Atharvavedaparishishta 26
English (machine translation) 26
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Contents
26.1.1
Oṃ. I shall declare the measurement, auspicious characteristic, / and inauspicious characteristic of sacrificial kindling-sticks in truth according to the division of fruits.
26.1.2
In a sacrificial rite, in a rite of appeasement, and likewise in a rite of prosperity, / kindling-sticks measuring a span are prescribed for all rites.
26.1.3
Eight barley grains placed crosswise or three paddy grains upright / are the measure of a digit; a span is twelve digits.
26.1.4
Above this it must not be made, nor shorter, nor longer; / neither should it be made crooked, nor full of knots.
26.1.5
Because one that is crooked at the upper end quickly produces / spotted ringworm and scabies in the sacrifice, one should therefore avoid it.
26.2.1
That which has two branches, or is without bulk, or has three branches, / or has six branches, or seven branches, destroys the four-limbed army.
26.2.2
Having prepared sacrificial sticks with leaves and flowers, the discerning one / should perform a rite for nourishment; it succeeds without doubt.
26.2.3
Sacrificial sticks that have leaves and flowers and come from auspicious trees / are declared to be commendable in the middle of a cowpen.
26.2.4
[Now I shall declare further the characteristics of sacrificial sticks.]
26.2.5
Withered, split in two, short, bent, split at the tip, / slender, long, or thick—such [a stick] destroys ritual success.
26.2.6
[Whatever characteristic is taught for a particular [rite], at whatever time, according to rule: / by that alone success will occur there; if it is otherwise, there will be fear.]
26.2.7
Hear the results of those sacrificial sticks that have been gathered:
26.2.8
A withered [stick] brings about loss of life; a split one causes disease; / a short one immediately turns back whatever has just come to face [the sacrificer].
26.3.1
A bent [stick] causes misfortune; one split at the tip causes loss of station; / a slender one leads to complete destruction; a long one destroys prosperity.
26.3.2
A thick [stick] causes obstacles in every enterprise of a twice-born. / Hear also the various measurements and likewise the results from this point on:
26.3.3
Formed from a shoot of a creeper, measured at twelve finger-breadths, / smeared with milk, it should especially be offered in an oblation for propitiation.
26.3.4
A twice-born should offer one smeared with ghee solely for the sake of attaining liberation; / indeed, he should offer one measured at ten finger-breadths in a rite using mantras.
26.3.5
In an incantation-rite, [the stick] should be made nine finger-breadths [long] and smeared with oil; / one of eight finger-breadths should be offered with ghee and curd for prosperity.
26.4.1
Combined solely with honey, made of seven finger-breadths [and split into] a twig, / it is commendable for driving away [enemies], but a split one is not for propitiation.
26.4.2
In [a rite of] sowing dissension, a split [stick] of six finger-breadths is smeared with pungent mustard oil. / For Brahmins, an auspicious sacrificial stick should be entirely free of knots.
26.4.3
Unbent and possessing a knot at the tip, it brings victory to Kṣatriyas; / possessing a knot in the middle, it brings prosperity to Vaiśyas.
26.4.4
The sacrificial sticks remembered as acceptable for all three [castes] will be stated: / neither overly wet nor overly dry, and not grown in saline soil,
26.4.5
not burnt, not eaten by worms, and free from all defects. / Henceforth I proclaim the trees suitable for sacrificial sticks and firewood:
26.4.6
With dry firewood first, made of auspicious sacrificial trees. / And he should offer wet ones [for peace], but with dry ones in an act of contention; / for the firewood should be dry, but the sacrificial sticks should be as prescribed.
26.5.1
One desiring nourishment in a propitiatory rite should take [wood] of the palāśa; / one desiring wealth, of the udumbara; one intending kingship, of the banyan or aśvattha;
26.5.2
one desiring fortune, of the bilva tree and likewise of the kadamba; / one should effect dissension with bitter [woods], and death will result from thorny ones.
26.5.3
One should know kakubha, kaṭabha tree, kauvirāla, kauhaka, / bamboo, vibhītaka, and śigru as beneficial for driving away [enemies].
26.5.4
For the immobilization of all enemy forces and for victory, he should designate victorious [plants]; / good fortune [is obtained] with apāmārga; one desiring long life indeed [attains it] with dūrvā grass.
26.5.5
The punnāga and campaka trees, and whatever other milky trees are auspicious. / Whatever characteristic is taught for a particular [rite], at whatever time, according to rule:
26.5.6
by that alone success will occur there; if it is otherwise, there will be fear. / Arka, palāśa, madhuka, and nyagrodha, udumbara,
26.5.7
plakṣa, aśvattha, cow-dung cakes, and kuśa grass are the sacrificial sticks in order, / the sacrificial sticks in due order for the planets beginning with Āditya.
26.5.8
One hundred, one thousand, or one hundred thousand [times] is the supreme oblation with the Gāyatrī. / Whatever is being offered, whether prepared food or sesame seeds,
26.5.9
when there is affliction by planets or lunar mansions, an offering made even with the Sāvitrī is truly offered. / This distinction of the auspicious and inauspicious has been declared by me.
26.5.10
Whoever performs this as prescribed will obtain all fruits.
26.5.10.p1
(Supplement 27. Characteristics of the Offering Ladle)
Linked texts (1)
- Atharvavedapariśiṣṭa — Sanskrit