24 - The Duties of Agnihotrin

Vyasa said: 

1. One should perform the Agnihotra rite both in the morning and the evening. On Darsha (the new moon) days after the conclusion of a beneficial rite and on reaping the harvest afresh this rite shall be performed. * 

*A better v.l. darshena chaiva pakshante paurnamasena chaiva hi/ ‘He should perform the Agnihotra rite on the new moon and full moon day at the end of a fortnight.’ 

2. At the close of a season, the Brahmana should duly perform sacrifices. At the close of an Ayana, he should perform an animal sacrifice. At the end of a year, he should perform the sacrifices in the fires?) (v.l. the Soma sacrifice). 

3. A Brahmana maintaining sacred fires and desirous of living for a long time should not eat cooked food or meat without performing the Yajna of fresh harvest and the animal sacrifice. 

4. Without performing the sacrifice with fresh grains or with animals as Havyas (oblations), those people who are desirous of fresh grains and meat, actually desire to eat their own vital airs. 

5. He should always perform the Shantihomas (propitiatory Homas) for peace pertaining to Savitri (the sun-god) during the Parvans. During the Ashtaka and Anvashtaka days, he should worship the pitrus. 

6. This is the greatest Dharma of three higher castes, in the stage of householders. All other rites are called Apaddharmas, (non-righteous). 

7. Either due to atheistic feelings or due to lethargy, if anyone does not wish to maintain sacrificial fires, nor does he perform Yajnas, he falls into many hells. 

Verses in Brackets:

A-B). The evil-minded person falls into the following hells viz. Tamisra, Andhatamisra, Raurava, Maharaurava, Kumbhipaka Vaitarani, Asipatravana and many other terrible hells as well. O Brahmanas, he is reborn in the families of outcastes or as a Shudra. 

8. Hence, a Brahmana should particularly maintain the sacrificial fire very assiduously. With his soul sanctified, he should worship Parameshvara. 

9. There is no greater Dharma than Agnihotra in the case of Brahmanas. Hence, one should always worship by means of Agnihotra. 

10. He who is one who maintains sacrificial fires but does not wish to perform sacrifice to the lord by means of meditation, is a confused person. He should not be conversed with. What more (need be said) that man is an atheist. 

11. He who possesses enough foodstuff to maintain his servants for three years or more, deserves to drink Soma juice. 

12. The Soma sacrifice is considered first among all Yajnas. One should propitiate lord Maheshvara of the Region of Soma, through Soma. 

13. There is no sacrifice equal to or greater than the Soma sacrifice that propitiates Mahesha. Hence, one should propitiate the greatest one through Soma* (sacrifice). 

*Due to oversight the Venkt. Text has given one and the same number to two verses. Hence verse No. 14 is included under 13 there. The mistake is rectified here. 

14. The sacrificial animal has been taken and enjoined on the Brahmanas by Pitamaha (god Brahma). There are two types of Dharma conducive to salvation-the Shrauta and the Smarta. 

15. Shrauta is that rite which is connected with the three fires. Smarta has been mentioned by me before. The Shrauta is more beneficial. Hence, one should perform the Shrauta rite. 

16. Both of them are beneficial. They are holy rites prescribed in the Vedas. Shishtachara (the conduct of good men) shall be the third source of religion¹ when Shruti and Smruti are not available. 

1. VV. 16-19 Cf, Manu XII. 108-109 where in matters not decided in Dharma-Shastra texts the opinion of Shishtas is regarded as Dharma. 

17. They by whom the Vedas have been acquired along with their supplementary works, are Shishtas (good men). They are so called because they are always endowed with the qualities of the Atman. 

18. What is approved by them for ever is called Dharma by good men. And not the behaviour of anyone else. This is what should be retained in the mind. 

19. The Puranas and the Dharmashastras augment the Vedas (as amplification). From one the Brahman is realised. From the other Dharma (rituals of religion) is realised. 

20-21. * They have been mentioned as the greatest authority by those who wish to know more of Dharma. They are the Dharmashastras and the Puranas. The knowledge of Brahman is from the other. Dharma is not born of anything else. The knowledge of Brahman is from the Vedas. Hence, the Dharma and Purana should be believed (as divine revelation) by the learned men. 

*vide ft. note on verse 13. The total No. of verses is 21 though the Venk. Text. gives No. 20 to the last verse.