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is in order at the beginning. The wooden sword [2], the potsherds, the offering-spoon, the basket,
the black antelope skin, the pin, the mortar and pestle, the lower and upper millstones, these are the
ten weapons of the sacrifice; the sacrifice of him who knows thus is in order at the beginning. If a
man sacrifices after announcing the sacrifice to the gods, they delight in his sacrifice. He should as
the oblation is being offered recite (the words), 'Agni, the priest, him I summon hither' [3]. Thus he
announces the sacrifice to the gods and sacrifices, and the gods delight in his sacrifice. This is the
taking of the sacrifice and so after taking the sacrifice he sacrifices. After speaking he remains
silent, to support the sacrifice. Now Prajapati performed the sacrifice with mind; verily he performs
the sacrifice with mind to prevent the Raksases following. He who yokes the sacrifice when the
yoking (time) arrives yokes it indeed among the yokers. 'Who (ka) yoketh thee? Let him yoke thee',
he says. Ka is Prajapati--verily by Prajapati he yokes it; he yokes indeed among the yokers.
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Prajapati created the sacrifices, the Agnihotra, the Agnistoma, the full moon sacrifice, the Ukthya,
the new moon sacrifice and the Atiratra. These he meted out; the Agnistoma was the size of the
Agnihotra, the Ukthya that of the full moon sacrifice, the Atiratra that of the new moon sacrifice.
He who knowing thus offers the Agnihotra obtains as much as by offering the Agnistoma; he who
knowing thus offers the full moon sacrifice obtains as much as by offering the Ukthya [1]; he who
knowing thus offers the new moon sacrifice obtains as much as by offering the Atiratra. This
sacrifice was in the beginning Paramesthin's, and by means of it he reached the supreme goal. He
furnished Prajapati with it, and by means of it Prajapati reached the supreme goal. He furnished
Indra with it, and by means of it Indra reached the supreme goal. He furnished Agni and Soma with
it, and by means of it Agni and Soma reached the supreme goal. He who [2] knowing thus offers the
new and full moon sacrifices reaches the supreme goal. He who sacrifices with an abundant offering
is multiplied with offspring, with cattle, with pairings. 'The year has twelve months, there are
twelve pairs of new and full moon sacrifices; these are to be produced', they say. He lets the calf go
free and puts the pot on the fire: he puts down (the rice), and beats the millstones together; he
scatters (the grains) and collects the potsherds; the cake [3] he puts on the fire and the melted butter;
he throws the clump of grass, and gathers it in; he surrounds the Vedi and he girds the wife (of the
sacrificer); he puts in place the anointing waters and the melted butter. These are the twelve pairs in
the new and full moon sacrifices. He, who thus sacrifices with these, sacrifices with an abundant
offering and is multiplied with offspring, with cattle, with pairings.
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'Thou I art secure; may I be secure among my equals', he says; verily he makes them secure.' 'Thou
art dread; may I be dread among my equals'; verily he makes them harmonious. 'Thou art
overcoming; may I be overcoming among my equals,' he says; verily he overthrows him who rises
against him. 'I yoke thee with the divine Brahman', he says; this is the yoking of the fire; verily [1]
with it he yokes it. With the prosperous part of the sacrifice the gods went to the world of heaven,
with the unsuccessful part they overcame the Asuras. 'Whatever, O Agni, in this sacrifice of mine
may be spoiled', he says; verily with the prosperous part of the sacrifice the sacrificer goes to the
world of heaven, with the unsuccessful part he overcomes the foes. With these Vyahrtis he should
set down the Agnihotra. The Agnihotra is the beginning of the sacrifice, these Vyahrtis are the
Brahman; verily at the beginning of the sacrifice he makes the Brahman [2]. When the year is
completed he should thus with these (Vyahrtis) perform the setting down; verily with the Brahman
he surrounds the year on both sides. He who is undertaking the new and full moon and the four
monthly offerings should set in place the oblations with these Vyahrtis. The new and full moon and
the four monthly sacrifices are the beginning of the sacrifice, these Vyahrtis are the Brahman; verily
at the beginning of the sacrifice he makes the Brahman. When the year is completed, he should thus
with them (Vyahrtis) set down (the oblations), and so with the Brahman he surrounds the year on
both sides. To the kingly class falls the blessing of the part of the sacrifice which is performed with
the Saman [3]; to the people (falls) the blessing of what (is performed) with the Rc; now the
Brahman sacrifices with an offering without a blessing; when he is about to recite the kindling-
Keith: Taittiriya-Samhita, Translation - Page 60 of 341