Aitareyabrahmana 7.2: ADHYĀYA II

Rigveda Brahmanas: The Aitareya and Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇas of the Rigveda (HOS 25) 7.2

Language: English

ADHYĀYA II

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Expiations for Errors in the Agnihotra, &c.

vii. 2 (xxxii. 1). They say 'If one who has established the fires dies on the fast day, how is it with his sacrifice?' 'He should not sacrifice for him', they say, 'for he has not arrived at the sacrifice.' They say 'If one who has established the fires dies when the Agnihotra has been put on the fire or the Sāmnāyya milk or the oblations, what is the expiation here?' He should put them all around so that they may all be burned together. That is the expiation here. They say 'If one who has established the fires dies when the oblations have been put in place, what is the expiation here?' (Saying) 'Hail!' to those deities for whom the libations were drawn he should offer them whole in the Āhavanīya. That is the expiation here. They say 'If one who has established the fires dies in absence, how is his Agnihotra to be performed?' He should offer with the milk of (a cow) with a calf to which it is to be won over; the milk of (a cow) with a calf to which it is to be won over is different, as it were, the Agnihotra of the dead is different as it were. Or they may offer with milk from whatever source. Moreover they say 'They should keep kindled these fires, without offering, until the bones are collected.' If the bones cannot be found, having gathered three hundred and sixty leaf stalks, and having made of them

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a human figure as it were, they should perform on it the usual round (of ceremonies) and thus after mingling, the (fires) with the bones gathered together remove them. A hundred and fifty should he place on the body, a hundred and forty on the thigh bones, fifty on the thighs, and the rest on the head. That is the expiation here.

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vii. 3 (xxxii. 2). [As in AB. v. 27.]

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vii. 4 (xxxii. 3). They say 'If a man's Sāmnāyya milked in the evening becomes spoiled or some one carries it away, what is the expiation here?' Having divided into two the morning's milking, he should curdle one half of it and sacrifice with it. That is the expiation here. They say 'If the morning milking of the Sāmnāyya becomes spoiled or some one carries it away, what is the expiation here? He should prepare in its place a cake for Indra or Mahendra and sacrifice with it. That is the expiation here. They say 'If the whole of his Sāmnāyya becomes spoiled or some one carries it away, what is the expiation here. (He should offer) a cake for Indra or Mahendra just as above. That is the expiation here. They say 'If the whole of his oblation becomes spoiled or men take them away, what is the expiation then?' Having made them according to the deities out of butter, he should offer with a butter oblation and thus perform another offering without a flaw. The sacrifice is the expiation of the sacrifice.

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vii. 5 (xxi. 4). They say 'If on to a man's Agnihotra when put on the fire something not fit for sacrifice falls, what is the expiation here?' Having poured it all into the offering spoon, and having gone east, he places the kindling stick on the Āhavanīya, and having taken off a hot coal from the north of the Āhavanīya he should pour the offering, either in silence or with a verse to Prajāpati. That is both offered and not offered. If it happens when (the spoon) has been filled once or twice, the same procedure applies. If he can remove it, having poured off the spoilt portion, and having poured the unspoiled portion (into the offering spoon) he should offer it in the ordinary way. That is the expiation here. They say 'If a man's Agni-

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hotra when put on the fire spills or pours over, what is the expiation here?’ He should pour water on it for expiation; waters are expiation; then he touches (the rest) with his right hand and mutters. ‘To the sky a third, to the gods the sacrifice hath gone; thence may wealth come to me; to the atmosphere, a third, to the fathers the sacrifice hath gone; thence may wealth come to me; to the earth a third, to me the sacrifice hath gone; thence may wealth come to me.’ He then mutters (a verse) to Viṣṇu and Varuṇa, ‘By whose might the regions are established; Viṣṇu guards that of the sacrifice which is well sacrificed, Varuṇa that which is ill sacrificed; verily (it serves) to appease both of them. That is the expiation here. They say ‘If, as he goes eastwards, the Agnihotra which has been put on the fire spills or falls out, what is the expiation here?’ If he were to fetch it again, he would turn the sacrifice away from the world of heaven; he should stay where he is and others should fetch to him the remains of the Agnihotra and he should offer it in the usual way. That is the expiation here. They say ‘If the offering spoon splits, what is the expiation here?’ He should fetch another spoon and offer; then he should put on the Āhavanīya the broken spoon; handle in front, bowl behind. That is the expiation here. They say ‘If there is fire on a man’s Āhavanīya, but that on the Gārhapatya is extinguished, what is the expiation here?’ If he were to take out (the fire) to the east, he would fall away from his abode; if to the west he would perform the sacrifices like the Asuras; if he were to kindle afresh he would produce a rival for the sacrificer; if he should make (the Āhavanīya) also go out, breath would forsake the sacrificer; verily having gathered the whole of it with the ashes he should put it in the place of the Gārhapatya and from it take out the Āhavanīya to the east. That is the expiation here.

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vii. 6 (xxxii. 5). They say ‘If they take out a fire (and put it with)

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a man's fire what is the expiation then?' If he can see it, removing the former (fire) he should put down the other; if however he cannot see it, he should offer a cake on eight potsherds to Agni with Agni; the invitatory and offering verses for it are 'Agni by Agni is kindled' and 'For thou, O Agni, by Agni.' Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with 'To Agni with Agni hail!' That is the expiation here. They say 'If a man's Gārhapatya and Āhavanīya unite together what is the expiation here?' He should offer to Agni as delight a cake on eight potsherds; its invitatory and offering verses are 'O Agni come for delight', and 'Who Agni for the delight of the gods.' Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with 'To Agni as delight hail!' That is the expiation here. They say 'If all a man's fires should unite together, what is the expiation here?' He should offer a cake on eight potsherds to Agni as discrimination; its invitatory and offering verses are 'He hath shone like the sun at the breaking of the dawns' and 'Thee, O Agni the tribes of men praise.' Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with 'To Agni as discrimination hail!' That is the expiation here. They say 'If a man's fire unite with other fires, what is the expiation here?' He should offer a cake on eight potsherds to Agni the charred; its invitatory and offering verses are 'Agni hath roared like Dyaus thundering' and 'As our fathers of old.' Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with 'To Agni the charred hail!' That is the expiation here.

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vii. 7. (xxxii. 6). They say 'If a man's fires are involved in a village fire, what is the expiation here?' He should offer a cake on eight potsherds to Agni, the spoiler; the invitatory and offering verses are 'In our cattle fray' and 'Do not as in the great contest.' Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with 'To Agni, the spoiler, hail!' That is the expiation here. They say 'If a man's fires be united with a divine conflagration, what is the expiation here?' He should offer a cake on eight potsherds

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to Agni as in the waters; its invitatory and offering verses are 'In the waters, O Agni, is thy seat' and 'The clever, of pure insight hath wrought a wondrous deed.' Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with 'To Agni as in the waters hail!' That is the expiation here. They say 'If a man's fires are united with the fire which burns a corpse, what is the expiation here?' He should offer a cake on eight potsherds to Agni, the pure; its invitatory and offering verses are 'Agni of purest vows' and 'Up, O Agni, thy pure (rays).' Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with 'To Agni, the pure, hail!' That is the expiation here. They say 'If a man's fires are involved in a forest fire, what is the expiation here?' He should mount (the fires) on the two fire sticks or take out a fire brand from the Āhavanīya or from the Gārhapatya; if he cannot so do, he should offer a cake on eight potsherds to Agni, the spoiler; its invitatory and offering verses have been given. Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with 'To Agni, the spoiler, hail!' That is the expiation here.

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vii. 8 (xxxii. 7). They say 'If at the fast day one who has established the fires weeps, what is the expiation here?' He should offer a cake on eight potsherds to Agni, the supporter of vows; its invitatory and offering verses are 'Thou, O Agni, art the supporter of vows, the pure' and 'Supporting vows, guardian of vows, undeceived.' Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with 'To Agni, supporter of vows, hail!' That is the expiation here. They say 'If one who has established the fires on the fast day should happen to commit a breach of his vow, what is the expiation here?' He should offer a cake on eight potsherds to Agni, the lord of vows; its invitatory and offering verses are 'Thou, O Agni, art the guardian of vows' and 'If we have contravened your vows.' Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with 'To Agni, the lord of vows, hail!' That is the expiation here. They say 'If one who has established the fires should omit the offering at new or at full moon, what is the expiation here?' He should offer a cake on eight potsherds to Agni, the maker of ways; its invitatory and offering verses are 'For thou knowest, O wise one, the ways' and 'We have come to the way of

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the gods.’ Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with ‘To Agni, the maker of ways, hail!’ That is the expiation here. They say ‘If all a man’s fires are extinguished, what is the expiation here?’ He should offer a cake on eight potsherds to Agni, the fervid, connected with man, the purifying; its invitatory and offering verses are ‘O come with fervour among men’ and ‘Come to us with fervour among men.’ Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with ‘To Agni, the fervid, connected with man, the purifying hail!’ That is the expiation here.

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vii. 9 (xxxii. 8). They say ‘If one who has established the fires eats new food without making the Āgrayaṇa offering, what is the expiation here?’ He should offer a cake on twelve potsherds to Agni Vaiçvānara; its invitatory and offering verses are ‘Vaiçvānara hath produced’ and ‘Present in the sky, present Agni on earth.’ Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with ‘To Agni Vaiçvānara hail!’ That is the expiation here. They say ‘If one has established his fires and a potsherd be lost what is the expiation here?’ He should offer a cake on two potsherds to the Açvins; its invitatory and offering verses are ‘O Açvins to our abode’ and ‘With chariot rich in cattle O Nāsatyas.’ Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with ‘To the Açvins hail!’ That is the expiation here. They say ‘If one has established the fires and the filter be lost, what is the expiation here?’ He should offer a cake on eight potsherds to Agni with the filter; its invitatory and offering verses are ‘Thy filter is outstretched, O lord of prayer’ and ‘The filter of the burning one outstretched in the sky.’ Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with ‘To Agni with the filter hail!’ That is the expiation here. They say ‘If one has established the fires and the gold be lost, what is the expiation here?’ He should offer a cake on eight potsherds to Agni with the gold; its invitatory and offering verses are ‘Golden haired in the expanse of the atmosphere’ and ‘The well winged ones strengthen in the ways.’ Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with ‘To Agni with the gold hail!’ That is the expiation here. They say ‘If one who has established the fires were to offer without having bathed in the morning, what is the expiation here?’ He should offer

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a cake on eight potsherds to Agni as Varuṇa; its invitatory and offering verses are ‘Thou for us O Agni, knowing Varuṇa’ and ‘Thou O Agni be nearest with aid to us.’ Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with ‘To Agni as Varuṇa hail!’ That is the expiation here. They say ‘If one who has established the fires should eat the food of a woman with child, what is the penance here?’ He should offer a cake on eight potsherds to Agni of the thread; its invitatory and offering verses are ‘Extending the thread of the atmosphere do thou follow the light’ and ‘Do ye, O Soma born, bind the axle strings.’ Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with ‘To Agni of the thread hail!’ That is the expiation here. They say ‘If one who has established the fires should live, hearing himself spoken of as dead, what is the expiation here?’ He should offer a cake on eight potsherds to Agni the fragrant; its invitatory and offering verses are ‘Agni as Hotṛ hath set down, good sacrificer’ and ‘True he hath made to-day our offering to the gods.’ Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with ‘To Agni, the fragrant, hail!’ That is the expiation here. They say ‘If one has established the fires and his wife or a cow produces twins, what is the expiation here?’ He should offer a cake on thirteen potsherds to Agni with the Maruts; its invitatory and offering verses are ‘O Maruts in whose dwelling’ and ‘Like the spokes, none last, like the days.’ Or he should offer a libation in the Āhavanīya with ‘To Agni with the Maruts hail!’ That is the expiation here. They say ‘Should a man without a wife offer the Agnihotra? Or should he not offer it?’ ‘He should offer’ they say; if he were not to offer he would be a mock man. ‘What is a mock man?’ (they ask); ‘One who (offers) neither to gods nor to the fathers nor to men.’ Therefore, even if one has no wife, he should offer the Agnihotra. With regard to this a sacrificial verse is recited

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‘Even one who has no wife and who drinks no Soma
Should sacrifice in the Sautrāmaṇī;
“Sacrifice to free thyself from debt to father and mother”
In accord with this command is this rule of scripture.’

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Therefore should he make one, who is connected with the Soma, sacrifice.

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[vii. 10 (xxxii. 9). They say 'Why does a man without a wife offer at command the Agnihotra? 'If one has commenced (the sacrifice), and his wife dies or disappears, how does he offer the Agnihotra?' 'Sons, grandsons, and great grandsons (he wins)' they say, 'in this and yonder world; in this world is yonder (world) of heaven, by that which is not heaven one mounts to the world of heaven.' He maintains the continuity of yonder world. Therefore they perform the piling for one without a wife. How does one without a wife perform the Agnihotra? 'The wife is faith, the sacrificer truth; faith and truth are the highest pair; by faith and truth as a pair he conquers the worlds of heaven' (he should reply).

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vii. 11 (xxxii. 10). They say, 'In that he fasts at the new and full moon, it is because the gods do not eat the oblation of one who does not keep his vow of fasting; therefore does he fast (thinking) 'May the gods eat my oblation.' 'On the first full moon day should he fast' is the view of Paiṅgya; 'on the second' that of Kauṣītaki. The first full moon day is Anumati, the second Rākā; the first new moon day is Sinīvālī, the second Kuhū. The period is that when (the sun) sets near or rises towards the moon. On the first full moon should he fast. In that he begins not having

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discerned the moon in the east at the new moon, and in that he sacrifices, thereby they purchase the Soma, thereby the second. On the second should he fast; on the latter days Soma sacrifices in accord with Soma the deity; the moon is the Soma of the gods; therefore should he fast on the second day.]

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vii. 12 (xxxii. 11). They say, 'If the sun rises or sets on a man's fire before it is taken out, or if being taken forward it dies out before the oblation, what is the expiation here?' He should put gold in front when taking it out in the evening; gold is a pure light, yonder sun is a pure light; verily thus gazing on the pure light he takes it out. Having interposed silver he should take it out in the morning; that is a symbol of the night. Before the blending of the shadows he should take out the Āhavanīya; the shadow is the darkness, death; verily thus with this light he crosses over the shadow, the darkness, death. That is the expiation here. They say, 'If a wagon or a chariot or a dog come between the Gārhapatya and the Āhavanīya, what is the expiation here?' 'He should not pay heed to it,' they say, 'on his self are the (fires) placed.' If he should pay heed to it, he should draw a continuous stream of water from the Gārhapatya to the Āhavanīya with 'Stretching the thread of the atmosphere do thou follow the light.' That is the expiation here. They say, 'When he is piling on fuel to the fires should he procure the Anvāhāryapacana? Or should he not procure it?' 'He should procure,' they say; he places the breaths in himself who piles the fires; the Anvāhāryapacana is the most fond of food of them; in it he offers the libation with 'Hail to Agni, the eater of food, the lord of food.' An eater of food, a lord of food, he becomes, he attains with his offspring proper food who knows thus. When about to offer he should move between the Gārhapatya and the Āhavanīya; when he moves by this way the fires know 'He is going to offer in us.' 'When he moves by this way the Gārhapatya and the Āhavanīya smite away his guilt; he with guilt smitten away goes aloft to the world of heaven'; so they quote a Brāhmaṇa. They say, 'How should one revere the fires when about to go away, or when having returned after absence or

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day by day?’ ‘In silence,’ they say; in silence men await a superior’s orders. But also they say, ‘Day by day they fear through the sacrificer’s lack of faith removal or extinction. He should revere them with, ‘Safety to you, safety to me.’ Safety becomes his lot.

Linked texts (1)

Aitareyabrāhmaṇa — Mahidāsa Aitareya, Sanskrit