१४

1 ¹ . Now (follows) the Śravaṇa ceremony,

2. On the full-moon day of the Śrāvaṇa month.

3. He cooks a mess of sacrificial food, fried grains, and a cake in one dish, pounds the greater part of the grains, sacrifices the two Ājya portions, and two (other) Ājya oblations (with the following verses):

4 ² . ‘Beat away, O white one, with thy foot, with the fore-foot and with the hind-foot, these seven [children] of Varuṇa and all (daughters) of the king’s tribe. Svāhā!’

5 ³ . ‘Within the dominion of the white one, the Serpent has seen nobody. To the white one, the son of Vidarva, adoration! Svāhā!’

6. He makes oblations of the mess of cooked sacrificial food to Viṣṇu, to Śravaṇa, to the full moon of Śrāvaṇa, and to the rainy season,

7. (And oblations) of the grains with (the verse), ‘Accompanied with grains’ (Vāj. Saṃh. XX, 29).

8. He sacrifices flour, over which ghee has been poured, to the serpents (with the following Mantras):

9. ‘To the lord of the serpents belonging to Agni, of the yellowish, terrestrial ones, svāhā!

‘To the lord of the white serpents belonging to Vāyu, of the aerial ones, svāhā!

‘To the lord of the overpowering serpents belonging to Sūrya, of the celestial ones, svāhā!

10. The (cake) in one dish he offers entirely (without leaving a remainder for the sacrificer) with (the formula), ‘To the firm one, the son of the Earth, svāhā!’

11 ⁴ . After he has eaten (of the sacrificial food), he throws a portion of the flour into a basket, goes out, besmears an elevated spot outside the hall (with cowdung), says, while a fire-brand is held (before him), ‘Do not step between (myself and the fire),’ and without speaking (anything except the Mantras), he causes the serpents to wash themselves, (pouring out water for them, with the formulas:)

12. ‘Lord of the serpents belonging to Agni, of the yellowish, terrestrial ones, wash thyself!

‘Lord of the white serpents belonging to Vāyu, of the aerial ones, wash thyself!

‘Lord of the overpowering serpents belonging to Sūrya, of the celestial ones, wash thyself!’

13 ⁵ . Each time after the washing has been done, he offers to the serpents a Bali of flour, picking out (portions of it) with (the spoon called) Darvī (with the formulas):

14. ‘Lord of the serpents belonging to Agni, of the yellowish, terrestrial ones, this is thy Bali!

‘Lord of the white serpents belonging to Vāyu, of the aerial ones, this is thy Bali!

‘Lord of the overpowering serpents belonging to Sūrya, of the celestial ones, this is thy Bali!’

15 ⁶ . After he has made them wash themselves as above, he combs them with combs (with the formulas)

16. ‘Lord of the serpents belonging to Agni, of the yellowish, terrestrial ones, comb thyself!

‘Lord of the white serpents belonging to Vāyu, of the aerial ones, comb thyself!

‘Lord of the overpowering serpents belonging to Sūrya, of the celestial ones, comb thyself!’

17. (He offers) collyrium, ointment, and garlands with (the same formulas), putting at their end, respectively, the words, ‘Salve thy eyes!’ ‘Anoint thyself!’ ‘Put on garlands!’

18. The remainder of the flour he pours out on the elevated spot (mentioned in Sūtra 11), pours water on it out of a water-pot, and worships the serpents with the three (verses), ‘Adoration be to the serpents’ (Vāj. Saṃh. XIII, 6 seqq.).

19. At that distance in which he wishes the serpents not to approach (the house), he should three times walk round the house, sprinkling an uninterrupted stream of water round it, with the two (verses), ‘Beat away, O white one, with thy foot’ (Sūtras 4 and 5).

20. According to the commentators he gives these things to the man who holds the fire-brand (Sūtra 11).

21. Near the door (of the house) they clean themselves with the three (verses), ‘O waters, ye are’ (Vāj. Saṃh. XI, 50 seqq.).

22 ⁷ . Having put away that remainder of flour in a hidden place, he should from that time daily till the Āgrahāyaṇī, after sunset, when he has performed the service to the fire, offer to the serpents a Bali of flour, picking out (portions of it) with the Darvī (spoon).

23 ⁸ . When he is offering (the Bali), let no one step between (the sacrificer and the Bali).

24 ⁹ . With the Darvī (spoon) he rinses his mouth. Having washed it, he puts it away.

25 ¹⁰ . They eat the (rice) grains which must not form one coherent mass.

26. Then (follows) the feeding of the Brāhmaṇas.