History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c48.134

v3.c48.134

After keeping the two ladles (juhū and dhruvā) in their proper places, he (the adhvaryu) sets about choosing (invoking) the *pravara*. The adhvaryu brings in contact with (twines round) the sphya the tying cords of the idhma and one blade from the the kuśas strewn on the vedi and stands to the north of the vedi (or near the utkara) for reciting the pravara mantra. He faces the south (the east according to com. on Kāt. III. 2. 3). The āgnīdhra stands to the west of the adhvaryu facing the south near the utkara. The adhvaryu then inaudibly utters a formula 'who will become the adhvaryu here? He will become the adhvaryu here. Yajña (will be adhvaryu) of yajña, I stand in the abode of Viṣṇu. May speech perform the function of a priest, may mind do so, I resort to speech. Bhūḥ bhuvaḥ suvaḥ!' (Āp. II. 15. 1 and Śat. II. 1. p. 186). The āgnīdhra after touching the binding cords of idhma, the sphya and the kuśa blade also inaudibly repeats a similar mantra 'who will become the āgnīdhra here &c.' (Āp. II. 15. 2). The adhvaryu addresses the brahmā priest 'O brahman! shall I call on (the āgnīdhra) to listen to the pravara?' The brahmā priest first repeats inaudibly 'O lord of speech! make (him) listen to this speech, make the sacrifice be heard among gods, and me among men (Āp. III. 19. 3); sustain these deities in heaven &c.' and then loudly says 'yes, do make him listen (om3āśrā3vaya). The adhvaryu says²³⁶⁴ 'ā3śrāvaya' (make to listen) and the āgnīdhra holding the sphya covered with the binding cord responds with 'astu śrau3ṣaṭ' (lit. yes, let him hear). The adhvaryu then utters 'May Agni, the divine hotṛ, the wise one, the discriminating one, sacrifice for the gods, like Manu, like Bharata, like that one, like that one. Let him bring (the gods) to the accompaniment of holy prayer. The brāhmaṇas are the protectors of this sacrifice.