१४

1. ¹ We shall explain (the festival of) the Aṣṭakā.

अष्टकां व्याख्यास्यामः १

2. The eighth day of the dark fortnight that follows after the full moon of Māgha, is called Ekāsnṭakā.

माघ्याः पौर्णमास्या योपरपक्षस्तस्याष्टमीमेका-ष्टकेत्याचक्षते २

3. On the day before that Aṣṭakā, under (the Nakṣatra) Anūrādhās, in the afternoon he puts wood on the fire, strews southward-pointed and eastward-pointed Darbha grass around it, and turns rice out of four shallow cups over which he has laid one purifier, with (the Mantra), ‘I turn out, impelled by the god Savitṛ, this cake prepared from four cups (of rice), which may drive away all suffering from the Fathers in the other world. On the impulse of the god Savitṛ, with the arms of the two Aśvins, with Pūṣan’s hands I turn thee out, agreeable to the fathers, the grandfathers, the great-grandfathers.’

ततः पूर्वेद्युरनूराधेष्वपराह्णेग्निमुपसमाधाय दक्षिणाप्रागग्नैर्दर्भैः परिस्तीर्यैकपवित्रान्तर्हितानि चत्वारि व्रीहिशरावाणि निर्वपति । इममपूपं चतुःशरावं निर्वपामि क्लेशावहं पितॄणां साम्पराये देवेन सवित्रा प्रसूतः । देवस्य त्वा सवितुः प्रसवेश्विनोर्बाहुभ्यां पूष्णो हस्ताभ्यां पितृभ्यः पितामहेभ्यः प्रपितामहेभ्यो वो जुष्टं निर्वपामि । इति ३

4. ² With the same purifier he silently strains the Prokṣaṇī water; he silently sprinkles (with that water the rice and the vessels), silently husks (the rice), silently bakes it in four dishes like a Puroḍāśa, sprinkles (Ājya) on it, takes it from the fire, sprinkles (water) round (the fire) from right to left, and puts a piece of Udumbara wood on (the fire). With the (spoon called) Darvi which is made of Udumbara wood, he cuts off in one continual line which is directed towards south-east, (the Avadāna portions) one after the other, spreading under and sprinkling over them (Ājya), and sacrifices them, one after the other, in one continual line which is directed towards south-east, with (the Mantras), ‘The mortars, the pressing-stones have made their noise, preparing the annual offering. Ekāṣṭakā! May we be rich in offspring, in valiant sons, the lords of wealth. Svadhā! Adoration!

‘God Agni! The cake which is prepared with ghee and accompanied by (the word) svadhā, that the Fathers may satiate themselves - (this our) offering carry duly, Agni. I, the son, sacrifice an oblation to my fathers. Svadhā! Adoration!

‘Here is a cake, Agni, prepared from four cups (of rice), with ghee, rich in milk, in wealth, in prosperity. May the Fathers gladly accept it all together; may it be well sacrificed and well offered by me. Svadhā! Adoration!’

एतेनैव पवित्रेण तूष्णीं प्रोक्षणीः संस्कृत्य तूष्णीं प्रोक्ष्य तूष्णीमवहत्य यथापुरोडाशमेवं चतुर्षु कपालेषु तूष्णीं श्रपयित्वाभिघार्योद्वास्य प्रसव्यं परिषिच्यौदुम्बरमिध्ममभ्याधायौदुम्बर्या द-र्व्योपस्तिर्णाभिघारितं दक्षिणाप्राचीसन्ततं परम्परमवदाय दक्षिणाप्राचीसन्ततं परम्परं जुहोति । उलूखला ग्रावाणो घोषमक्रत हविः कृण्वन्तः परिवत्सरीणाम् । एकाष्टके सुप्रजा वीरवन्तो वयं स्याम पतयो रयीणाम् । स्वधा नमः । अपूपं देव घृतवन्तमग्ने स्वधावन्तं पितॄणां तर्पणाय । यथातथं वह हव्यमग्ने पुत्रः पितृभ्य आहुतिं जुहोमि । स्वधा नमः । अयं चतुःशरावो घृतवानपूपः पयस्वानग्ने रयिमान्पुष्टिमांश्च । प्रतिनन्दन्तु पितरः संविदानाः स्विष्टोयं सुहुतो ममास्तु । स्वधा नमः । इति ४

5. Then he makes oblations of (other) food with (the verses), ‘The one who shone forth as the first,’ ‘The Ekāṣṭakā, devoting herself to austerities,’ ‘She who shone forth as the first’ (Taitt. Saṃhitā IV, 3, 11, I. 3. 5).

अथान्नस्य जुहोति । इयमेव सा या प्रथमा व्यौछत् । एकाष्टका तपसा तप्यमाना । या प्रथमा व्यौछत् । इति ५

6. Cutting off (the Avadānas destined for the Sviṣṭakṛt oblation) together from the cake and from the (other) food and mixing them with clarified butter, he makes an oblation thereof with (the formula), ‘To Agni Kavyavāhana Sviṣṭakṛt svadhā! Adoration!’

अपूपस्यान्नस्येति समवदाय सर्पिर्मिश्रस्य जुहोति । अग्नये कव्यवाहनाय स्विष्टकृते स्वधा नमः । इति ६

7. ³ That (cake) with ghee and honey and with the food (mentioned in Sūtras 5. 6) he touches in the way prescribed for the Śrāddha ceremony and puts down lumps (of it) according to the ritual of the Piṇḍa offerings.

तं घृतवन्तं मधुमन्तमन्नवन्तं श्राद्धा-भिमर्शनेनाभिमृश्य पिण्डानामावृता पिण्डान्ददाति ७

8. (The remains of) that (cake, &c.) he serves to learned Brāhmaṇas.

तेन ब्राह्मणान्विद्यावतः परिवेवेष्टि ८

9. He gives them food and presents as at the Śrāddha ceremony.

तेभ्यो यथाश्रद्धमन्नं धनं च ददाति ९

10. ⁴ The known (rites) down to the pouring out of the handfuls of water (are performed here) as at the monthly (Śrāddha).

प्रसिद्धमोदकाञ्जलिदानाद्यथा मासिके १०