२१

शिरो वा एतद्यज्ञस्य यत्प्रातरनुवाकः ।

(The Libations from the Upâṁśu and Antaryâma Grahas. The Haling in and out of the Air by the Hotar).

The Prâtar-Anuvâka is the head of the sacrifice (Soma sacrifice).

शिरो वा एतद्यज्ञस्य यत्प्रातरनुवाकः ।

प्राणापाना उपांश्वन्तर्यामौ ।

The Upâṃśu and Antaryâma Grahas[8] are the air inhaled (prâṇa) and the air exhaled (apâna)[9].

[8]Upâṁśu and Antaryâma are names of vessels from which the two first Soma libations are poured into the Ahavanîya fire, as soon as the juice is obtained by squeezing. Both libations which precede those from the other Soma vessels (Aindravâyava, &c.) poured into the fire of the Uttarâ Vedi, are not accompanied with mantras recited by the Hotar, as all other libations are, but they are performed by the Adhvaryu, whilst the Hotar is drawing in his breath, or haling out the air which was breathed in. When doing the first, the libation from the Upâṁśu graha is poured into the fire; when doing the latter, that from the Antaryâma graha is given. The Adhvaryu repeats some sacrificial formulas (see the Taittiriya Saṁhita 1, 4, 2, 3), whilst the Hotar mutters only the two formulas (the technical name of such formulas repeated by the Hotar is nigada) which are mentioned here (2, 21), and also in the Âśv. Śr. Sûtras (5, 2).

In the books belonging to the Yajurveda, we meet the terms upâṁśu graha and upâṁśu pâtra, and likewise antaryâma graha, and antaryâma pâtra. These terms require some explanation. The pâtra is a vessel, resembling a large wooden jar with but a very slight cavity on the top, in which the Soma juice is filled. The graha is a small cup, like a saucer, made of earth, and put over the cavity of the Soma vessel, in order to cover the “precious” juice. The bottom of it is first put in water, and a gold leaf placed beneath it. There are as many grahas as there are pâtras; they belong together just as cup and saucer, and are regarded as inseparable. The word graha is, however, taken often in the sense of the whole, meaning both graha and pâtra. On the different names of the grahas required at the three great libations, see the Grahakâṇḍa in the Śatap. Brâhm. 4, and the commentary on the Taittirîya Saṁhitâ (vol. I. p. 593-693 ed Cowell). I am in possession of several grahas and pâtras.

[9]At the end of the Prâtar-anuvâka, the Hotar must, after having repeated with a low voice the mantra, prâṇam yachha, &c., draw in the breath as strongly as he can. Then he repeats with a low voice, apânam yachha, &c., and, after having finished, he exhales the air (through the nose) as strongly as he can. He repeats with a low voice, vyânâya, &c., and when touching the stone by which the Soma for the Upâṁśu graha is squeezed, he is allowed to speak aloud. (Oral information).

प्राणापाना उपांश्वन्तर्यामौ ।

वज्र एव वाक् ।

Speech is the weapon.

वज्र एव वाक् ।

नाहुतयोरुपांश्वन्तर्यामयोर्होता वाचं विसृजेत ।

Therefore, the Hotar should not make his voice heard before the libations from the Upâṃśu and Antaryâma grahas are poured (into the fire).

नाहुतयोरुपांश्वन्तर्यामयोर्होता वाचं विसृजेत ।

यदहुतयोरुपांश्वन्तर्यामयोर्होता वाचं विसृजेत वाचा वज्रेण यजमानस्य प्राणान्वीयाड्य ।

Should the Hotar make his voice heard before these two have been poured into the fire, then he would carry off the vital airs of the sacrificer by means of the Speech, which is a weapon.

यदहुतयोरुपांश्वन्तर्यामयोर्होता वाचं विसृजेत वाचा वज्रेण यजमानस्य प्राणान्वीयाड्य ।

एनं तत्र ब्रूयाद्वाचा वज्रेण यजमानस्य प्राणान्व्यगात्प्राण एनं हास्यतीति शश्वत्तथा स्यात् ।

For (if he do so) one should say to the Hotar (afterwards), that he has made the vital airs of the sacrificer go off, (and he, the Hotar) would lose his life.[10] It happens always thus.

[10]That is to say, some one might charge him afterwards with having murdered the sacrificer.

एनं तत्र ब्रूयाद्वाचा वज्रेण यजमानस्य प्राणान्व्यगात्प्राण एनं हास्यतीति शश्वत्तथा स्यात् ।

तस्मान्नाहुतयोरुपांश्वन्तर्यामयोर्होता वाचं विसृजेत ।

Thence the Hotar should not make his voice heard, before the libations from the Upâṃśu and Antaryâma grahas are poured into the fire.

तस्मान्नाहुतयोरुपांश्वन्तर्यामयोर्होता वाचं विसृजेत ।

प्राणं यछ स्वाहा त्वा सुहव सूर्यायेत्युपांशुमनुमन्त्रयेत ।

He should, when the libation from the Upâṃśu graha is given, mutter the words : “Keep in the air inhaled! Svâhâ! (I emit) thee, O speech of good call for pleasing the sun (which is thy presiding deity).”

प्राणं यछ स्वाहा त्वा सुहव सूर्यायेत्युपांशुमनुमन्त्रयेत ।

तमभिप्रानेत् प्राण प्राणम्मे यछेति ।

He should then draw in the air, and say (with a low voice) : “O breath, who goest in (my body), keep in (my body) the breath!”

तमभिप्रानेत् प्राण प्राणम्मे यछेति ।

अपानां यछ स्वाहा त्वा सुहव सूर्यायेत्यन्तर्याममनुमन्त्रयेत ।

He should, when the libation from the Antaryâma graha is given, mutter the words : “Keep in the air exhaled ! Svâhâ ! (I emit) thee, O speech of good call for pleasing the sun.”

अपानां यछ स्वाहा त्वा सुहव सूर्यायेत्यन्तर्याममनुमन्त्रयेत ।

तमभ्यपानेदपानापानम्मे यछेति ।

(After having spoken these words) he should hale out the air, and say, “O air, haled out, keep this very air (which is to be haled out, in my body).”

तमभ्यपानेदपानापानम्मे यछेति ।

व्यानाय त्वेत्युपांशुसवनं ग्रावाणमभिमृश्य वाचं विसृजत ।

By the words “(I emit) thee (O speech!) for the air, circulating (in my body),” he then touches[11] the stone used to squeeze the Soma juice for the Upâṃśu graha, and makes his voice heard.

[11]Not struck against another, as is done when the Soma juice is being squeezed.

व्यानाय त्वेत्युपांशुसवनं ग्रावाणमभिमृश्य वाचं विसृजत ।

आत्मा वा उपांशुसवनम् ।

This stone to squeeze the Soma juice for the Upâṃśu graha is the soul.

आत्मा वा उपांशुसवनम् ।

आत्मन्येव तद्धोता प्राणान्प्रतिधाय वाचं विसृजते ।

The Hotar, after having put (thus) the vital airs in his own self, emits his voice, and attains his full age (100 years).

आत्मन्येव तद्धोता प्राणान्प्रतिधाय वाचं विसृजते ।

सर्वायुः सर्वायुत्वाय सर्वमायुरेति य एवं वेद ।

Likewise, does he who has such a knowledge.

सर्वायुः सर्वायुत्वाय सर्वमायुरेति य एवं वेद ।