विश्वास-प्रस्तुतिः
यज्ञो वै देवेभ्य उदक्रामन्न वो ऽहमन्नम्भविष्यामीति ।
Haug
(The Pravargya Ceremony[1])
The sacrifice went away from the gods (saying), I shall not be your food.
Haug - Notes
[1] The Pravargya ceremony lasts for three days, and is always performed twice a day, in the forenoon and afternoon. It precedes the animal and Soma sacrifices. For without having undergone it, no one is allowed to take part in the solemn Soma feast prepared for the gods. It is a preparatory rite, just as the Dîkṣâ, and is intended for providing the sacrificer with a heavenly body, with which alone he is permitted to enter the residence of the gods. That the gods do not receive mortals at their residence when arriving in their very bodies, one may learn from the amusing story of the king Triśanku, as reported in the Râmâyaṇa (1, 57-60). For the performance of this important ceremony extensive preparations are to be made by the Adhvaryu and his assistant, the Pratiprasthâtar. All the vessels and implements required are brought to the spot and placed at the left side of the Gârhapatya fire. The chief implements are: an earthen vessel of peculiar form, called Mahâvîra or gharma (i.e., heat, or heated substance, for it is to be heated), a seat (âsandî) to sit on, two wooden pieces for lifting the Mahâvîra pot (called śapha), two shovels for charcoal (dhṛiṣṭi), one very large wooden spoon (Upaymanî) from which the sacrificer drinks milk (this forms part of the ceremony), three fans (dhavitra), six shavings from the Udumbara tree as fuel, thirteen sticks, to be laid round the Mahavira vessel (paridhi), two metal blades, one of gold and one of silver (called suvarṇarajatâu rukmâu). A cow and a female sheep are to be kept in readiness. Two bunches of kuśa grass are prepared, and tied in the midst. They are called Veda, and resemble very much the Baresma (Barsom) of the Parsis, which is also tied together by means of a reed (aiwyâoṇhanem).
The Mahâvîra is first put on the Vedi. Then the Adhvaryu makes a circle of clay, in which afterwards the Mahâvîra is put. This ring is called khara, i.e., ass, for earth is always carried on the back of donkeys to the sacrificial compound. After the priests have repeated the mantras required for propitiation (śânti) namo vâche, &c., the Mahâvîra is taken from the Vedi and placed in that earthen ring (khara). Wooden sticks are put around it along with burning coals, and also fire is put in the khara just below the Mahâvîra, in order to make it hot. The fire is blown by three little fans which serve as bellows. The silver blade is put below, the gold blade above the Mahâvîra. Whilst the empty vessel is being heated, the Hotar repeats the first series of mantras, called the pûrva paṭala. After the vessel has been made quite hot, it is lifted up by means of the two Śaphas. The cow then is called, tied by the Adhvaryu with a cord, and milked. The milk is put on the left side of the Vedi, and then under recital of the mantra, â daśabhir, poured into the Mahâvîra. Then the milk of a goat whose kid is dead is taken, and mixed with that of the cow in the vessel. After this has been done, the contents of the Mahâvîra are thrown into the Ahavanîya fire. The sacrificer drinks milk from a large wooden spoon (Upayamanî) which has been first swelled by the Adhvaryu. The second series of mantras, the so-called uttara paṭala, is repeated when the cow is milked and her milk poured into the Mahâvîra. The whole ceremony has been witnessed by me.
मूलम्
यज्ञो वै देवेभ्य उदक्रामन्न वो ऽहमन्नम्भविष्यामीति ।
विश्वास-प्रस्तुतिः
नेति देवा अब्रुवन्नन्नमेव नो भविष्यसीति ।
Haug
The gods said : do not go; thou alone shalt be our food.
मूलम्
नेति देवा अब्रुवन्नन्नमेव नो भविष्यसीति ।
विश्वास-प्रस्तुतिः
तं देवा विमेथिरे ।
Haug
The gods then killed it.
मूलम्
तं देवा विमेथिरे ।
विश्वास-प्रस्तुतिः
स हैभ्यो विहृतो न प्रबभूव ।
Haug
When it had been taken asunder (cut into pieces) by them, it was found not to be sufficient (to satisfy their appetite).
मूलम्
स हैभ्यो विहृतो न प्रबभूव ।
विश्वास-प्रस्तुतिः
ते होचुर्देवा न वै न इत्थं विहृतो ऽलम्भविष्यति ।
Haug
The gods said : this sacrifice after having been taken asunder, will certainly not be sufficient for us.
मूलम्
ते होचुर्देवा न वै न इत्थं विहृतो ऽलम्भविष्यति ।
विश्वास-प्रस्तुतिः
हन्तेमं यज्ञं सम्भरामेति ।
Haug
Well, let us dress (and fill up) this sacrifice.
मूलम्
हन्तेमं यज्ञं सम्भरामेति ।
विश्वास-प्रस्तुतिः
तथेति तं संजभ्रुस्तं सम्भृत्योचुरश्विनाविमम्भिषज्यतमिति ।
Haug
After having dressed it, they said to the Aśvins, cure this sacrifice; for the Aśvins are the two physicians of the gods, they are the two Adhvaryus[2] (sacred cooks).
मूलम्
तथेति तं संजभ्रुस्तं सम्भृत्योचुरश्विनाविमम्भिषज्यतमिति ।
Haug - Notes
[2] Viz., the properly so-called Adhvaryu with his constant assistant Pratiprasthâtâ.
विश्वास-प्रस्तुतिः
अश्विनौ वै देवानाम्भिषजावश्विनावध्वर्यू तस्मादध्वर्यू घर्मं सम्भरतस्तम् ।
Haug
Thence two Adhvaryu priests provide for all the implements required for the Pravargya vessel (gharma).
मूलम्
अश्विनौ वै देवानाम्भिषजावश्विनावध्वर्यू तस्मादध्वर्यू घर्मं सम्भरतस्तम् ।
विश्वास-प्रस्तुतिः
सम्भृत्याहतुर्ब्रह्मन्प्रवर्ग्येण प्रचरिष्यामो होतरभिष्टुहीति ।
Haug
After having done so, they say, “Brahmā![3] we shall perform the Pravargya ceremony. Hotar ! repeat the appropriate mantras!”
Haug - Notes
[3]The Brahma priests, i.e., the president of the sacrifice, is here informed, that the priests are going to perform the Pravargya ceremony. The Hotar receives at the same time orders to repeat the appropriate mantras. The intimation to the Brahma priest as well as the order to the Hotar are given by the Adhvaryu and the Pratiprasthâtar, called the two Adhvaryus.
मूलम्
सम्भृत्याहतुर्ब्रह्मन्प्रवर्ग्येण प्रचरिष्यामो होतरभिष्टुहीति ।