Rakshoghna Sūkta
Rakshoghna Sūkta, “the sūkta that slays the rākshasas”
The Rakshoghna Sūkta is a Vedic sūkta that the brāhmaṇas recite in the rite of the Gṛha-dāna, the gift of a house. Śrī Kṛshṇa teaches this dāna to Yudhishṭhira in the Uttara Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa. The text names the sūkta and its place in the rite.
Its place in the rite
A strong house of baked brick, filled with all that a householder needs, is made ready, and learned brāhmaṇas of good family and character, keepers of gṛhastha dharma, are invited with their wives, honoured and appointed for the śānti rite. In the courtyard a kuṇḍa with one mekhalā is made and a graha-yāga is performed for welfare and increase. Then the brāhmaṇas recite the Rakshoghna Sūkta, perform the vāstu-pūjā and offer bhūtabali in all directions. After this the yajamāna leads the brāhmaṇas into the houses with holy chant and gives each his house with the words idaṃ gṛhaṃ gṛhāṇa, “receive this house”.
The phala
Śrī Kṛshṇa says that gifts of cows, land and gold do not equal a sixteenth part of the gift of a house, and one who gives a strong house with all its equipment to a brāhmaṇa reaches Śivaloka.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 168
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 168