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The Grihya Sutras, Part 2 (SBE30), by Hermann Oldenberg, [1892], at sacred-texts.com


PATALA 2, SECTION 6.

1. (This verse the teacher) murmurs in (the boy's) right ear;

2. (The verse), 'Life-giving, Agni' (Taitt. Samh. I, 3, 14, 4) in his left ear.

3. 3 Both times he adds (to the verses quoted in the last Sûtras the formula), 'Stand fast in Agni and on the earth, in Vâyu and in the air, in Sûrya and in heaven. The bliss in which Agni, Vâyu, the sun, the moon, and the waters go their way, in that bliss go thy way, N.N.! Thou hast become the pupil of breath, N.N.!'

4. 4 Approaching his mouth to (the boy's) mouth he murmurs, 'Intelligence may Indra give thee, intelligence the goddess Sarasvatî. Intelligence may the two Asvins, wreathed with lotus, bestow on thee.'

5. 5 He then gives (the boy) in charge (to the gods and demons, with the formulas), 'To Kashaka (?) I

p. 154

give thee in charge. To Antaka I give thee in charge. To Aghora ("the not frightful one") I give thee in charge. To Disease . . . to Yama . . . to Makha . . . to Vasinî ("the ruling goddess") . . . to the earth together with Vaisvânara . . . to the waters . . . to the herbs . . . to the trees . . . to Heaven and Earth . . . to welfare . . . to holy lustre . . . to the Visve devâs . . . to all beings . . . to all deities I give thee in charge.'

6. 6 He now teaches him the Sâvitrî, if he has (already) been initiated before.

7. If he has not been initiated (before, he teaches him the Sâvitrî) after three days have elapsed.

8. (He does so) immediately, says Pushkarasâdi.

9. 9 Having placed to the west of the fire a bunch of grass with its points directed towards the north, (the teacher) sits down thereon, facing the east, with (the formula), 'A giver of royal power art thou, a teacher's seat. May I not withdraw from thee.'

10. The boy raises his joined hands towards the sun, embraces (the feet of) his teacher, sits down to the south (of the teacher), addresses (him), 'Recite, sir!' and then says, 'Recite the Sâvitrî, sir!'

11. Having recited over (the boy the verse), 'We call thee, the lord of the hosts' (Taitt. Samh. II, 3, 14, 3), he then recites (the Sâvitrî) to him, firstly Pâda by Pâda, then hemistich by hemistich, and then the whole verse (in the following way),

p. 155

'Bhûs! Tat Savitur varenyam (That adorable splendour)—

'Bhuvo! Bhargo devasya dhîmahi (of the divine Savitri may we obtain)—

'Suvar! Dhiyo yo nah prakodayât (who should rouse our prayers).—

'Bhûr bhuvas! Tat Savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhîmahi—

'Suvar! Dhiyo yo nah prakodayât.—

'Bhûr bhuvah suvas! Tat Savitur . . . prakodayât.'


Footnotes

153:3 6, 3. Âsvalâyana I, 20, 8.

153:4 Âsvalâyana I, 15, 2; 22, 26; Pâraskara II, 4, 8.

153:5 Comp. Sâṅkhâyana II, 3, 1; Pâraskara II, 2, 21. The name p. 154 in the first section of the Mantra is spelt Kashakâya and Kasakâya. Comp. Mantra-Brâhmana I, 6, 22: Krisana, idam te paridadâmy amum; Atharva-veda IV, 10, 7: Karsanas tvâbhirakshatu.

154:6 'A repetition of the initiation takes place as a penance.' Mâtridatta.

154:9 9-11. Comp. Sâṅkhâyana II, 5, &c.


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