India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c11.s2.2

c11.s2.2

*YĀJNIKA LITERATURE*—Besides the *Brāhmaṇas* and the *Anubrāhmaṇas* (IV.2.62), a vast body of specialised *yājñika* literature in the form of explanatory texts (*vyākhyāna*) of the *kratus* or Soma sacrifices and other *yajñas* had come into existence (IV.3.68); for example, the treatise giving an exposition of Agnishṭoma was called *Āgnishṭomika*; similarly there were texts called *Vājapeyika* and *Rājasūyika*. Particularly interesting is Pāṇini's reference to two-fold texts, one called *Puroḍāśika*, 'a book on *puroḍāśa*', containing detailed instructions about the manner of preparing the sacrificial rice-cake, and another called *Pauroḍāśika* (IV.3.70) which was a commentary of the *mantras* recited at preparing the *puroḍāśa* cake.¹ These *mantras* occur in the *Yajurveda*, Adh. I, and their commentary is found in the *Śatapatha*, Book I, which is thus a Pauroḍāśika text. These special handbooks arose to meet the practical needs of priests at the *Yajñas*.