रस्यानुवातं क्षेत्रस्य पतिना वयमिति प्रत्यृचं जुहुयाज्जपेद्वा

kṣetrasyānuvātaṁ kṣetrasya patinā vayamiti pratyṛcaṁ juhuyājjapedvā

On the lee side of the field, he offers with the hymn 'by the lord of the field, we...', one oblation to each verse, or he may simply recite it.

गाः प्रतिष्ठमाना अनुमन्त्रयेत मयोभूर्वातो अभिवातूस्रा इति द्वाभ्याम्

gāḥ pratiṣṭhamānā anumantrayeta mayobhūrvāto abhivātūsrā iti dvābhyām

As the cattle are being installed, he consecrates them with the two verses 'may the beneficial wind blow upon the cows'.

आयतीः यासामूधश्चतुर्बिलं मधोः पूर्णं घृतस्य च । ता नः सन्तु पयस्वतीर्बह्वीर्गोष्ठे घृताच्यः । उप मैतु मयोभुव ऊर्जं चौजश्च बिभ्रतीः । दुहाना अक्षितं पयो मयि गोष्ठे निविशध्वम् । यथा भवाम्युत्तमो या देवेषु तन्वामैरयन्तेति च सूक्तशेषम्

āyatīḥ yāsāmūdhaścaturbilaṁ madhoḥ pūrṇaṁ ghṛtasya ca | tā naḥ santu payasvatīrbahvīrgoṣṭhe ghṛtācyaḥ | upa maitu mayobhuva ūrjaṁ caujaśca bibhratīḥ | duhānā akṣitaṁ payo mayi goṣṭhe niviśadhvam | yathā bhavāmyuttamo yā deveṣu tanvāmairayanteti ca sūktaśeṣam

'Approaching, whose udder has four openings, full of honey and ghee — may they be milk-yielding for us, many, dripping ghee in the cow-pen. May the beneficial one approach me, bearing nourishment and strength. Yielding inexhaustible milk, settle in my cow-pen. That I may become foremost' — and the rest of that hymn.

आगावीयमेके

āgāvīyameke

Some do this only up to the point of the cows' arrival.

गणानासामुपतिष्ठेतागुरुगवीनां भूताः स्थ प्रशस्ताः स्थ शोभनाः प्रियाः प्रियो वो भूयासं शं मयि जानीध्वं शं मयि जानीध्वं

gaṇānāsāmupatiṣṭhetāgurugavīnāṁ bhūtāḥ stha praśastāḥ stha śobhanāḥ priyāḥ priyo vo bhūyāsaṁ śaṁ mayi jānīdhvaṁ śaṁ mayi jānīdhvaṁ

He should approach the herds of not-yet-calved cows: 'you have come to be, you are excellent, you are beautiful, dear ones; may I become dear to you; know me as bringing you welfare, know me as bringing you welfare.' Thus ends the second chapter.

अथातः पञ्चयज्ञाः

athātaḥ pañcayajñāḥ

Now, the five great sacrifices.

देवयज्ञो भूतयज्ञः पितृयज्ञो ब्रह्मयज्ञो मनुष्ययज्ञ इति

devayajño bhūtayajñaḥ pitṛyajño brahmayajño manuṣyayajña iti

The sacrifice to the gods, the sacrifice to beings, the sacrifice to the ancestors, the sacrifice of sacred study, and the sacrifice to men.

तद्यदग्नौ जुहोति स देवयज्ञो यद्बलिं करोति स भूतयज्ञो यत्पितृभ्यो ददाति स पितृयज्ञो यत्स्वाध्यायमधीयते स ब्रह्मयज्ञो यन्मनुष्येभ्यो ददाति स मनुष्ययज्ञ इति

tadyadagnau juhoti sa devayajño yadbaliṁ karoti sa bhūtayajño yatpitṛbhyo dadāti sa pitṛyajño yatsvādhyāyamadhīyate sa brahmayajño yanmanuṣyebhyo dadāti sa manuṣyayajña iti

What one offers into the fire is the sacrifice to the gods; what one offers as bali is the sacrifice to beings; what one gives to the ancestors is the sacrifice to the ancestors; what one studies as daily recitation is the sacrifice of sacred study; what one gives to men is the sacrifice to men.

तानेतान्यज्ञानहरहः कुर्वीत

tānetānyajñānaharahaḥ kurvīta

One should perform these sacrifices every day.

अथ स्वाध्यायविधिः

atha svādhyāyavidhiḥ

Now, the procedure for daily Vedic recitation.

प्राग्वोदग्वा ग्रामान्निष्क्रम्याप आप्लुत्य शुचौ देशे यज्ञोपवीत्याचम्याक्लिन्नवासा दर्भाणां महदुपस्तीर्य प्राक्कूलानान्तेषु प्राङ्मुख उपविश्योपस्थं कृत्वा दक्षिणोत्तरौ पाणी सन्धाय पवित्रवन्तौ विज्ञायतेऽपां वा एष ओषधीनां रसो यद्दर्भाः सरसमेव तद्ब्रह्म करोति द्यावापृथिव्योः सन्धिमीक्षमाणः संमील्य वा यथा वा युक्तमात्मानं मन्येत तथा युक्तोऽधीयीत स्वाध्यायम्

prāgvodagvā grāmānniṣkramyāpa āplutya śucau deśe yajñopavītyācamyāklinnavāsā darbhāṇāṁ mahadupastīrya prākkūlānānteṣu prāṅmukha upaviśyopasthaṁ kṛtvā dakṣiṇottarau pāṇī sandhāya pavitravantau vijñāyate'pāṁ vā eṣa oṣadhīnāṁ raso yaddarbhāḥ sarasameva tadbrahma karoti dyāvāpṛthivyoḥ sandhimīkṣamāṇaḥ saṁmīlya vā yathā vā yuktamātmānaṁ manyeta tathā yukto'dhīyīta svādhyāyam

Going out from the village toward the east or the north, having bathed, in a clean place, wearing the sacred thread, having sipped water, in dry garments, having spread a large heap of kusha grass tips east, sitting on it facing east, making a lap, joining his right and left hands holding the kusha purifiers — it is understood that this is the essence of the waters and plants, so the kusha fills the sacred word with that essence — looking at the junction of Heaven and Earth, or with eyes closed, however he considers himself composed, thus composed he should study the daily recitation.

ॐपूर्वा व्याहृतीः

oṁpūrvā vyāhṛtīḥ

He recites the Vyahritis, preceded by Om.

सावित्रीमन्वाह पच्छोर्धर्चशः सर्वामिति तृतीयम्

sāvitrīmanvāha pacchordharcaśaḥ sarvāmiti tṛtīyam

He recites the Savitri after the teacher, word by word, half-verse by half-verse, then wholly — the third step.

अथ स्वाध्यायमधीयीत ऋचो यजूंषि सामान्यथर्वाङ्गिरसो ब्राह्मणानि कल्पान्गाथा नाराशंसीरितिहासपुराणानीति

atha svādhyāyamadhīyīta ṛco yajūṁṣi sāmānyatharvāṅgiraso brāhmaṇāni kalpāngāthā nārāśaṁsīritihāsapurāṇānīti

Then he should study as daily recitation: the Rik verses, the Yajus formulas, the Saman chants, the Atharvangirasas, the Brahmanas, the Kalpas, the Gathas, the Narashamsis, the Itihasas, and the Puranas.

यदृचोऽधीते पयआहुतिभिरेव तद्देवतास्तर्पयति यद्यजूंषि घृताहुतिभिर्यत्सामानि मध्वाहुतिभिर्यदथर्वाङ्गिरसः सोमाहुतिभिर्यद्ब्राह्मणानि कल्पान् गाथा नाराशंसीरितिहासपुराणानीत्यमृताहुतिभिः

yadṛco'dhīte payaāhutibhireva taddevatāstarpayati yadyajūṁṣi ghṛtāhutibhiryatsāmāni madhvāhutibhiryadatharvāṅgirasaḥ somāhutibhiryadbrāhmaṇāni kalpān gāthā nārāśaṁsīritihāsapurāṇānītyamṛtāhutibhiḥ

When he studies the Rik verses, he satisfies the deities with milk-oblations; the Yajus, with ghee-oblations; the Saman, with honey-oblations; the Atharvangirasas, with Soma-oblations; the Brahmanas, Kalpas, Gathas, Narashamsis, Itihasas and Puranas, with oblations of nectar.

यदृचोऽधीते पयसः कुल्यास्य पितॄन्त्स्वधा उपक्षरन्ति यद्यजूंषि घृतस्य कुल्या यत्सामानि मध्वः कुल्या यदथर्वाङ्गिरसः सोमस्य कुल्या यद्ब्राह्मणानि कल्पान्गाथा नाराशंसीरितिहासपुराणानीत्यमृतस्य कुल्याः

yadṛco'dhīte payasaḥ kulyāsya pitṝntsvadhā upakṣaranti yadyajūṁṣi ghṛtasya kulyā yatsāmāni madhvaḥ kulyā yadatharvāṅgirasaḥ somasya kulyā yadbrāhmaṇāni kalpāngāthā nārāśaṁsīritihāsapurāṇānītyamṛtasya kulyāḥ

When he studies the Rik verses, streams of milk carrying Svadha flow to his ancestors; the Yajus, streams of ghee; the Saman, streams of honey; the Atharvangirasas, streams of Soma; the Brahmanas and the rest, streams of nectar.

स यावन्मन्येत तावदधीत्यैतया परिदधाति नमो ब्रह्मणे नमोऽस्त्वग्नये नमः पृथिव्यै नम ओषधीभ्यः । नमो वाचे नमो वाचस्पतये नमो विष्णवे महते करोमीति

sa yāvanmanyeta tāvadadhītyaitayā paridadhāti namo brahmaṇe namo'stvagnaye namaḥ pṛthivyai nama oṣadhībhyaḥ | namo vāce namo vācaspataye namo viṣṇave mahate karomīti

Having studied as much as he thinks fit, he concludes with this: 'homage to Brahman, homage be to Agni, homage to the Earth, homage to the plants. Homage to Speech, homage to the Lord of Speech; I make homage to great Vishnu.'

देवतास्तर्पयति प्रजापतिर्ब्रह्मा वेदा देवा ऋषयः सर्वाणि च्छन्दांस्योङ्कारो वषट्कारो व्याहृतयः सावित्री यज्ञा द्यावापृथिवी अन्तरिक्षमहोरात्राणि सांख्याः सिद्धाः समुद्रा नद्यो गिरयः क्षेत्रौषधिवनस्पतिगन्धर्वाप्सरसो नागा वयांसि गावः साध्या विप्रा यक्षा रक्षांसि भूतान्येवमन्तानि

devatāstarpayati prajāpatirbrahmā vedā devā ṛṣayaḥ sarvāṇi cchandāṁsyoṅkāro vaṣaṭkāro vyāhṛtayaḥ sāvitrī yajñā dyāvāpṛthivī antarikṣamahorātrāṇi sāṁkhyāḥ siddhāḥ samudrā nadyo girayaḥ kṣetrauṣadhivanaspatigandharvāpsaraso nāgā vayāṁsi gāvaḥ sādhyā viprā yakṣā rakṣāṁsi bhūtānyevamantāni

He satisfies these: Prajapati, Brahman, the Vedas, the gods, the sages, all the metres, the syllable Om, the Vashat-call, the Vyahritis, the Savitri, the sacrifices, Heaven-and-Earth, the mid-air, day-and-night, the Sankhyas, the Siddhas, the oceans, the rivers, the mountains, the fields, plants and trees, Gandharvas and Apsarases, the Nagas, the birds, the cattle, the Sadhyas, the wise, the Yakshas, the Rakshasas, and the beings, ending thus.

अथ ऋषयः शतर्चिनो माध्यमा गृत्समदो विश्वामित्रो वामदेवोऽत्रिर्भरद्वाजो वसिष्ठः प्रगाथाः पावमान्यः क्षुद्रसूक्ता महासूक्ता इति

atha ṛṣayaḥ śatarcino mādhyamā gṛtsamado viśvāmitro vāmadevo'trirbharadvājo vasiṣṭhaḥ pragāthāḥ pāvamānyaḥ kṣudrasūktā mahāsūktā iti

Then the Rishis: the hundred-versed group, the middle group, Grihtsamada, Vishvamitra, Vamadeva, Atri, Bharadvaja, Vasishtha, the Pragathas, the Pavamani seers, and the seers of the minor and major hymns.

प्राचीनावीती

prācīnāvītī

This is done with the sacred thread over the right shoulder.

सुमन्तुजैमिनिवैशम्पायनपैलसूत्रभाष्यभारतमहाभारतधर्माचार्या जानन्ति बाहविगार्ग्यगौतमशाकल्यबाभ्रव्यमाण्डव्यमाण्डूकेया गर्गी वाचक्नवी वडवा प्रातिथेयी सुलभा मैत्रेयी कहोलं कौषीतकं महाकौषीतकं पैङ्ग्यं महापैङ्ग्यं सुयज्ञं शाङ्खायनमैतरेयं महैतरेयं शाकलं बाष्कलं सुजातवक्त्रमौदवाहिं महौदवाहिं सौजामिं शौनकमाश्वलायनं ये चान्य आचार्यास्ते सर्वे तृप्यन्त्विति

sumantujaiminivaiśampāyanapailasūtrabhāṣyabhāratamahābhāratadharmācāryā jānanti bāhavigārgyagautamaśākalyabābhravyamāṇḍavyamāṇḍūkeyā gargī vācaknavī vaḍavā prātitheyī sulabhā maitreyī kaholaṁ kauṣītakaṁ mahākauṣītakaṁ paiṅgyaṁ mahāpaiṅgyaṁ suyajñaṁ śāṅkhāyanamaitareyaṁ mahaitareyaṁ śākalaṁ bāṣkalaṁ sujātavaktramaudavāhiṁ mahaudavāhiṁ saujāmiṁ śaunakamāśvalāyanaṁ ye cānya ācāryāste sarve tṛpyantviti

'May Sumantu, Jaimini, Vaishampayana, Paila, the teachers of the Sutras, Bhashyas, the Bharata and Mahabharata, the teachers of Dharma — Bahvi, Gargya, Gautama, Shakalya, Babhravya, Mandavya, Mandukeya, Gargi Vachaknavi, Vadava Pratitheyi, Sulabha Maitreyi, Kahola, Kaushitaka, Mahakaushitaka, Paingya, Mahapaingya, Suyajna, Shankhayana, Aitareya, Mahaitareya, Shakala, Bashkala, Sujatavaktra, Audavahi, Mahaudavahi, Saujami, Shaunaka, Ashvalayana, and whatever other teachers there be — may they all be satisfied.'

Note: This teacher-lineage roster, including the named women scholars Gargi Vachaknavi, Vadava Pratitheyi, and Sulabha Maitreyi, is a list of proper names whose readings vary somewhat across manuscripts.

प्रतिपुरुषं पितॄंस्तर्पयित्वा गृहानेत्य यद्ददाति सा दक्षिणा

pratipuruṣaṁ pitṝṁstarpayitvā gṛhānetya yaddadāti sā dakṣiṇā

Having satisfied the ancestors one by one and returned home, whatever he gives to Brahmins is the priestly fee.

अथापि विज्ञायते स यदि तिष्ठन् व्रजन्नासीनः शयानो वा यं यं क्रतुमधीते तेन तेन हास्य क्रतुने ष्टम्भवतीति

athāpi vijñāyate sa yadi tiṣṭhan vrajannāsīnaḥ śayāno vā yaṁ yaṁ kratumadhīte tena tena hāsya kratune ṣṭambhavatīti

It is furthermore understood that whichever sacrificial rite he studies, whether standing, walking, sitting or lying down, by that very rite he comes to have sacrificed.

विज्ञायते तस्य द्वावनध्यायौ यदात्माशुचिर्यद्देशः

vijñāyate tasya dvāvanadhyāyau yadātmāśuciryaddeśaḥ

It is understood that for him there are two causes of non-recitation: when he himself is impure, or when the place is impure.

अथातोऽध्यायोपाकरणम्

athāto'dhyāyopākaraṇam

Now, the rite of beginning the term of Vedic study.

ओषधीनां प्रादुर्भावे श्रवणेन श्रावणस्य

oṣadhīnāṁ prādurbhāve śravaṇena śrāvaṇasya

At the appearance of the new monsoon plants, on the Shravana asterism, in the month of Shravana.

पञ्चम्यां हस्तेन वा

pañcamyāṁ hastena vā

Or on the fifth tithi, on the Hasta asterism.

आज्यभागौ हुत्वाज्याहुतीर्जुहुयात्सावित्र्यै ब्रह्मणे श्रद्धायै मेधायै प्रज्ञायै धारणायै सदसस्पतयेऽनुमतये छन्दोभ्य ऋषिभ्यश्चेति

ājyabhāgau hutvājyāhutīrjuhuyātsāvitryai brahmaṇe śraddhāyai medhāyai prajñāyai dhāraṇāyai sadasaspataye'numataye chandobhya ṛṣibhyaśceti

Having offered the two ghee-portions, he offers ghee-oblations: to Savitri, to Brahman, to Faith, to Intelligence, to Wisdom, to Retention, to Sadasaspati, to Anumati, to the metres, and to the sages.

अथ दधिसक्तून्जुहोति

atha dadhisaktūnjuhoti

Then he offers curds mixed with grain-meal.

अग्निमीळे पुरोहितमित्येका

agnimīḷe purohitamityekā

With 'I praise Agni, the chosen priest' — one oblation.

कुषुम्भकस्तदब्रवीदावदंस्त्वं शकुने भद्रमावद गृणाना जमदग्निना धामन्ते विश्वम्भुवनमधिश्रितं गन्ता नो यज्ञं यज्ञियाः सुशमियो नः स्वो अरणः प्रचक्ष्व विचक्ष्वाग्ने याहि मरुत्सखा यत्ते राजञ्छतं हविरिति द्व्यृचाः

kuṣumbhakastadabravīdāvadaṁstvaṁ śakune bhadramāvada gṛṇānā jamadagninā dhāmante viśvambhuvanamadhiśritaṁ gantā no yajñaṁ yajñiyāḥ suśamiyo naḥ svo araṇaḥ pracakṣva vicakṣvāgne yāhi marutsakhā yatte rājañchataṁ haviriti dvyṛcāḥ

Kushumbhaka declared this: 'speaking, O bird, speak fair; sung by Jamadagni, in your abode the whole world rests. Come to our sacrifice, O worthy of sacrifice; be of good comfort to us. Behold, look forth, O Agni; come, friend of the Maruts; your hundredfold oblation, O king' — two verses.

Note: This is a rare citation attributed to 'Kushumbhaka' whose narrative context is not otherwise given in the text.

समानीव आकूतिरित्येका

samānīva ākūtirityekā

With 'like-minded be your intent' — one.

तच्छंयोरावृणीमह इत्येका

tacchaṁyorāvṛṇīmaha ityekā

With 'that beneficial and salutary water we choose' — one.

अध्येष्यमाणोऽध्याप्यैरन्वारब्ध एताभ्यो देवताभ्यो हुत्वा सौविष्टकृतं हुत्वा दधिसक्तून्प्राश्य ततो मार्जनम्

adhyeṣyamāṇo'dhyāpyairanvārabdha etābhyo devatābhyo hutvā sauviṣṭakṛtaṁ hutvā dadhisaktūnprāśya tato mārjanam

About to be taught, touched by his pupils, having offered to these deities and the Svishtakrit oblation, and tasted the curds-and-meal, thereafter follows the purificatory sprinkling.

अपरेणाग्निं प्राक्कूलेषु दर्भेषूपविश्योदपात्रे दर्भान्कृत्वा ब्रह्माञ्जलिकृतो जपेत्

apareṇāgniṁ prākkūleṣu darbheṣūpaviśyodapātre darbhānkṛtvā brahmāñjalikṛto japet

Sitting to the west of the fire on kusha grass with tips to the east, having placed kusha in a water-vessel, with hands folded he should recite the sacred formulas.

ॐपूर्वा व्याहृतीः सावित्रीं च त्रिरभ्यस्य वेदादिमारभेत्

oṁpūrvā vyāhṛtīḥ sāvitrīṁ ca trirabhyasya vedādimārabhet

Having practiced the Vyahritis preceded by Om, and the Savitri, three times, he should begin the Veda.

तथोत्सर्गे

tathotsarge

Likewise at the closing rite (utsarga).

षण्मासानधीयीत

ṣaṇmāsānadhīyīta

He should study for six months.

समावृत्तो ब्रह्मचारिकल्पेन

samāvṛtto brahmacārikalpena

One who has formally returned from studentship performs this according to the student's procedure.

यथान्यायमितरे

yathānyāyamitare

Others, as is appropriate to their status.

जायोपेयोत्येके

jāyopeyotyeke

Some say: 'having taken a wife'.

प्राजापत्यं तत्

prājāpatyaṁ tat

That period is Prajapatya, sacred to Prajapati.

वार्षिकमित्येतदाचक्षते

vārṣikamityetadācakṣate

They call this the 'yearly' rite.

मध्यमाष्टकायामेताभ्यो देवताभ्योऽन्नेन हुत्वाऽपोऽभ्यवयन्ति

madhyamāṣṭakāyāmetābhyo devatābhyo'nnena hutvā'po'bhyavayanti

At the middle Ashtaka, having offered food to these deities, they partake of water.

एता एव तद्देवतास्तर्पयन्ति

etā eva taddevatāstarpayanti

These same offerings satisfy those deities.

आचार्यानृषीन्पितॄंश्च

ācāryānṛṣīnpitṝṁśca

And also the teachers, the sages, and the ancestors.

एतदुत्सर्जनम्

etadutsarjanam

This is the Utsarjana, the closing rite.

अथ काम्यानां स्थाने काम्याः

atha kāmyānāṁ sthāne kāmyāḥ

Now, in place of the regular optional oblations, other optional offerings may be substituted.

चरवः

caravaḥ

Namely, rice-porridge offerings (charu).

तानेव कामानाप्नोति

tāneva kāmānāpnoti

He obtains those same desires by them.

अथ व्याधितस्यातुरस्य यक्ष्मगृहीतस्य वा षडाहुतिश्चरुः

atha vyādhitasyāturasya yakṣmagṛhītasya vā ṣaḍāhutiścaruḥ

Now, for one who is diseased, ailing, or seized by consumption, a charu of six oblations is prescribed.

मुञ्चामि त्वा हविषा जीवनायकमित्येतेन

muñcāmi tvā haviṣā jīvanāyakamityetena

With 'I release you with the oblation, for life' — with this formula.

स्वप्नममनोज्ञं दृष्ट्वाद्या नो देव सवितरिति द्वाभ्यां यच्च गोषु दुःस्वप्न्यमिति पञ्चभिरादित्यमुपतिष्ठेत

svapnamamanojñaṁ dṛṣṭvādyā no deva savitariti dvābhyāṁ yacca goṣu duḥsvapnyamiti pañcabhirādityamupatiṣṭheta

Having seen an unpleasant dream, with the two verses 'today, O god Savitri' and the five verses 'whatever ill-dream is in our cattle', he should worship the sun.

यो मे राजन्युज्यो वा सखा वेति वा

yo me rājanyujyo vā sakhā veti vā

Or with the variant 'whatever ill-dream be to my king, kinsman, or friend'.

क्षुत्वा जृम्भित्वाऽमनोज्ञं दृष्ट्वा पापकं गन्धमाघ्रायाक्षिस्पन्दने कर्णध्वनने च सुचक्षा अहमक्षीभ्यां भूयासं सुवर्चा मुखेन सुश्रुत्कर्णाभ्यां मयि दक्षक्रतू इति जपेत्

kṣutvā jṛmbhitvā'manojñaṁ dṛṣṭvā pāpakaṁ gandhamāghrāyākṣispandane karṇadhvanane ca sucakṣā ahamakṣībhyāṁ bhūyāsaṁ suvarcā mukhena suśrutkarṇābhyāṁ mayi dakṣakratū iti japet

Having sneezed, yawned, seen something unpleasant, smelled a bad odor, or at the twitching of the eye or ringing of the ear, he should recite: 'may I have good sight with my eyes, good splendor with my mouth, good hearing with my ears; may skill and capability be in me.'

अगमनीयां गत्वायाज्यं याजयित्वाभोज्यं भुक्त्वाप्रतिग्राह्यं प्रतिगृह्य चैत्यं यूपं चोपहत्य पुनर्मामैत्विन्द्रियं पुनरायुः पुनर्भगः । पुनर्द्रविणमैतु मां पुनर्ब्राह्मणमैतु मां स्वाहा । इमे ये धिष्ण्यासो अग्नयो यथास्थानमिह कल्पताम् । वैश्वानरो वावृधानोऽन्तर्यच्छतु मे मनो हृद्यन्तरममृतस्य केतुः स्वाहेत्याज्याहुती जुहुयात्

agamanīyāṁ gatvāyājyaṁ yājayitvābhojyaṁ bhuktvāpratigrāhyaṁ pratigṛhya caityaṁ yūpaṁ copahatya punarmāmaitvindriyaṁ punarāyuḥ punarbhagaḥ | punardraviṇamaitu māṁ punarbrāhmaṇamaitu māṁ svāhā | ime ye dhiṣṇyāso agnayo yathāsthānamiha kalpatām | vaiśvānaro vāvṛdhāno'ntaryacchatu me mano hṛdyantaramamṛtasya ketuḥ svāhetyājyāhutī juhuyāt

Having gone to a woman he should not have approached, having officiated for one he should not have, having eaten what he should not have, having accepted a gift he should not have, having struck against a sacred tree or sacrificial post — he recites: 'may my power return to me, may life return, may fortune return. May wealth return to me, may my Brahmin standing return to me — svaha. May these hearth-fires be duly established, each in its place. May Vaishvanara, growing strong, restrain my mind within; may the banner of immortality be within my heart — svaha' — and offers two ghee-oblations.

समिधौ वा

samidhau vā

Or with two fuel-stick oblations.

जपेद्वा

japedvā

Or he may simply recite it.

अव्याधितञ्चत्स्वपन्तमादित्योऽभ्यस्तमियाद्वाग्यतोऽनुपविशन्रात्रिशेषम्भूत्वा येन सूर्यज्योतिषा बाधसे तम इति पञ्चभिरादित्यमुपतिष्ठेत

avyādhitañcatsvapantamādityo'bhyastamiyādvāgyato'nupaviśanrātriśeṣambhūtvā yena sūryajyotiṣā bādhase tama iti pañcabhirādityamupatiṣṭheta

If, though not ill, the sun should set upon him sleeping, he should, remaining silent and not sitting, having become as 'the remainder of the night', worship the sun with the five verses 'by which, O Surya, with your light you drive away darkness'.

अभ्युदियाच्चेदकर्मश्रान्तमनभिरूपेण कर्मणा वाग्यत इति समानमुत्तरापराभिश्चतसृभिरुपस्थानम्

abhyudiyāccedakarmaśrāntamanabhirūpeṇa karmaṇā vāgyata iti samānamuttarāparābhiścatasṛbhirupasthānam

If the sun should rise upon him not exhausted with proper work, occupied with unsuitable work, he should, remaining silent, perform the same worship with the four verses 'uttara' and following.

यज्ञोपवीती नित्योदकः सन्ध्यामुपासीत वाग्यतः

yajñopavītī nityodakaḥ sandhyāmupāsīta vāgyataḥ

With the sacred thread on, always with water at hand, remaining silent, he should worship the twilight.

सायमुत्तरापराभिमुखोऽन्वष्टमदेशं सावित्रीं जपेदर्धास्तमिते मण्डल आनक्षत्रदर्शनात्

sāyamuttarāparābhimukho'nvaṣṭamadeśaṁ sāvitrīṁ japedardhāstamite maṇḍala ānakṣatradarśanāt

In the evening, facing north or west toward the fixed sunset-point, he should recite the Savitri while the sun's disc is half-set, until the stars appear.

एवं प्रातः

evaṁ prātaḥ

Likewise in the morning.

प्राङ्मुखस्तिष्ठन्नामण्डलदर्शनात्

prāṅmukhastiṣṭhannāmaṇḍaladarśanāt

Standing facing east, until the sun's disc is visible.

कपोतश्चेदगारमुपहन्यादनुपतेद्वा देवाः कपोत इति प्रत्यृचं जुहुयाज्जपेद्वा

kapotaścedagāramupahanyādanupatedvā devāḥ kapota iti pratyṛcaṁ juhuyājjapedvā

If a pigeon strikes, or flies against, the house, he should offer with the hymn 'the gods send the pigeon', one oblation to each verse, or simply recite it.

वयमु त्वा पथस्पत इत्यर्थचर्याञ्चरिष्यन्

vayamu tvā pathaspata ityarthacaryāñcariṣyan

'We, O lord of the path' — recited when about to undertake a journey for business.

सम्पूषन्विदुषेति नष्टमधिजिगमिषन्मूळ्हो वा

sampūṣanviduṣeti naṣṭamadhijigamiṣanmūḷho vā

'Together with Pushan, the knower' — when wishing to find something lost, or when bewildered about direction.

सम्पूषन्नध्वन इति महान्तमध्वानमेष्यन्प्रतिभयं वा

sampūṣannadhvana iti mahāntamadhvānameṣyanpratibhayaṁ vā

'Together with Pushan on the road' — when about to undertake a long journey, or facing danger.

अथैतान्युपकल्पयीत समावर्त्यमाने मणिं कुण्डले वस्त्रयुगं छत्रमुपानद्युगं दण्डं स्रजमुन्मर्दनमनुलेपनमाञ्जनमुष्णीषमित्यात्मने चाचार्याय च

athaitānyupakalpayīta samāvartyamāne maṇiṁ kuṇḍale vastrayugaṁ chatramupānadyugaṁ daṇḍaṁ srajamunmardanamanulepanamāñjanamuṣṇīṣamityātmane cācāryāya ca

Now, when graduation is at hand, he should prepare these: an amulet, earrings, a pair of garments, an umbrella, a pair of sandals, a staff, a garland, unguent, ointment, collyrium, and a turban — for himself and for the teacher.

यद्युभयोर्न विन्देताचार्यायैव

yadyubhayorna vindetācāryāyaiva

If he cannot afford both, then for the teacher alone.

समिधं त्वाहरेदपराजितायान्दिशि यज्ञियस्य वृक्षस्य

samidhaṁ tvāharedaparājitāyāndiśi yajñiyasya vṛkṣasya

He should bring a fuel-stick from a sacred tree, in the unconquered northeast direction.

आर्द्रामन्नाद्यकामः पुष्टिकामस्तेजस्कामो वा ब्रह्मवर्चसकाम उपवाताम्

ārdrāmannādyakāmaḥ puṣṭikāmastejaskāmo vā brahmavarcasakāma upavātām

One who desires food brings a moist branch; one who desires nourishment, vigor, or Brahmanic splendor, from the windward side.

उभयीमुभयकामः

ubhayīmubhayakāmaḥ

One who desires both brings both kinds.

उपरि समिधं कृत्वा गामन्नञ्च ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रदाय गौदानिकं कर्म कुर्वीत

upari samidhaṁ kṛtvā gāmannañca brāhmaṇebhyaḥ pradāya gaudānikaṁ karma kurvīta

Having placed the fuel-stick on the fire, and given a cow and food to Brahmins, he should perform the Godanika rite.

आत्मनि मन्त्रान्त्संनमयेत्

ātmani mantrāntsaṁnamayet

He should apply the formulas onto himself.

एकक्लीतकेन

ekaklītakena

With a single razor-stroke, as one act.

शीतोष्णाभिरद्भिः स्नात्वा युवं वस्त्राणि पीवसा वसाथे इत्यहते वाससी आच्छाद्याश्मनस्तेजोऽसि चक्षुर्मे पाहीति चक्षुषी आञ्जयीत

śītoṣṇābhiradbhiḥ snātvā yuvaṁ vastrāṇi pīvasā vasāthe ityahate vāsasī ācchādyāśmanastejo'si cakṣurme pāhīti cakṣuṣī āñjayīta

Having bathed with water both cold and warm, saying 'you two wear garments richly' he covers himself with the two new garments; then, saying 'you are the splendor of stone; protect my eye', he has his eyes anointed.

अश्मनस्तेजोऽसि श्रोत्रं मे पाहि इति कुण्डले आबध्नीत

aśmanastejo'si śrotraṁ me pāhi iti kuṇḍale ābadhnīta

'You are the splendor of stone; protect my ear' — saying this, he has the earrings tied on.

अनुलेपनेन पाणी प्रलिप्य मुखमग्रे ब्राह्मणोऽनुलिम्पेद्बाहू राजन्य उदरं वैश्य उपस्थं स्त्र्यूरू सरणजीविनः

anulepanena pāṇī pralipya mukhamagre brāhmaṇo'nulimpedbāhū rājanya udaraṁ vaiśya upasthaṁ stryūrū saraṇajīvinaḥ

Having smeared his hands with unguent, a Brahmin anoints his face first; a Kshatriya, the arms; a Vaishya, the belly; a woman, the thighs; one who lives by hired labor, between the thighs.

अनार्त्तास्यनार्तोऽहं भूयासमिति स्रजमपि बध्नीत न मालोक्ताम्

anārttāsyanārto'haṁ bhūyāsamiti srajamapi badhnīta na māloktām

'Free from distress may I be' — saying this he also ties on the garland, but should not call it 'mala' (an inauspicious-sounding word).

मालेति चेद्ब्रूयुः स्रगित्यभिधापयीत

māleti cedbrūyuḥ sragityabhidhāpayīta

If they should say 'mala', he should have it called 'sraj' instead.

देवानां प्रतिष्ठे स्थः सर्वतो मा पातमित्युपानहावास्थाय दिवश्छद्मासीति च्छत्रभादत्ते

devānāṁ pratiṣṭhe sthaḥ sarvato mā pātamityupānahāvāsthāya divaśchadmāsīti cchatrabhādatte

'You two are the foothold of the gods; protect me on every side' — saying this he puts on the sandals; then, with 'you are the covering of the sky', he takes up the umbrella.

वेणुरसि वानस्पत्योऽसि सर्वतो मा पाहीति वैणवं दण्डम्

veṇurasi vānaspatyo'si sarvato mā pāhīti vaiṇavaṁ daṇḍam

'You are bamboo, you are of the forest-lord; protect me on every side' — saying this he takes the bamboo staff.

आयुष्यमिति सूक्तेन मणिं कण्ठे प्रतिमुच्योष्णीषं कृत्वा तिष्ठन्त्समिधमादध्यात्

āyuṣyamiti sūktena maṇiṁ kaṇṭhe pratimucyoṣṇīṣaṁ kṛtvā tiṣṭhantsamidhamādadhyāt

With the 'Ayushya' hymn for long life, having fastened the amulet on his neck and put on the turban, standing, he should place the fuel-stick on the fire.

स्मृतन्निन्दा च विद्या च श्रद्धा प्रज्ञा च पञ्चमी । इष्टन्दत्तमधीतञ्च कृतं सत्यं श्रुतं व्रतम् । यदग्ने सेन्द्रस्य सप्रजापतिकस्य सऋषिकस्य सऋषिराजन्यस्य सपितृकस्य सपितृराजन्यस्य समनुष्यस्य समनुष्यराजन्यस्य साकाशस्य सातीकाशस्य सानुकाशस्य सप्रतीकाशस्य सदेवमनुष्यस्य सगन्धर्वाप्सरस्कस्य सहारण्यैश्च पशुभिर्ग्राम्यैश्च यन्म आत्मन आत्मनि व्रतन्तन्मे सर्वव्रतमिदमहमग्ने सर्वव्रतो भवामि स्वाहेति

smṛtannindā ca vidyā ca śraddhā prajñā ca pañcamī | iṣṭandattamadhītañca kṛtaṁ satyaṁ śrutaṁ vratam | yadagne sendrasya saprajāpatikasya saṛṣikasya saṛṣirājanyasya sapitṛkasya sapitṛrājanyasya samanuṣyasya samanuṣyarājanyasya sākāśasya sātīkāśasya sānukāśasya sapratīkāśasya sadevamanuṣyasya sagandharvāpsaraskasya sahāraṇyaiśca paśubhirgrāmyaiśca yanma ātmana ātmani vratantanme sarvavratamidamahamagne sarvavrato bhavāmi svāheti

Remembrance and blame, knowledge, faith, and wisdom the fifth; what has been sacrificed, given, studied, done, true, heard, and vowed. Whatever vow, O Agni, belongs to Indra's world, to Prajapati's, to the sages', to the sage-kings', to the ancestors', to the ancestor-kings', to men's, to men-kings', to space, to adjoining space, to nearby space, to corresponding space, to gods-and-men, to Gandharvas-and-Apsarases, together with wild and village animals — and whatever vow is set within my own self, that is my whole vow; herewith, O Agni, I become one of complete vow — svaha.

Note: This dense enumerative consecration formula resists a fully smooth English rendering; the translation preserves its list structure rather than simplifying it.

ममाग्ने वर्च इति प्रत्यृचं समिधोऽभ्यादध्यात्

mamāgne varca iti pratyṛcaṁ samidho'bhyādadhyāt

With 'my splendor, O Agni', one fuel-stick to each verse he should add.

यत्रैनं पूजयिष्यन्तो भवन्ति तत्रैतां रात्रीं वसेत्

yatrainaṁ pūjayiṣyanto bhavanti tatraitāṁ rātrīṁ vaset

Where people are ready to honor him, there he should spend that night.

विद्यान्ते गुरुमर्थेन निमन्त्र्यं कृत्वानुज्ञातस्य वा स्नानम्

vidyānte gurumarthena nimantryaṁ kṛtvānujñātasya vā snānam

At the end of his learning, the graduation bath follows after honoring the teacher with a gift, or after being given leave.

तस्यैतानि व्रतानि भवन्ति

tasyaitāni vratāni bhavanti

For him, these are the vows to observe henceforth.

न नक्तं स्नायात् । न नग्नः स्नायात् । न नग्नः शयीत । न नग्नां स्त्रियमीक्षेतान्यत्र मैथुनात् । वर्षति न धावेत्

na naktaṁ snāyāt | na nagnaḥ snāyāt | na nagnaḥ śayīta | na nagnāṁ striyamīkṣetānyatra maithunāt | varṣati na dhāvet

He should not bathe at night. He should not bathe naked. He should not lie down naked. He should not look at a naked woman, except in intercourse. He should not run when it rains.

न वृक्षमारोहेत् । न कूपमवरोहेत् । न बाहुभ्यां नदीन्तरेत् । न संशयमभ्यापद्येत

na vṛkṣamārohet | na kūpamavarohet | na bāhubhyāṁ nadīntaret | na saṁśayamabhyāpadyeta

He should not climb a tree. He should not descend into a well. He should not cross a river by swimming with his arms alone. He should not put himself into danger.

महद्वै भूतं स्नातको भवतीति विज्ञायते

mahadvai bhūtaṁ snātako bhavatīti vijñāyate

For it is understood that a graduate becomes a great being.

गुरवे प्रस्रक्ष्यमाणो नाम प्रब्रुवीत

gurave prasrakṣyamāṇo nāma prabruvīta

About to take leave of his teacher, he should declare his own secret name.

इदं वत्स्यामो भो३ इति

idaṁ vatsyāmo bho3 iti

'Here we shall dwell, sir' — with the vocative prolonged.

उच्चैरूर्ध्वं नाम्नः

uccairūrdhvaṁ nāmnaḥ

Recited loudly, rising upward, after the name.

प्राणापानयोरुपांशु

prāṇāpānayorupāṁśu

Silently, during in-breath and out-breath.

आ मन्द्रैरिन्द्र हरिभिरिति च

ā mandrairindra haribhiriti ca

And he also recites 'come, O Indra, with your delightful bay steeds'.

अतो वृद्धो जपति प्राणापानयोरुरुव्यचास्तया प्रपद्ये देवाय सवित्रे परिददामीत्यृचं च

ato vṛddho japati prāṇāpānayoruruvyacāstayā prapadye devāya savitre paridadāmītyṛcaṁ ca

From then, growing older, he recites: 'wide-spaced in in-breath and out-breath, with that Savitri I proceed; I hand myself over to god Savitri' — and also the verse.

समाप्यॐ प्राक् स्वस्तीति जपित्वा महित्रीणामित्यनुमन्त्र्य

samāpyaoṁ prāk svastīti japitvā mahitrīṇāmityanumantrya

Having finished, having recited 'Om, prosperity before me', and having consecrated with 'of the mighty ones'.

एवमतिसृष्टस्य न कुतश्चिद्भयं भवतीति विज्ञायते

evamatisṛṣṭasya na kutaścidbhayaṁ bhavatīti vijñāyate

For one thus dismissed with leave, it is understood that no fear arises from any quarter.

वयसाममनोज्ञा वाचः श्रुत्वा कनिक्रदज्जनुषं प्रबुवाण इति सूक्ते जपेद्देवीं वाचमजनयन्त देवा इति च

vayasāmamanojñā vācaḥ śrutvā kanikradajjanuṣaṁ prabuvāṇa iti sūkte japeddevīṁ vācamajanayanta devā iti ca

Having heard the unpleasant cries of birds, he should recite within the hymn 'crying out, declaring its origin', and also 'the gods generated the divine Speech'.

स्तुहि श्रुतङ्गर्तसदं युवानमिति मृगस्य

stuhi śrutaṅgartasadaṁ yuvānamiti mṛgasya

'Praise the renowned one, throne-seated, youthful' — recited for the cry of a wild animal.

यस्या दिशो बिभीयाद्यस्माद्वा तान्दिशमुल्मुकमुभयतः प्रदीप्तं प्रत्यस्येन्मन्थं वा प्रसव्यमालोड्याभयं मित्रावरुणा मह्यमस्त्वर्चिषा शत्रून्दहन्तं प्रतीत्य मा ज्ञातारं मा प्रतिष्ठां विन्दन्तु मिथो भिन्दाना उभयन्तु मृत्युमिति संसृष्टं धनमुभयं समाकृतमिति मन्थं न्यञ्चङ्करोति

yasyā diśo bibhīyādyasmādvā tāndiśamulmukamubhayataḥ pradīptaṁ pratyasyenmanthaṁ vā prasavyamāloḍyābhayaṁ mitrāvaruṇā mahyamastvarciṣā śatrūndahantaṁ pratītya mā jñātāraṁ mā pratiṣṭhāṁ vindantu mitho bhindānā ubhayantu mṛtyumiti saṁsṛṣṭaṁ dhanamubhayaṁ samākṛtamiti manthaṁ nyañcaṅkaroti

Whatever direction, or whatever being, he should fear — toward that direction he should hurl a firebrand kindled at both ends; or, having stirred a churned mixture counter-clockwise, recite: 'may there be safety for me from Mitra and Varuna, meeting my enemies with a burning flame that consumes them; may they find no one who knows me, no standing-ground, striking each other, may both meet death' — and 'mingled wealth, both brought together' — and turn the churned mixture face down.

Note: This apotropaic rite blends a firebrand option with a churned-mixture ritual; the sutra compresses the link between the two alternatives.

सर्वतो भयादनाज्ञातादष्टावाज्याहुतीर्जुहुयात्पृथिवी वृता साग्निना वृता तया वृतया वर्त्र्या यस्माद्भयाद्बिभेमि तद्वारये स्वाहा । अन्तरिक्षं वृतं तद्वायुना वृतन्तेन वृतेन वर्त्रेण यस्माद्भयाद्बिभेमि तद्वारये स्वाहा । द्यौर्वृता सादित्येन वृता तया वृतया वर्त्र्या यस्माद्भयाद्बिभेमि तद्वारये स्वाहा । दिशो वृतास्ताश्चन्द्रमसा वृतास्ताभिर्वृताभिर्वर्त्रीभिर्यस्माद्भयाद्बिभेमि तद्वारये स्वाहा । आपो वृतास्ता वरुणेन वृतास्ताभिर्वृताभिर्वर्त्रीभिर्यस्माद्भयाद्बिभेमि तद्वारये स्वाहा । प्रजा वृतास्ताः प्राणेन वृतास्ताभिर्वृताभिर्वर्त्रीभिर्यस्माद्भयाद्बिभेमि तद्वारये स्वाहा । वेदा वृतास्ते छन्दोभिर्वृतास्तैर्वृतैर्वर्त्रैर्यस्माद्भयाद्बिभेमि तद्वारये स्वाहा । सर्वं वृतं तद्ब्रह्मणा वृतन्तेन वृतेन वर्त्रेण यस्माद्भयाद्बिभेमि तद्वारये स्वाहा इति

sarvato bhayādanājñātādaṣṭāvājyāhutīrjuhuyātpṛthivī vṛtā sāgninā vṛtā tayā vṛtayā vartryā yasmādbhayādbibhemi tadvāraye svāhā | antarikṣaṁ vṛtaṁ tadvāyunā vṛtantena vṛtena vartreṇa yasmādbhayādbibhemi tadvāraye svāhā | dyaurvṛtā sādityena vṛtā tayā vṛtayā vartryā yasmādbhayādbibhemi tadvāraye svāhā | diśo vṛtāstāścandramasā vṛtāstābhirvṛtābhirvartrībhiryasmādbhayādbibhemi tadvāraye svāhā | āpo vṛtāstā varuṇena vṛtāstābhirvṛtābhirvartrībhiryasmādbhayādbibhemi tadvāraye svāhā | prajā vṛtāstāḥ prāṇena vṛtāstābhirvṛtābhirvartrībhiryasmādbhayādbibhemi tadvāraye svāhā | vedā vṛtāste chandobhirvṛtāstairvṛtairvartrairyasmādbhayādbibhemi tadvāraye svāhā | sarvaṁ vṛtaṁ tadbrahmaṇā vṛtantena vṛtena vartreṇa yasmādbhayādbibhemi tadvāraye svāhā iti

From an unrecognized fear on every side, he should offer eight ghee-oblations: 'the Earth is enveloped, she is enveloped by Agni; by that enveloping envelopment, whatever fear I fear, that I ward off — svaha. The mid-air is enveloped, it is enveloped by Vayu — svaha. Heaven is enveloped, it is enveloped by Aditya — svaha. The quarters are enveloped, they are enveloped by the Moon — svaha. The waters are enveloped, they are enveloped by Varuna — svaha. Offspring are enveloped, enveloped by Prana — svaha. The Vedas are enveloped, enveloped by the metres — svaha. All is enveloped, enveloped by Brahman; by that enveloping envelopment, whatever fear I fear, that I ward off — svaha.'

अथापराजितायां दिश्यवस्थाय स्वस्त्यात्रेयं जपति यत इन्द्र भयामह इति च सूक्तशेषम्

athāparājitāyāṁ diśyavasthāya svastyātreyaṁ japati yata indra bhayāmaha iti ca sūktaśeṣam

Then, standing in the unconquered northeast direction, he recites the Svastyatreya hymn, 'from what we fear, O Indra', and the rest of that hymn.

संग्रामे समुपोळ्हे राजानं सन्नाहयेत्

saṁgrāme samupoḷhe rājānaṁ sannāhayet

When battle is imminent, he should arm the king.

आ त्वाहार्षमन्तरेधीति पश्चाद्रथस्यावस्थाय

ā tvāhārṣamantaredhīti paścādrathasyāvasthāya

'I have brought you; be within it' — standing behind the chariot.

जीमूतस्येव भवति प्रतीकमिति कवचं प्रयच्छेत्

jīmūtasyeva bhavati pratīkamiti kavacaṁ prayacchet

'It becomes like the face of a thundercloud' — saying this, he gives the armor.

उत्तरया धनुः

uttarayā dhanuḥ

With the next verse, the bow.

उत्तरां वाचयेत्

uttarāṁ vācayet

He has him recite the next verse.

स्वयञ्चतुर्थीं जपेत्

svayañcaturthīṁ japet

He himself recites the fourth verse.

पञ्चम्येषुधिं प्रयच्छेत्

pañcamyeṣudhiṁ prayacchet

With the fifth, he gives the quiver.

अभिप्रवर्तमाने षष्ठीम्

abhipravartamāne ṣaṣṭhīm

As the chariot sets forth, the sixth.

सप्तम्याश्वान्

saptamyāśvān

With the seventh, he consecrates the horses.

अष्टमीमिषूनवेक्षमाणं वाचयति

aṣṭamīmiṣūnavekṣamāṇaṁ vācayati

With the eighth, he has him recite while looking at the arrows.

अहिरिव भोगैः पर्येति बाहुमिति तलं नह्यमानम्

ahiriva bhogaiḥ paryeti bāhumiti talaṁ nahyamānam

'Like a serpent with its coils, it encircles the arm' — recited while the finger-guard is being tied on.

अथैनं सारयमाणमुपारुह्याभीवर्तं वाचयति प्र यो वां मित्रावरुणेति च द्वे

athainaṁ sārayamāṇamupāruhyābhīvartaṁ vācayati pra yo vāṁ mitrāvaruṇeti ca dve

Then, as the chariot is set moving, having mounted it, he has him recite the Abhivarta hymn and the two verses 'who advances for you, O Mitra and Varuna'.

अथैनमन्वीक्षेताप्रतिरथशाससौपर्णैः

athainamanvīkṣetāpratirathaśāsasauparṇaiḥ

Then he should watch over him with the Apratiratha hymn, the Shasa hymn, and the eagle-hymn Saupatna.

प्रधारयन्तु मधुनो घृतस्येत्येतत् सौपर्णम्

pradhārayantu madhuno ghṛtasyetyetat sauparṇam

'Let them hold him aloft with honey and ghee' — this is the Saupatna verse.

सर्वा दिशोऽनुपरीर्यायात्

sarvā diśo'nuparīryāyāt

He should proceed around, covering all directions.

आदित्यमौशनसं वावस्थाय प्रयोधयेत्

ādityamauśanasaṁ vāvasthāya prayodhayet

Standing facing the sun, invoking the Aushanasa formula, he should have him fight.

उपश्वासय पृथिवीमुत द्यामिति तृचेन दुन्दुभिमभिमृशेत्

upaśvāsaya pṛthivīmuta dyāmiti tṛcena dundubhimabhimṛśet

'Make the earth and the sky resound' — with this three-verse hymn, he should touch the war-drum.

अवसृष्टा परापतेतीषून्विसर्जयेत्

avasṛṣṭā parāpatetīṣūnvisarjayet

'Released, fly forth' — saying this, he should let the arrows loose.

यत्र बाणाः सम्पतन्तीति यध्यमानेषु जपेत्

yatra bāṇāḥ sampatantīti yadhyamāneṣu japet

'Where the arrows fly together' — he recites this while the battle is being fought.

संशिष्याद्वा संशिष्याद्वा

saṁśiṣyādvā saṁśiṣyādvā

Or he may simply give instruction; or he may simply give instruction. Thus ends the third chapter.

आहिताग्निश्चेदुपतपेत्प्राच्यामुदीच्यामपराजितायां वा दिश्युदवस्येत्

āhitāgniścedupatapetprācyāmudīcyāmaparājitāyāṁ vā diśyudavasyet

If one who has established the shrauta fires should fall gravely ill, he should be taken out to the east, the north, or the unconquered northeast direction, to await death.

ग्रामकामा अग्नय इत्युदाहरन्ति

grāmakāmā agnaya ityudāharanti

'The fires desire the village' — thus they say.

आशंसन्त एनं ग्राममाजिगमिषन्तोऽगदङ्कुर्युरिति ह विज्ञायते

āśaṁsanta enaṁ grāmamājigamiṣanto'gadaṅkuryuriti ha vijñāyate

It is understood that, hoping for his recovery, wishing to bring him back to the village, they may try to make him well.

अगदः सोमेन पशुनेष्ट्येष्ट्वावस्येत्

agadaḥ somena paśuneṣṭyeṣṭvāvasyet

If healed, he should be settled again, having sacrificed with Soma and an animal offering.

अनिष्ट्वा वा

aniṣṭvā vā

Or without such a sacrifice.

संस्थिते भूमिभागं खानयेद्दक्षिणपूर्वस्यान्दिशि दक्षिणापरस्यां वा

saṁsthite bhūmibhāgaṁ khānayeddakṣiṇapūrvasyāndiśi dakṣiṇāparasyāṁ vā

If he has died, one should have a plot of ground dug in the southeast or the southwest direction.

दक्षिणाप्रवणं प्राग्दक्षिणाप्रवणं वा प्रत्यग्दक्षिणाप्रवणमित्येके

dakṣiṇāpravaṇaṁ prāgdakṣiṇāpravaṇaṁ vā pratyagdakṣiṇāpravaṇamityeke

The ground should slope to the south, or, as some say, sloping southeast, or sloping southwest.

यावानुद्वाहुकः पुरुषस्तावदायामम्

yāvānudvāhukaḥ puruṣastāvadāyāmam

Its length should be as much as a man with upraised arm can reach.

व्याममात्रन्तिर्यक्

vyāmamātrantiryak

A fathom's breadth, crosswise.

वितस्त्यवाक

vitastyavāka

A span deep.

अभित आकाशं श्मशानम्

abhita ākāśaṁ śmaśānam

On both sides there should be open space around the cremation-ground.

बहुलौषधिकम्

bahulauṣadhikam

It should be rich in plants.

कण्टकिक्षीरिणस्त्विति यथोक्तं पुरस्तात्

kaṇṭakikṣīriṇastviti yathoktaṁ purastāt

But thorny and milk-sap plants should be removed, as already described before.

यत्र सर्वत आपः प्रस्यन्देरन्नेतदादहनस्य लक्षणं श्मशानस्य

yatra sarvata āpaḥ prasyanderannetadādahanasya lakṣaṇaṁ śmaśānasya

Where the water flows away on all sides — this is the mark of a good cremation-ground.

केशश्मश्रुलोमनखानीत्युक्तं पुरस्तात्

keśaśmaśrulomanakhānītyuktaṁ purastāt

'The hair, beard, body-hair, and nails' — as already stated before.

द्विगुल्फं बर्हिराज्यञ्च

dvigulphaṁ barhirājyañca

Sacrificial grass reaching the ankles, and ghee, are prepared.

दधन्यत्र सर्पिरानयन्त्येतत्पित्र्यं पृषदाज्यम्

dadhanyatra sarpirānayantyetatpitryaṁ pṛṣadājyam

Where they bring ghee into curds — this is the ancestral prishadajya.

अथैतान्दिशमग्नीन्नयन्ति यज्ञपात्राणि च

athaitāndiśamagnīnnayanti yajñapātrāṇi ca

Then they carry these fires in that direction, and the sacrificial vessels.

अन्वञ्चं प्रेतमयुजोऽमिथुनाः प्रवयसः

anvañcaṁ pretamayujo'mithunāḥ pravayasaḥ

They carry the deceased face-down, feet-first; an odd number of bearers, unpaired, elderly.

पीठचक्रेण गोयुक्तेनेत्येके

pīṭhacakreṇa goyuktenetyeke

Some say the bier should be carried on a wheeled cart, yoked with oxen.

अनुस्तरणीम्

anustaraṇīm

They lead along a cow to be laid beside the dead (anustarani).

गाम्

gām

Simply a cow.

अजां वैकवर्णाम्

ajāṁ vaikavarṇām

Or a goat of one color.

कृष्णामेके

kṛṣṇāmeke

Black, according to some.

सव्ये बाहौ बद्ध्वानुसङ्कालयन्ति

savye bāhau baddhvānusaṅkālayanti

Having tied a rope to its left foreleg, they lead it along behind.

अन्वञ्चोऽमात्या अधोनिवीताः प्रवृत्तशिखा ज्येष्ठप्रथमाः कनिष्ठजघन्याः

anvañco'mātyā adhonivītāḥ pravṛttaśikhā jyeṣṭhaprathamāḥ kaniṣṭhajaghanyāḥ

The household members walk behind, their sacred thread hanging down, hair-locks loosened, the eldest first, the youngest last.

प्राप्यैवं भूमिभागङ्कर्तोदकेन शमीशाखया त्रिः प्रसव्यमायतनं परिव्रजन्प्रोक्षत्यपेत वीत वि च सर्पतात इति

prāpyaivaṁ bhūmibhāgaṅkartodakena śamīśākhayā triḥ prasavyamāyatanaṁ parivrajanprokṣatyapeta vīta vi ca sarpatāta iti

Having reached the plot of ground, the performer sprinkles the site three times, walking around it counter-clockwise, with water and a shami-branch: 'depart, go away, and crawl off.'

दक्षिणपूर्व उद्धृतान्त आहवनीयं निदधाति

dakṣiṇapūrva uddhṛtānta āhavanīyaṁ nidadhāti

In the southeast, he places the fire taken up as the Ahavaniya.

उत्तरपश्चिमे गार्हपत्यम्

uttarapaścime gārhapatyam

In the northwest, the Garhapatya.

दक्षिणपश्चिमे दक्षिणम्

dakṣiṇapaścime dakṣiṇam

In the southwest, the Dakshina fire.

अथैनमन्तर्वेदीध्मचितिं चिनोति यो जानाति

athainamantarvedīdhmacitiṁ cinoti yo jānāti

Then, whoever knows how, builds the fuel-pyre within the altar-area.

तस्मिन्बर्हिरास्तीर्य कृष्णाजिनञ्चोत्तरलोम तस्मिन्प्रेतं संवेशयन्त्युत्तरेण गार्हपत्यं हृत्वाहवनीयमभिमुखशिरसम्

tasminbarhirāstīrya kṛṣṇājinañcottaraloma tasminpretaṁ saṁveśayantyuttareṇa gārhapatyaṁ hṛtvāhavanīyamabhimukhaśirasam

Having strewn sacrificial grass on it, and a black-antelope skin with the hair upward, on that they lay the deceased, having carried him past the Garhapatya on the north, his head facing the Ahavaniya.

उत्तरत्तः तत्नीम्

uttarattaḥ tatnīm

His wife is placed on the north side.

धनुश्च क्षत्रियाय

dhanuśca kṣatriyāya

And a bow, for a Kshatriya.

तामुथापयेद्देवरः पतिस्थानीयोऽन्तेवासी जरद्दासो वोदीर्ष्वनार्यभिजीवलोकमिति

tāmuthāpayeddevaraḥ patisthānīyo'ntevāsī jaraddāso vodīrṣvanāryabhijīvalokamiti

The husband's brother, or one standing in his place, or a pupil, or an aged servant, should raise her up: 'rise up, O woman, to the world of the living.'

कर्ता वृषले जपेत्

kartā vṛṣale japet

The performer recites the verse toward the low-born attendant.

धनुर्हस्तादाददानो मृतस्येति धनुः

dhanurhastādādadāno mṛtasyeti dhanuḥ

'Taking the bow from the hand of the dead' — recited as the bow is taken away.

उक्तं वृषले

uktaṁ vṛṣale

This is spoken toward the low-born attendant.

अधिज्यं कृत्वा सञ्चितिमचित्वा संशीर्यानु प्रहरेत्

adhijyaṁ kṛtvā sañcitimacitvā saṁśīryānu praharet

Having strung it, without building it into the pyre-structure, he should break it and cast it in after the body is placed.

अथैतानि पात्राणि योजयेत्

athaitāni pātrāṇi yojayet

Then he should assign these vessels to the corpse's limbs.

दक्षिणे हस्ते जुहूम्

dakṣiṇe haste juhūm

In the right hand, the Juhu-ladle.

सव्य उपभृतं

savya upabhṛtaṁ

In the left, the Upabhrit-ladle.

दक्षिणे पार्श्वे स्फ्यम् । सव्येग्निहोत्रहवणीम्

dakṣiṇe pārśve sphyam | savyegnihotrahavaṇīm

At the right side, the Sphya-sword. At the left, the Agnihotra-ladle.

उरसि ध्रुवाम् । शिरसि कपालानि । दत्सु ग्राव्णः

urasi dhruvām | śirasi kapālāni | datsu grāvṇaḥ

On the chest, the Dhruva-ladle. On the head, the potsherds. Among the teeth, the pressing-stones.

नासिकयोः स्रुवौ

nāsikayoḥ sruvau

In the two nostrils, the two Sruva-ladles.

भित्वा चैकम्

bhitvā caikam

Or splitting one, and placing half in each.

कर्णयोः प्राशित्रहरणे

karṇayoḥ prāśitraharaṇe

In the two ears, the two Prashitraharana spoons.

भित्वा चैकम्

bhitvā caikam

Or splitting one.

उदरे पात्रीम्

udare pātrīm

On the belly, the Patri-dish.

समवत्तधानञ्च चमसम्

samavattadhānañca camasam

And the Chamasa-cup with the cut-off portions.

उपस्थे शम्याम्

upasthe śamyām

On the lap, the Shamya-pin.

अरणी ऊर्वोः । उलूखलमुसले जङ्घयोः

araṇī ūrvoḥ | ulūkhalamusale jaṅghayoḥ

The two fire-sticks on the thighs. The mortar and pestle on the shins.

पादयोः शूर्पे

pādayoḥ śūrpe

On the feet, the two winnowing-baskets.

छित्वा चैकम्

chitvā caikam

Or cutting one in two.

आसेचनवन्ति पृषदाज्यस्य पूरयन्ति

āsecanavanti pṛṣadājyasya pūrayanti

These vessels, fitted with pouring-spoons, they fill with prishadajya.

अमा पुत्रो दृषदुपले कुर्वीत

amā putro dṛṣadupale kurvīta

A son still at home should provide the grinding-stone and upper-stone.

लौहायसञ्च कौलालम्

lauhāyasañca kaulālam

And items of bronze and iron, and earthenware.

अनुस्तरण्यावपामुत्खिद्य शिरोमुखं प्रच्छादयेदग्नेर्वर्मपरिगोभिर्व्ययस्वेति

anustaraṇyāvapāmutkhidya śiromukhaṁ pracchādayedagnervarmaparigobhirvyayasveti

Having extracted the omentum of the cow laid beside the corpse, he covers the head and face of the deceased with it: 'clothe yourself with the armor-covering of Agni.'

वृक्का उद्धृत्य पाण्योरादध्यादतिद्रवसारमेयौ श्वानाविति दक्षिणे दक्षिणं सव्ये सव्यम्

vṛkkā uddhṛtya pāṇyorādadhyādatidravasārameyau śvānāviti dakṣiṇe dakṣiṇaṁ savye savyam

Having removed the kidneys, he places them in the two hands: 'the two swift-running Sarameya hounds' — the right one in the right hand, the left in the left.

हृदये हृदयं

hṛdaye hṛdayaṁ

On the heart, the animal's heart.

पिण्ड्यौ चैके

piṇḍyau caike

And, some add, the two lumps of fat too.

वृक्कापचार इत्येके

vṛkkāpacāra ityeke

Some say instead 'setting the kidneys aside' — this step is omitted.

सर्वां यथाङ्गं विनिक्षिप्य चर्मणा प्रच्छाद्येममग्ने चमसं मा वि जिह्वर इति प्रणीताप्रणयनमनुमन्त्रयते

sarvāṁ yathāṅgaṁ vinikṣipya carmaṇā pracchādyemamagne camasaṁ mā vi jihvara iti praṇītāpraṇayanamanumantrayate

Having placed everything according to limb, and covered the body with the hide, he consecrates the carrying-forth of the fires: 'do not let this cup slip away from me, O Agni.'

सव्यं जान्वाच्य दक्षिणाग्नावाज्याहुतीर्जुहुयादग्नये स्वाहा कामाय स्वाहा लोकाय स्वाहानुमतये स्वाहेति

savyaṁ jānvācya dakṣiṇāgnāvājyāhutīrjuhuyādagnaye svāhā kāmāya svāhā lokāya svāhānumataye svāheti

Crouching on his left knee, he offers ghee-oblations at the southern fire: 'to Agni, svaha; to Kama, svaha; to Loka, svaha; to Anumati, svaha.'

पञ्चमीमुरसि प्रेतस्यास्माद्वै त्वमजायथा अयन्त्वदधिजायतामसौ स्वर्गाय लोकाय स्वाहेति

pañcamīmurasi pretasyāsmādvai tvamajāyathā ayantvadadhijāyatāmasau svargāya lokāya svāheti

The fifth oblation, on the chest of the deceased: 'from this indeed you were born; may this fire now be born from you, for the heavenly world — svaha.'

प्रेष्यति युगपदग्नीन्प्रज्वालयतेति

preṣyati yugapadagnīnprajvālayateti

He gives the order: 'kindle the fires simultaneously.'

आहवनीयश्चेत्पूर्वं प्राप्नुयात्स्वर्गलोक एनं प्रापदिति विद्याद्रात्स्यत्यसावमुत्रैवमयमस्मिन्निति पुत्रः

āhavanīyaścetpūrvaṁ prāpnuyātsvargaloka enaṁ prāpaditi vidyādrātsyatyasāvamutraivamayamasminniti putraḥ

If the Ahavaniya flame reaches him first, one should know 'he has attained the heavenly world'; and think: 'that one will delight there, this one here in me' — thus thinks the son.

गार्हपत्यश्चेत् पूर्वं प्राप्नुयादन्तरिक्षलोक एनं प्रापदिति विद्याद्रात्स्यत्यसावमुत्रैवमयमस्मिन्निति पुत्रः

gārhapatyaścet pūrvaṁ prāpnuyādantarikṣaloka enaṁ prāpaditi vidyādrātsyatyasāvamutraivamayamasminniti putraḥ

If the Garhapatya reaches him first, one should know 'he has attained the mid-air world'; the same thought follows.

दक्षिणाग्निश्चेत्पूर्वं प्राप्नुयान्मनुष्यलोक एनं प्रापदिति विद्याद्रात्स्यत्यसावमुत्रैवमयमस्मिन्निति पुत्रः

dakṣiṇāgniścetpūrvaṁ prāpnuyānmanuṣyaloka enaṁ prāpaditi vidyādrātsyatyasāvamutraivamayamasminniti putraḥ

If the Dakshinagni reaches him first, one should know 'he has attained the world of men'; the same thought follows.

युगपत्प्राप्तौ परामृद्धिं वदन्ति

yugapatprāptau parāmṛddhiṁ vadanti

If they reach simultaneously, they declare it the highest prosperity.

तन्दह्यमानमनुमन्त्रयते प्रेहि प्रेहि पथिभिः पूर्व्येभिरिति समानम्

tandahyamānamanumantrayate prehi prehi pathibhiḥ pūrvyebhiriti samānam

As he burns, he consecrates him: 'go forth, go forth by the ancient paths' — the same formula as used elsewhere.

स एवंविदा दह्यमानः सहैव धूमेन स्वर्गं लोकमेतीति ह विज्ञायते

sa evaṁvidā dahyamānaḥ sahaiva dhūmena svargaṁ lokametīti ha vijñāyate

It is understood that one thus burned by a knower of this rite goes to the heavenly world along with the smoke itself.

उत्तरपुरस्तादाहवनीयस्य जानुमात्रङ्गर्तं खात्वावकां शीपालमित्यवधापयेत्ततो ह वा एष निष्क्रम्य सहैव धूमेन स्वर्गं लोकमेतीति ह विज्ञायते

uttarapurastādāhavanīyasya jānumātraṅgartaṁ khātvāvakāṁ śīpālamityavadhāpayettato ha vā eṣa niṣkramya sahaiva dhūmena svargaṁ lokametīti ha vijñāyate

To the northeast of the Ahavaniya, having dug a knee-deep pit, he deposits avaka and shipala water-plants; for it is understood that from there, emerging, he goes to the heavenly world with the smoke.

इमे जीवा वि मृतैराववृत्रन्निति सव्यावृतो व्रजन्त्यनवेक्ष्यमाणाः

ime jīvā vi mṛtairāvavṛtranniti savyāvṛto vrajantyanavekṣyamāṇāḥ

'These living ones have turned away from the dead' — reciting this, they go away turned counter-clockwise, without looking back.

यत्रोदकमवहद्भवति तत्प्राप्य सकृदुन्मज्ज्यैकाञ्जलिमुत्सृज्य तस्य गोत्रं नाम च गृहीत्वोत्तीर्यान्यानि वासांसि परिधाय सकृदेनान्यापीड्योदग्दशानि विसृज्यासत आनक्षत्रदर्शनात्

yatrodakamavahadbhavati tatprāpya sakṛdunmajjyaikāñjalimutsṛjya tasya gotraṁ nāma ca gṛhītvottīryānyāni vāsāṁsi paridhāya sakṛdenānyāpīḍyodagdaśāni visṛjyāsata ānakṣatradarśanāt

Reaching a place where water flows, and diving under once, they release one handful of water, having pronounced the deceased's gotra and name, then come out, put on other garments, wring out the wet ones once, lay them with the fringes to the north, and sit until the stars appear.

आदित्यस्य वा दृश्यमाने प्रविशेयुः

ādityasya vā dṛśyamāne praviśeyuḥ

Or they may enter when the sun is still visible.

कनिष्ठप्रथमा ज्येष्ठजघन्याः

kaniṣṭhaprathamā jyeṣṭhajaghanyāḥ

The youngest first, the eldest last, in entering.

प्राप्यागारमश्मानमग्निङ्गोमयमक्षतांस्तिलानप उपस्पृशन्ति

prāpyāgāramaśmānamagniṅgomayamakṣatāṁstilānapa upaspṛśanti

Having reached home, they touch a stone, fire, cow-dung, unbroken grain, sesame, and water.

नैतस्यां रात्न्यामन्नम्पचेरन्

naitasyāṁ rātnyāmannampaceran

On that night they should not cook food.

क्रीतोत्पन्नेन वा वर्तेरन्

krītotpannena vā varteran

They should subsist on food bought or already obtained.

त्रिरात्रमक्षारलवणाशिनः स्युः

trirātramakṣāralavaṇāśinaḥ syuḥ

For three nights, they should eat without pungent seasoning or salt.

द्वादशरात्रं वा महागुरुषु दानाध्ययने वर्जयेरन्

dvādaśarātraṁ vā mahāguruṣu dānādhyayane varjayeran

Or twelve nights for very senior relatives; and they should abstain from giving gifts and from study.

दशाहं सपिण्डेषु

daśāhaṁ sapiṇḍeṣu

Ten days, for kin sharing the funeral-cake.

गुरौ चासपिण्डे

gurau cāsapiṇḍe

And for a senior relative not sharing the funeral-cake.

अप्रत्तासु च स्त्रीषु

aprattāsu ca strīṣu

And for unmarried female relatives.

त्रिरात्रमितरेष्वाचार्येषु

trirātramitareṣvācāryeṣu

Three nights, for other teachers.

ज्ञातौ चासपिण्डे

jñātau cāsapiṇḍe

And for a known kinsman not sharing the funeral-cake.

प्रत्तासु च स्त्रीषु

prattāsu ca strīṣu

And for married female relatives.

अदन्तजाते

adantajāte

For one whose teeth have not yet appeared.

अपरिजाते च

aparijāte ca

And for one not yet fully born.

एकाहं सब्रह्मचारिणि

ekāhaṁ sabrahmacāriṇi

One day, for a fellow-student.

समानग्रामीये च श्रोत्रिये

samānagrāmīye ca śrotriye

And for a learned Vedic scholar of the same village.

सञ्चयनमूर्ध्वं दशम्याः कृष्णपक्षस्यायुजास्वेकनक्षत्रे

sañcayanamūrdhvaṁ daśamyāḥ kṛṣṇapakṣasyāyujāsvekanakṣatre

The collecting of the bones is done after the tenth day, in the dark fortnight, on an odd day, under a single fixed asterism.

अलक्षणे कुम्भे पुमांसमलक्षणायां स्त्रियमयुजोऽमिथुनाः प्रवयसः

alakṣaṇe kumbhe pumāṁsamalakṣaṇāyāṁ striyamayujo'mithunāḥ pravayasaḥ

A man's bones are collected in an unmarked pot, a woman's likewise; an odd number of bearers, unpaired, elderly.

क्षीरोदकेन शमीशाखया त्रिःप्रसव्यमायतनं परिव्रजन्प्रोक्षति शीतिके शीतिकावतीति

kṣīrodakena śamīśākhayā triḥprasavyamāyatanaṁ parivrajanprokṣati śītike śītikāvatīti

With milk-water and a shami-branch, walking around the site three times counter-clockwise, he sprinkles it: 'O cool one, possessed of coolness.'

अङ्गुष्ठोपकनिष्ठिकाभ्यामेकैकमस्थ्यसंह्रादयन्तोऽवदध्युः पादौ पूर्वं शिर उत्तरम्

aṅguṣṭhopakaniṣṭhikābhyāmekaikamasthyasaṁhrādayanto'vadadhyuḥ pādau pūrvaṁ śira uttaram

Picking up the bones one by one with thumb and ring-finger, without letting them clatter, they deposit them, the feet first, the head last.

सुसञ्चितं सञ्चित्य पवनेन सम्पूय यत्र सर्वत आपो नाभिस्यन्देरन्नन्या वर्षाभ्यस्तत्र गर्तेऽवदध्युरुपसर्प मातरं भूमिमेतामिति

susañcitaṁ sañcitya pavanena sampūya yatra sarvata āpo nābhisyanderannanyā varṣābhyastatra garte'vadadhyurupasarpa mātaraṁ bhūmimetāmiti

Having well collected them, and cleaned them with wind, they deposit them in a pit where water flows away on all sides except from rains: 'approach this mother, the earth.'

उत्तरया पांसूनवकिरेत्

uttarayā pāṁsūnavakiret

With the next verse, he scatters earth over them.

अवकीर्योत्तराम्

avakīryottarām

Having scattered it, the next verse.

उत्ते स्तभ्नामीति कपालेनापिधायाथानवेक्षं प्रत्याव्रज्याप उपस्पृश्य श्रद्धमस्मै दद्युः

utte stabhnāmīti kapālenāpidhāyāthānavekṣaṁ pratyāvrajyāpa upaspṛśya śraddhamasmai dadyuḥ

'I fix you up' — saying this, having covered it with a potsherd, then returning without looking back, having touched water, they give a faith-offering for him.

गुरुणाभिमृता अन्यतोवापक्षीयमाणा अमावास्यायां शान्तिकर्म कुर्वीरन्

guruṇābhimṛtā anyatovāpakṣīyamāṇā amāvāsyāyāṁ śāntikarma kurvīran

Those struck by the death of a senior family member, or a household otherwise declining, should perform the peace-rite on the new-moon day.

पुरोदयादग्निं सहभस्मानं सहायतनं दक्षिणा हरेयुः क्रव्यादमग्निं प्रहिणोमि दूरमित्यर्द्धर्चेन

purodayādagniṁ sahabhasmānaṁ sahāyatanaṁ dakṣiṇā hareyuḥ kravyādamagniṁ prahiṇomi dūramityarddharcena

Before sunrise, they carry the fire, with its ashes and hearth, to the south, reciting the half-verse 'I send far away the flesh-eating fire.'

तं चतुष्पथे न्युप्य यत्र वा त्रिः प्रसव्यं परियन्ति सव्यैः पाणिभिः सव्यानूरूनाघ्नानाः

taṁ catuṣpathe nyupya yatra vā triḥ prasavyaṁ pariyanti savyaiḥ pāṇibhiḥ savyānūrūnāghnānāḥ

Having set it down at a crossroads, or wherever it is placed, they go around it three times clockwise, striking their left thighs with their left hands.

अथानवेक्षं प्रत्याव्रज्याप उपस्पृश्य केशश्मश्रुलोमनखानि वापयित्वोपकल्पयीरन्नवान्मणिकान्कुम्भानाचमनीयांश्च शमीसुमनोमालिनः शमीमयमिध्मं शमीमय्यावरणी परिधींश्चानडुहङ्गोमयञ्चर्म च नवनीतमश्मानं च यावत्योयुवतयस्तावन्ति कुशपिञ्जूलानि

athānavekṣaṁ pratyāvrajyāpa upaspṛśya keśaśmaśrulomanakhāni vāpayitvopakalpayīrannavānmaṇikānkumbhānācamanīyāṁśca śamīsumanomālinaḥ śamīmayamidhmaṁ śamīmayyāvaraṇī paridhīṁścānaḍuhaṅgomayañcarma ca navanītamaśmānaṁ ca yāvatyoyuvatayastāvanti kuśapiñjūlāni

Then, returning without looking back, having touched water, and had their hair, beard, body-hair and nails cut, they prepare: new small jars, pots, and sipping-water; garlands of shami and flowers; shami-wood fuel; two shami fire-sticks; enclosing-sticks; ox-dung; a hide; fresh butter; a stone; and as many tufts of kusha grass as there are young women present.

अग्निवेलायामग्निं जनयेदिहैवायमितरो जातवेदा इत्यर्धर्चेन

agnivelāyāmagniṁ janayedihaivāyamitaro jātavedā ityardharcena

At the proper time for fire, he produces fire with the half-verse 'right here is this other Jatavedas.'

तन्दीपयमाना आसत आ शान्तरात्रादायुष्मतां कथाः कीर्तयन्तो माङ्गल्यानीतिहासपुराणानीत्याख्यापयमानाः

tandīpayamānā āsata ā śāntarātrādāyuṣmatāṁ kathāḥ kīrtayanto māṅgalyānītihāsapurāṇānītyākhyāpayamānāḥ

They sit tending it as it blazes, until the night has quieted, recounting tales of the long-lived and telling auspicious Itihasas and Puranas.

उपरतेषु शब्देषु सम्प्रविष्टेषु वा गृहन्निवेशनं वा दक्षिणद्वारपक्षात्प्रक्रम्याविच्छिन्नामुदकधारां हरेत्तन्तुन्तन्वन्रजसोभानुमन्विहीत्युत्तरस्मात्

uparateṣu śabdeṣu sampraviṣṭeṣu vā gṛhanniveśanaṁ vā dakṣiṇadvārapakṣātprakramyāvicchinnāmudakadhārāṁ harettantuntanvanrajasobhānumanvihītyuttarasmāt

When the sounds have quieted, or the household has entered, starting from the south door-post, he carries an unbroken stream of water around the house, ending at the north.

अथाग्निमुपसमाधाय पश्चादस्यानडुहञ्चर्मास्तीर्य प्राग्ग्रीवमुत्तरलोम तस्मिन्नमात्यानारोहयेदारोहतायुर्जरसं वृणाना इति

athāgnimupasamādhāya paścādasyānaḍuhañcarmāstīrya prāggrīvamuttaraloma tasminnamātyānārohayedārohatāyurjarasaṁ vṛṇānā iti

Then, having set up the fire and spread an ox-hide behind it, neck east and hair upward, he makes the household members mount it: 'mount, choosing life and old age.'

इमं जीवेभ्यः परिधिं दधामीति परिधिं परिदध्यात्

imaṁ jīvebhyaḥ paridhiṁ dadhāmīti paridhiṁ paridadhyāt

'I place this enclosure for the living' — saying this, he sets the enclosing-sticks around the fire.

अन्तर्मृत्युन्दधतां पर्वतेनेत्यश्मानमित्युत्तरतोऽग्नेः कृत्वा परं मृत्यो अनु परेहि पन्थामिति चतसृभिः प्रत्यृचं हुत्वा यथाहान्यनुपूर्वं भवन्तीत्यमात्यानीक्षेत

antarmṛtyundadhatāṁ parvatenetyaśmānamityuttarato'gneḥ kṛtvā paraṁ mṛtyo anu parehi panthāmiti catasṛbhiḥ pratyṛcaṁ hutvā yathāhānyanupūrvaṁ bhavantītyamātyānīkṣeta

'May they place death within, by means of the mountain-stone' — having set a stone north of the fire, and offered with the four verses 'go far away, O Death, by your own path', one oblation to each, he looks at the household members, thinking 'may they come one after another, in due order.'

युवतयः पृथक्पाणिभ्यां दर्भतरुणकैर्नवनीतेनाङ्गुष्ठोपकनिष्ठिकाभ्यामक्षिणी आज्य पराच्यो विसृजेयुः

yuvatayaḥ pṛthakpāṇibhyāṁ darbhataruṇakairnavanītenāṅguṣṭhopakaniṣṭhikābhyāmakṣiṇī ājya parācyo visṛjeyuḥ

The young women, each with her own hands, using tender kusha-shoots dipped in fresh butter, with thumb and ring-finger, anoint their eyes, then cast the shoots away, facing away.

इमा नारीरविधवाः सुपत्नीरित्यञ्जाना ईक्षेत

imā nārīravidhavāḥ supatnīrityañjānā īkṣeta

'These women, not widowed, of good husbands' — saying this, while they are anointed, he looks at them.

अश्मन्वतीरीयते संरभध्वमित्यश्मानङ्कर्ता प्रथमोऽभिमृशेत्

aśmanvatīrīyate saṁrabhadhvamityaśmānaṅkartā prathamo'bhimṛśet

'The stony rivers are traversed — hold fast' — with this, the performer first touches the stone.

अथापराजितायान्दिश्यवस्थायाग्निनानडुहेन गोमयेन चाविच्छिन्नया चोदकधारयापो हि ष्ठा मयोभुव इति तृचेन परीमे गामनेषतेति परिक्रामत्सु जपेत्

athāparājitāyāndiśyavasthāyāgninānaḍuhena gomayena cāvicchinnayā codakadhārayāpo hi ṣṭhā mayobhuva iti tṛcena parīme gāmaneṣateti parikrāmatsu japet

Then, standing in the unconquered direction, with fire, cow-dung, and an unbroken stream of water, with the three verses 'waters, you are beneficial', and 'they have led this cow around' — he recites this while they walk around.

पिङ्गलोऽनड्वान्परिणेयः स्यादित्युदाहरन्ति

piṅgalo'naḍvānpariṇeyaḥ syādityudāharanti

'A tawny ox should be led around the fire' — thus they say.

अथोपविशन्ति यत्राभिरंस्यमाना भवत्यहतेन वाससा प्रच्छाद्य

athopaviśanti yatrābhiraṁsyamānā bhavatyahatena vāsasā pracchādya

Then, covered with a new garment, they sit where entertainment is to take place.

आसतेऽस्वपन्त ओदयात्

āsate'svapanta odayāt

They sit without sleeping, until sunrise.

उदित आदित्ये सौर्याणि स्वस्त्ययनानि च जपित्वान्नं संस्कृत्याप नः शोशुचदघमिति प्रत्यृचं हुत्वा ब्राह्मणान्भोजयित्वा स्वस्त्ययनं वाचयीत गौः कंसोऽहतं वासश्च दक्षिणा

udita āditye sauryāṇi svastyayanāni ca japitvānnaṁ saṁskṛtyāpa naḥ śośucadaghamiti pratyṛcaṁ hutvā brāhmaṇānbhojayitvā svastyayanaṁ vācayīta gauḥ kaṁso'hataṁ vāsaśca dakṣiṇā

When the sun has risen, having recited the sun-hymns and blessings for prosperity, and prepared food, they offer with the hymn 'may our sin burn away', one oblation to each verse; having fed Brahmins, he has a blessing recited. A cow, a bronze vessel, and a new garment are the fee.

अथातः पार्वणे श्राद्धे काम्य आभ्युदयिक एकोद्दिष्टे वा

athātaḥ pārvaṇe śrāddhe kāmya ābhyudayika ekoddiṣṭe vā

Now, the periodic shraddha, the optional shraddha, the prosperity-shraddha, or the single-designated shraddha.

ब्राह्मणान्श्रुतशीलवृत्तसम्पन्नानेकेन वो काले ज्ञापितान्स्नातान्कृतपच्छौचानाचान्तानुदङ्मुखान् पितृवदुपवेश्यैकैकमेकैकम्य द्वौद्वौ त्रींस्त्रीन्वा वृद्धौ फलभूयस्त्वं न त्वेवैकं सर्वेषाम्

brāhmaṇānśrutaśīlavṛttasampannānekena vo kāle jñāpitānsnātānkṛtapacchaucānācāntānudaṅmukhān pitṛvadupaveśyaikaikamekaikamya dvaudvau trīṁstrīnvā vṛddhau phalabhūyastvaṁ na tvevaikaṁ sarveṣām

Brahmins endowed with learning, character and conduct, informed well ahead of time, bathed, feet washed, having sipped water, facing north, should be seated as if representing the ancestors — one for each, or two, or three; a greater number brings more fruit, but never a single one for all the ancestors together.

काममनाद्ये

kāmamanādye

This applies especially where food-offerings are not involved.

पिण्डैर्व्याख्यातम्

piṇḍairvyākhyātam

This has already been explained in connection with the funeral-cakes.

अपः प्रदाय

apaḥ pradāya

Having given them water for the feet.

दर्भान्द्विगुणभुग्नानासनं प्रदाय

darbhāndviguṇabhugnānāsanaṁ pradāya

Having given kusha grass, doubled and bent, as a seat.

अपः प्रदाय

apaḥ pradāya

Having given water again, for sipping.

तैजसाश्ममयमृण्मयेषु त्रिषु पात्रेष्वेकद्रव्येषु वा दर्भान्तर्हितेष्वप आसिच्य शन्नो देवीरभिष्टय इत्यनुमन्त्रितासु तिलानावपति तिलोऽसि सोमदेवत्यो गोसवे देवनिर्मितः । प्रत्नवद्भिः प्रत्तः स्वधया पितॄनिमाँल्लोकान्प्रीणयाहि नः स्वधा नम इति

taijasāśmamayamṛṇmayeṣu triṣu pātreṣvekadravyeṣu vā darbhāntarhiteṣvapa āsicya śanno devīrabhiṣṭaya ityanumantritāsu tilānāvapati tilo'si somadevatyo gosave devanirmitaḥ | pratnavadbhiḥ prattaḥ svadhayā pitṝnimām̐llokānprīṇayāhi naḥ svadhā nama iti

In three vessels — of metal, stone, and clay, or all of the same material — with kusha grass laid inside, having poured water consecrated with 'may the divine waters be auspicious for our success', he sprinkles sesame into them: 'you are sesame, belonging to Soma, made by the gods at the Gosava rite. Given by rites of old, satisfy with svadha these worlds, our ancestors; svadha, homage.'

प्रसव्येन

prasavyena

With the right hand moving in the natural (sun-wise) direction.

इतरपाण्यङ्गुष्ठान्तरेणोपवीतित्वाद्दक्षिणेन वा सव्योपगृहीतेन पितरिदं ते अर्घ्यं पितामहेदं ते अर्घ्यं प्रपितामहेदं ते अर्घ्यमिति

itarapāṇyaṅguṣṭhāntareṇopavītitvāddakṣiṇena vā savyopagṛhītena pitaridaṁ te arghyaṁ pitāmahedaṁ te arghyaṁ prapitāmahedaṁ te arghyamiti

With the other hand, between the thumb, because he wears the thread in the usual fashion; or with the right hand, held by the left: 'O father, this is your guest-water; O grandfather, this is your guest-water; O great-grandfather, this is your guest-water.'

अप्पूर्वम्

appūrvam

The water is poured first.

ताः प्रतिग्राहयिष्यन्सकृत्सकृत्स्वधा अर्घ्या इति

tāḥ pratigrāhayiṣyansakṛtsakṛtsvadhā arghyā iti

About to have them receive it, once for each: 'svadha, as guest-water.'

प्रसृष्टा अनुमन्त्रयेत या दिव्या आपः पृथिवी सम्बभूवुर्या अन्तरिक्ष्या उत पार्थिवीर्याः । हिरण्यवर्णा यज्ञियास्ता न आपः शंस्योना भवन्त्विति संस्रवान्समवनीयताभिरद्भिः पुत्रकामो मुखमनक्ति

prasṛṣṭā anumantrayeta yā divyā āpaḥ pṛthivī sambabhūvuryā antarikṣyā uta pārthivīryāḥ | hiraṇyavarṇā yajñiyāstā na āpaḥ śaṁsyonā bhavantviti saṁsravānsamavanīyatābhiradbhiḥ putrakāmo mukhamanakti

Having released the water, he consecrates it: 'the waters that are divine, that have come to be with the earth, that are of the mid-air, and those that are earthly, golden-colored, worthy of sacrifice — may those waters be gentle to us' — with these gathered droppings, one desiring a son anoints his face.

नोद्धरेत्प्रथमं पात्रं पितॄणामर्घ्यपातितम् आवृतास्तत्र तिष्ठन्ति पितरः शौनकोऽब्रवीत् उद्धरेद्यदि चेत्पात्रं विवृतं वा यदा भवेत् तदासुरं भवेच्छ्राद्धं क्रुद्धैः पितृगणैर्गतैः इति

noddharetprathamaṁ pātraṁ pitṝṇāmarghyapātitam āvṛtāstatra tiṣṭhanti pitaraḥ śaunako'bravīt uddharedyadi cetpātraṁ vivṛtaṁ vā yadā bhavet tadāsuraṁ bhavecchrāddhaṁ kruddhaiḥ pitṛgaṇairgataiḥ iti

'One should not lift away the first vessel into which the ancestors' guest-water has been poured; the ancestors remain there, surrounding it' — thus said Shaunaka. 'If one should lift the vessel away, or if it should be left uncovered, then the shraddha becomes demonic, the company of ancestors departing in wrath.'

एतस्मिन्काले गन्धमाल्यधूपदीपाच्छादनानां प्रदानम्

etasminkāle gandhamālyadhūpadīpācchādanānāṁ pradānam

At this time, the giving of perfume, garlands, incense, lamps, and clothing.

उद्धृत्य घृताक्तमन्नमनुज्ञापयत्यग्नौ करिष्ये करवै करवाणीति वा

uddhṛtya ghṛtāktamannamanujñāpayatyagnau kariṣye karavai karavāṇīti vā

Having set aside ghee-sprinkled food, he asks permission: 'shall I offer it in the fire?' or 'may I offer?' or 'let me offer.'

प्रत्यभ्यनुज्ञा क्रियतां कुरुष्व कुर्विति

pratyabhyanujñā kriyatāṁ kuruṣva kurviti

The reply-permission is: 'let it be done,' 'do it,' or 'do.'

अथाग्नौ जुहोति यथोक्तं पुरस्तात्

athāgnau juhoti yathoktaṁ purastāt

Then he offers in the fire, as already described before.

अभ्यनुज्ञायां पाणिष्वेव वा

abhyanujñāyāṁ pāṇiṣveva vā

Or, if there is permission, the offering may be made into the Brahmins' hands directly.

अग्निमुखा वै देवाः पाणिमुखाः पितर इति हि ब्राह्मणम्

agnimukhā vai devāḥ pāṇimukhāḥ pitara iti hi brāhmaṇam

For the Brahmana passage says: 'the gods indeed have the fire as their mouth; the ancestors have the Brahmins' hands as their mouth.'

यदि पाणिष्वाचान्तेष्वन्यदन्नमनुदिशति

yadi pāṇiṣvācānteṣvanyadannamanudiśati

If, the food having been placed in their hands after sipping water, other food is then to be served.

अन्नमन्ने

annamanne

He says 'food upon food.'

सृष्टं दत्तमृध्नुकमिति

sṛṣṭaṁ dattamṛdhnukamiti

'Released, given, may it prosper.'

तृप्तान्ज्ञात्वा मधुमतीः श्रावयेदक्षन्नमीमदन्तेति च

tṛptānjñātvā madhumatīḥ śrāvayedakṣannamīmadanteti ca

Knowing them to be satisfied, he has the 'honeyed' verses recited, and 'they have eaten, they have been gladdened.'

सम्पन्नमिति पृष्ट्वा यद्यदन्नमुपयुक्तं तत्तत्स्थालीपाकेन सह पिण्डार्थमुद्धृत्य शेषं निवेदयेत्

sampannamiti pṛṣṭvā yadyadannamupayuktaṁ tattatsthālīpākena saha piṇḍārthamuddhṛtya śeṣaṁ nivedayet

Having asked 'is it complete?', whatever food was used, together with the sthalipaka, he sets aside for the funeral-cakes, and announces the remainder to them.

अभिमतेऽनुमते वा भुक्तवत्स्वनाचान्तेषु पिण्डान्निदध्यात्

abhimate'numate vā bhuktavatsvanācānteṣu piṇḍānnidadhyāt

With their consent or permission, while they have eaten but not yet sipped water, he places the funeral-cakes before them.

आचान्तेष्वेके

ācānteṣveke

Some say this is done after they have sipped water.

प्रकीर्यान्नमुपवीयॐ स्वधोच्यतामिति विसृजेत्

prakīryānnamupavīyaoṁ svadhocyatāmiti visṛjet

Having scattered some food, with the sacred thread over the right shoulder, saying 'let Om, svadha be pronounced', he dismisses the rite.

अस्तु स्वधेति वा

astu svadheti vā

Or simply 'be it svadha.'

अथ शूलगवः

atha śūlagavaḥ

Now, the Shulagava, the spit-ox offering to Rudra.

शरदि वसन्ते वार्द्रया

śaradi vasante vārdrayā

In autumn or in spring, with a moist branch.

श्रेष्ठं स्वस्य यूथस्य

śreṣṭhaṁ svasya yūthasya

He offers the best animal of his own herd.

अकुष्ठिपृषत्

akuṣṭhipṛṣat

Not diseased, spotted.

कल्माषमित्येके

kalmāṣamityeke

Some say dappled.

कामं कृष्णमालोहवांश्चेत्

kāmaṁ kṛṣṇamālohavāṁścet

If it is reddish-black, that too is acceptable.

व्रीहियवमतीभिरद्भिरभिषिच्य

vrīhiyavamatībhiradbhirabhiṣicya

Having sprinkled it with water mixed with rice and barley.

शिरस्त आभसत्तः

śirasta ābhasattaḥ

Others are seated around, from the head.

रुद्राय महादेवाय जुष्टो वर्धस्वेति

rudrāya mahādevāya juṣṭo vardhasveti

'Dear to Rudra, to Mahadeva, grow' — saying this.

तं वर्धयेत्सम्पन्नदन्तमृषभं वा

taṁ vardhayetsampannadantamṛṣabhaṁ vā

He should raise it until it has its full teeth, or use a bull.

यज्ञियायां दिशि

yajñiyāyāṁ diśi

In the sacrificial northeast direction.

असन्दर्शने ग्रामात्

asandarśane grāmāt

Out of sight of the village.

ऊर्द्ध्वमर्धरात्रात् । उदित इत्येके

ūrddhvamardharātrāt | udita ityeke

After midnight. Some say after sunrise.

वैद्यं चरित्रवन्तं ब्रह्माणमुपवेश्य सपलाशामार्द्रशाखां यूपं निखाय व्रतत्यौ कुशरज्जू वा रशने अन्यतरया यूपं परिवीयान्यतरयार्धशिरसि पशुं बध्वा यूपे रशनायां वा नियुनक्ति यस्मै नमस्तस्मै त्वा जुष्टं नियुनज्मीति

vaidyaṁ caritravantaṁ brahmāṇamupaveśya sapalāśāmārdraśākhāṁ yūpaṁ nikhāya vratatyau kuśarajjū vā raśane anyatarayā yūpaṁ parivīyānyatarayārdhaśirasi paśuṁ badhvā yūpe raśanāyāṁ vā niyunakti yasmai namastasmai tvā juṣṭaṁ niyunajmīti

Having seated a Brahman priest learned and of good conduct, and planted a moist leafy branch as the sacrificial post, taking two ropes — of creeper or of kusha-rope — with one he winds around the post, with the other, tied at the middle of the animal's head, he binds it and fastens it to the post: 'to whom homage is due, to him, dear one, I fasten you.'

प्रोक्षणादि समानं पशुना विशेषान्वक्ष्यामः

prokṣaṇādi samānaṁ paśunā viśeṣānvakṣyāmaḥ

The sprinkling and the rest are the same as with other animal sacrifices; we shall tell the differences.

पात्र्या पलाशेन वा वपां जुहुयादिति ह विज्ञायते

pātryā palāśena vā vapāṁ juhuyāditi ha vijñāyate

It is understood that the omentum is offered with a dish, or with a palasha-leaf.

हराय मृडाय शर्वाय शिवाय भवाय महादेवायोग्राय भीमाय पशुपतये रुद्राय शङ्करायेशानाय स्वाहेति

harāya mṛḍāya śarvāya śivāya bhavāya mahādevāyogrāya bhīmāya paśupataye rudrāya śaṅkarāyeśānāya svāheti

'To Hara, to Mridha, to Sharva, to Shiva, to Bhava, to Mahadeva, to Ugra, to Bhima, to Pashupati, to Rudra, to Shankara, to Ishana, svaha.'

षड्भिर्वोत्तरैः

ṣaḍbhirvottaraiḥ

Or with the six later names only.

रुद्राय स्वाहेति वा

rudrāya svāheti vā

Or simply 'to Rudra, svaha.'

चतसृषुचतसृषु कुशसूनासु चतसृषु दिक्षु बलिं हरेद्यास्ते रुद्र पूर्वस्यां दिशि सेनास्ताभ्य एनं नमस्ते अस्तु मा मा हिंसीरित्येवं प्रतिदिशं त्वादेशनम्

catasṛṣucatasṛṣu kuśasūnāsu catasṛṣu dikṣu baliṁ haredyāste rudra pūrvasyāṁ diśi senāstābhya enaṁ namaste astu mā mā hiṁsīrityevaṁ pratidiśaṁ tvādeśanam

On four heaps of kusha-tufts in each of the four directions, he carries the bali: 'whatever hosts of yours, O Rudra, are in the eastern direction, to them be this homage; do not harm me' — the address adjusted for each direction in turn.

चतुर्भिः सूक्तैश्चतस्रो दिश उपतिष्ठेत कद्रुद्रायेमा रुद्राय आ ते पितरिमा रुद्राय स्थिरधन्वन इति

caturbhiḥ sūktaiścatasro diśa upatiṣṭheta kadrudrāyemā rudrāya ā te pitarimā rudrāya sthiradhanvana iti

With four hymns he worships the four directions: 'ka rudraya ima', 'rudraya', 'a te pitar ima', and 'rudraya sthiradhanvan'.

सर्वरुद्रयज्ञेषु दिशामुपस्थानम्

sarvarudrayajñeṣu diśāmupasthānam

This worship of the directions is done in all sacrifices to Rudra.

तुषान् फलीकरणांश्च पुच्छञ्चर्मशिरः पादानित्यग्नावनुप्रहरेत्

tuṣān phalīkaraṇāṁśca pucchañcarmaśiraḥ pādānityagnāvanupraharet

He should throw the husks, the hulled grains, the tail, the hide, the head, and the feet into the fire, in that order.

भोगं चर्मणा कुर्वीतेति शांवत्यः

bhogaṁ carmaṇā kurvīteti śāṁvatyaḥ

'One should make an item of use with the hide' — say the followers of Shunaka.

उत्तरतोऽग्नेर्दर्भवीतासु कुशसूनासु वा शोणितं निनयेच्छ्वासिनीर्घोषिणीर्विचिन्वतीः समश्नुतीः सर्पा एतद्वोऽत्र तद्धरध्वमिति

uttarato'gnerdarbhavītāsu kuśasūnāsu vā śoṇitaṁ ninayecchvāsinīrghoṣiṇīrvicinvatīḥ samaśnutīḥ sarpā etadvo'tra taddharadhvamiti

To the north of the fire, on kusha-enclosures or kusha-heaps, he pours down the blood: 'hissing, rustling, seeking out, meeting together, O serpents, here is this for you; carry it off.'

अथोदङ्ङावृत्य श्वासिनीर्घोषिणीर्विचिन्वतीः समश्नुतीः सर्पा एतद्वोऽत्र तद्धरध्वमिति सर्पेभ्यो यत्तत्रासृगूवध्यं वावस्रुतं भवति तद्धरन्ति सर्पाः

athodaṅṅāvṛtya śvāsinīrghoṣiṇīrvicinvatīḥ samaśnutīḥ sarpā etadvo'tra taddharadhvamiti sarpebhyo yattatrāsṛgūvadhyaṁ vāvasrutaṁ bhavati taddharanti sarpāḥ

Then, turning northward, reciting 'hissing, rustling, seeking out, meeting together, O serpents, here is this for you; carry it off' — whatever pool of blood, fit only to be discarded, has flowed there for the serpents, that the serpents carry away.

सर्वाणि ह वा अस्य नामधेयानि

sarvāṇi ha vā asya nāmadheyāni

For all these indeed are his, Rudra's, names.

सर्वाः सेनाः

sarvāḥ senāḥ

All these directions have his hosts.

सर्वाण्युच्छ्रयणानि

sarvāṇyucchrayaṇāni

All these are his exaltations.

इत्येवंविद्यजमानं प्रीणाति

ityevaṁvidyajamānaṁ prīṇāti

Thus Rudra delights in a sacrificer who knows this.

नास्य ब्रुवाणं च न हिनस्तीति विज्ञायते

nāsya bruvāṇaṁ ca na hinastīti vijñāyate

It is understood that he does not harm one who speaks of him with this understanding.

नास्य प्राश्नीयात्

nāsya prāśnīyāt

One who is not authorized should not eat of it.

नास्य ग्राममाहरेयुरभिमारुको हैष देवः प्रजा भवतीति

nāsya grāmamāhareyurabhimāruko haiṣa devaḥ prajā bhavatīti

They should not bring it into the village; for this god becomes epidemic-bringing to the people if it is brought in.

अमात्यानन्ततः प्रतिषेधयेत्

amātyānantataḥ pratiṣedhayet

He should keep the household members away, from behind.

नियोगात्तु प्राश्नीयात्स्वस्त्ययन इति

niyogāttu prāśnīyātsvastyayana iti

But by special appointment, one may eat of it, for prosperity.

स शूलगवो धन्यो लोक्यः पुण्यः पुत्र्यः पशव्य आयुष्यो यशस्यः

sa śūlagavo dhanyo lokyaḥ puṇyaḥ putryaḥ paśavya āyuṣyo yaśasyaḥ

This Shulagava is wealth-giving, world-securing, holy, child-giving, cattle-giving, life-giving, and fame-giving.

इष्ट्वान्यमुत्सृजेत्

iṣṭvānyamutsṛjet

Having sacrificed, he should release another animal in its place.

नानुत्सृष्टः स्यात्

nānutsṛṣṭaḥ syāt

He should not remain without releasing one.

न हापशुर्भवतीति विज्ञायते

na hāpaśurbhavatīti vijñāyate

For it is understood that he then does not become without cattle.

शन्तातीयं जपन्गृहानियात्

śantātīyaṁ japangṛhāniyāt

Reciting the Shantatiya hymn, he should return home.

पशूनामुपताप एतमेव देवं मध्ये गोष्ठस्य यजेत्

paśūnāmupatāpa etameva devaṁ madhye goṣṭhasya yajet

In case of disease among the cattle, he should worship this same deity in the midst of the cow-pen.

स्थालीपाकं सर्वहुतम्

sthālīpākaṁ sarvahutam

A sthalipaka, entirely offered, with nothing held back.

बर्हिराज्यञ्चानुप्रहृत्य धूमतो गा आनयेत्

barhirājyañcānuprahṛtya dhūmato gā ānayet

Having cast the sacrificial grass and ghee into the fire, he should bring the cattle through the smoke.

शन्तातीयं जपन्पशूनां मध्यमियान्मध्यमियात्

śantātīyaṁ japanpaśūnāṁ madhyamiyānmadhyamiyāt

Reciting the Shantatiya, he should walk again and again into the midst of the cattle.

नमः शौनकाय नमः शौनकाय

namaḥ śaunakāya namaḥ śaunakāya

Homage to Shaunaka, homage to Shaunaka. Thus ends the fourth chapter. The Ashvalayana Grihyasutra is complete.