१७

1. ¹ We shall explain the Āgrahāyaṇī ceremony.

आग्रहायणीं व्याख्यास्यामः १

2. ² On the full-moon day of Mārgaśīrṣa he puts wood on the fire, strews (Darbha grass) on the entire surface round the fire, cooks a mess of sacrificial food with milk, sprinkles it (with Ājya), takes it from the fire, performs the rites down to the Vyāhṛti oblations, and sacrifices (four oblations) with (the following Mantras):

‘This offering, the creeping of Iḍā, rich in ghee, moving and not moving, accept gladly, O Jātavedas.

What domestic animals there are, of all shapes, all seven kinds of them: may they gladly dwell here and may they prosper. Svāhā!

‘The night which men welcome like a cow that comes to them, (the night) which is the consort of the year, may that (night) be auspicious to us. Svāhā!

‘Bringing bliss to the cattle, to the wife, bringing bliss by night and by day, may this (night) which is the consort of the year, be auspicious to us. Svāhā!

‘The full-moon night, bringing abundance, visiting one after another, dividing the months and fortnights: may this (night), the full one, protect us. Svāhā!’

मार्गशीर्ष्यां पौर्णमास्यामग्निमुपसमाधाय सम्परिस्तीर्य पयसि स्थालीपाकं श्रपयित्वाभिघार्योद्वास्य व्याहृतिपर्यन्तं कृत्वा जुहोति । इडायै सृप्तं घृतवच्चराचरं जातवेदो हविरिदं जुषस्व । ये ग्राम्याः पशवो विश्वरूपास्तेषां सप्तानामिह रन्तिरस्तु पुष्टिः । स्वाहा । यां जनाः प्रतिनन्दन्ति रात्रिं धेनुमिवायतीम् । संवत्सरस्य या पत्नी सा नो अस्तु सुमङ्गली स्वाहा । शिवा पशुभ्यो दारेभ्यः शिवा नक्तं शिवा दिवा । संवत्सरस्य या पत्नी सा नो अस्तु सुमङ्गली । स्वाहा । पौर्णमासी पूरयन्त्यायान्त्यपरापरान् । मासार्धमासान्विभजति सा नः पूर्णाभिरक्षतु । स्वाहा । इति २

3. ³ He sacrifices the oblation to Agni Sviṣṭakṛt with (the verse), ‘Agni, make this (sacrifice) full that it may be well offered. Be victorious, O god, in all battles. Shine far and wide, showing us a wide path. Bestow on us long life, full of splendour and free from decay. Svāhā!’

अथ सौविष्टकृतीं जुहोति । स्विष्टमग्ने अभि तत्पृणाहि विश्वा देव पृतना अभिष्य । उरुं नः पन्थां प्रदिशन्विभाहि ज्योतिष्मद्धेह्यजरं न आयुः । इति ३

4. Then he washes his hands and touches the earth with (the formulas), ‘In power I establish myself, in royalty. Among the horses I establish myself, among the cows. In the limbs I establish myself, in the self. In the Prāṇas I establish myself, in prosperity. In Heaven and Earth I establish myself, in sacrifice.

‘May the three times eleven gods, the thirty-three, the gracious ones, whose Purohita is Bṛhaspati, on the impulse of the god Savitṛ - may the gods with (all) the gods give me bliss!’

ततः पाणी प्रक्षाल्य भूमिमालभते । प्रति क्षत्रे प्रतितिष्ठामि राष्ट्रे प्रत्यश्वेषु प्रतितिष्ठामि गोषु । प्रत्यङ्गेषु प्रतितिष्ठाम्यात्मन्प्रति प्राणेषु प्रतितिष्ठामि पुष्टे । प्रति द्यावापृथिव्योः प्रतितिष्ठामि यज्ञे । त्रया देवा एकादश त्रयस्त्रिंशाः सुराधसः । बृहस्पतिपुरोहिता देवस्य सवितुः सवे । देवा देवैरवन्तु मा । इति ४

5. The master of the house sits down at their southerly end,

तेषां दक्षिणा गृहपतिरुपविशति ५

6. The other persons to the north,

उत्तरा उत्तरे ६

7. According to their seniority.

प्रजोत्पत्त्यानुपूर्व्येण ७

8. They who know the Mantras among them, murmur the Mantras (which will be stated).

तेषां मन्त्रविदस्ते मन्त्राञ्जपन्ति ८

9. With (the verse), ‘Be soft to us, O earth, free from thorns; grant us rest; afford us wide shelter’ (Taitt. Ar. X, 1, 10), and with the two (verses), ‘Verily of the mountains’ (Taitt. Saṃh. II, 2, 12, 2. 3) they lie down on their right sides.

स्योना पृथिवि भवानृक्षरा निवेशनी । यच्छा नः शर्म सप्रथाः । बडित्था पर्वतानाम् । इति द्वाभ्यां दक्षिणैः पार्श्वैः संविशन्ति ९

10. With (the verse), ‘Up! with life’ (Taitt. Saṃh. I, 2, 8, 1) they arise.

उदायुषा । इत्युत्तिष्ठन्ति १०

11. When they have arisen, they murmur, ‘We have arisen; we have become immortal.’

उदस्थामामृता अभूम । इत्युत्थाय जपन्ति ११

12. In that way they (lie down and) arise that night three times.

एवं रात्रेस्त्रिः सञ्जिहते १२

13. ⁴ Having served food to the Brāhmaṇas and having caused them to say, ‘An auspicious day! Hail! Good luck!’ they rest that night.

End of the Seventh Paṭala.

ब्राह्मणानन्नेन परिविष्य पुण्याहं स्वस्त्ययनमृद्धिमिति वाचयित्वाथैतां रात्रिं वसन्ति १३