Brihadyatra 19: adhyāyaḥ 19

Chapter 19: The Characteristics of the Fire

Having thus performed the planetary worship, he should then make oblations with the verse indicating fire;

and on this subject I will declare verses proclaimed by the sage Kāśyapa:

'Then the entire Apratiratha [hymn], and whatever verse serves as an omen for the military expedition,

the Āyuṣya, the Abhaya, and the entire Aparājita hymns,

and the Śarmavarma collection, and likewise the Svastyayana collection—

having offered oblations with these five collections and established the fire according to rule,

and the collection [beginning with] "bhūta bhūta", and likewise "yat te candram",

the collection addressed to Indra, likewise that to the Moon, and the hymn of blessing mantras,

touching the flame repeatedly, then the royal chaplain

And he should touch the king with mantras, and recite loudly again and again:

"Be a giver of sight, a giver of breath, and a giver of splendour, O Lord!

Even as you are the most invincible, O carrier of oblations,

so too may this king become invincible to his enemies!"

Hereafter I shall explain the omens when the oblation is being poured:

Trembling, coughing, yawning, staggering, sweating, falling of tears, hunger,

eructation, and the like by the royal chaplain, as well as a lapse of memory, are inauspicious; anything else is auspicious.

Ghee mixed with hair, ants, or dirt, and that which has been licked by an animal,

is unpropitious; otherwise, the implement is auspicious, as are the materials if intact.

Rising on its own with blazing flames, fire consuming the offering at the end of "Svāhā",

giving comfort to the body, moving clockwise, glossy, large, and compact,

smokeless, fragrant, devoid of sparks, favourable to the expedition, gentle,

and bearing the lustre of pearls, blue lotuses, or gold, portends victory for the invader.

Assuming the form of an auspicious object, a jar, a parasol, a horse, a śrīvṛkṣa tree, or a mountain,

and emitting a pleasant sound like a kettle-drum, a cloud, the ocean, a dundubhi drum, an elephant, or a cart, it is praised.

The contrary of what has been described is unpropitious. The fire, if glossy, grants desires even otherwise;

burning the king on his right side, it is extremely beneficial. And the rest one should ascertain from the world. || 10