History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.t1.398
History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.t1.398
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Having taken out in another vessel some food from out of the food already cooked for śrāddha and having anointed it with ghee he (the performer) asks 'I shall perform *agnau-karaṇa*'. Being permitted by the brāhmanas in the words 'do so', he offers into (gṛhya) fire oblations¹¹³⁰ as in Piṇḍapitryajña, having served (into all the plates for all the brāhmaṇas invited) the food that remains after being offered in fire, he touches with his hands (above and below each plate) and repeats the mantra ‘The earth is thy vessel &c.’ (notes 992, 1108a). (He keeps some food aside for making piṇḍas later on). Then (having served the food in the plates) he plunges the thumb of the brāhmaṇas in the food with a ṛk (Ṛg. I. 22. 17, ‘idam Viṣṇur vicakrame’) addressed to Viṣṇu or with a Yajus so addressed (‘Viṣṇo kavyamidaṁ rakṣasva’). Then he scatters about (yavas before daiva brāhmaṇas silently and) sesamum grains with the mantra ‘apahatā asurā rakṣāṁsi vediṣadaḥ’ (Vāj. S. 2. 29). Then he should serve hot food very much liked (by diners or by the departed) or he may serve such food as he can afford. While the brāhmaṇas are engaged in eating (the dinner) he should perform *japa* of the following¹¹³¹, viz. the sacred Gāyatrī once or thrice preceded by *om* and the vyāhṛtis, the verses called Rākṣoghnī (note 1111), mantras addressed to the pitṛs (Ṛg. X. 15. 1–13 beginning with ‘udīratām-avara ut parāsaḥ)’, Puruṣasūkta (Ṛg. X. 90. 1–16), Apratiratha hymn (Ṛg. X. 103.
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1–13) beginning with ‘āśuḥ śiśānaḥ’) and other holy texts. Then finding that the brāhmaṇas are satiated with food, he should scatter some food in front of the dining brāhmaṇas, he should give to each brāhmaṇa water once (for *āpośana* at the end of dinner). Then he should mutter as before the Gāyatrī, the (three) Madhumatī verses (Ṛg. I. 90 6–8) and the word ‘madhu’ (thrice). Then he asks ‘are you satiated’. Being permitted by them in the words ‘we are satiated’, he makes them give their consent as to the rest of the food, collects together all food in one vessel (in order to make piṇḍas from it); he offers (two sets of three piṇḍas, three for paternal ancestors and three for maternal ancestors) on darbhas near the spot where¹¹³² the brāhmaṇas dined and left uneaten food in plates and pours water over the piṇḍas for ablution¹¹³³. Some authors say that piṇḍas are to be offered after the brāhmaṇas perform *ācamana* at the end of the dinner. After they perform *ācamana* he gives to the brāhmaṇas water, flowers, *akṣatas* and *akṣayyodaka*¹¹³⁴. Then he prays for the following blessings. He prays 'may the pitṛs be not terrible (i. e. be kind) to us'. The brāhmaṇas reply 'may they be so'. He prays 'May our family prosper'. They reply 'may it be so'. He prays 'May donors increase in our family'. They reply 'let it be so'. He prays 'May Vedas and our progeny prosper'. The reply is 'May they do so'. He says 'May faith not depart from me'; they say 'May it not depart'.
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He says 'May we possess many things that we can donate'. They reply 'so be it'. After receiving these blessings he spreads kuśas called *svadhāvācanīya*1134a together with *pavitras* (on the ground near the piṇḍas or, on the piṇḍas themselves according to Devayājñika and others); he asks (all the brāhmaṇas or the most eminent one) 'shall I request you to utter the word *svadhā*'. Being permitted by them in the words 'May svadhā be recited' he prays 'May there be *svadhā* to the pitṛs, to the grandfathers, to the great-grand-fathers, to the maternal grandfather, maternal great-grandfather and maternal great-great-grandfather'. When the brāhmaṇas reply 'May there be svadhā' he sprinkles water over the *svadhāvācanīya* darbhas with the mantra 'ūrjaṁ vahantīr' (Vāj. S. II. 34). Then he turns the vessel top upwards (which had been placed with top downwards) and he should give to the brāhmaṇas dakṣiṇā according to his ability. He should make the daiva brāhmaṇas repeat 'May all the gods be pleased'. He should then dismiss the brāhmaṇas with the mantra 'Vāje vāje' (Vāj. S 9. 18), he should follow the brāhmaṇas (up to the village boundary) with the mantra 'ā mā vājasya' (Vāj S. 9. 19), circumambulate them and then enter his own house.