Pra<I>s</I>na III, Adhyâya 8

PRASNA III, ADHYÂYA 8.

1. Now, therefore, we will explain the rule of the Kândrâyana (lunar penance). ¹

2. Let him fast on the fourteenth day of the bright half of the month.

3. Having had the hair on his head, his beard, the hair on his body, and his nails, or his beard alone, cut, let him enter, dressed, in new clothes and speaking the truth, the place where the sacrificial fire is preserved.

4. There a (common) fire, (which may be) fetched once (only, shall serve) him; or (the fire) must be produced by friction with the Aranis. ⁴

5. Let a student, who is a friend (of the performer), be ready at hand to (carry out his) directions;

6. And sacrificial viands (shall be his) food during the performance of the vow.

7. Having heaped fuel on the fire, scattered (Kusa grass) around it, and performed (the ceremonies) up to the end of the Agnimukha, he offers burnt oblations, (cutting off portions) from the cooked food,

8. (The first) to Agni, (the second) to the lunar day whichever it may be, (the third and the fourth) ⁸

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to the lunar mansion together with its guardian deity, the fifth to the moon (with the verse), 'Atrâha gor amanvata,' the sixth to the sky and the earth, the seventh to day and night, the eighth to Rudra, the ninth to the sun, the tenth to Varuna, the eleventh to Indra, and the twelfth to all the gods.

9. Now they mention (the following) other (oblations which are to be offered) to the points of the horizon and to their (guardian) deities, to the wide middle sphere and to its (guardian) deity.

10. Having offered (the oblation) to Agni Svishtakrit (with the verse), 'Ever new,' &c., he then places the remainder of the sacrificial viands into a goblet (kamsa) or a cup (kamasa), pours seasoning, that is fit for sacrifices, over them, and eats fifteen morsels of ordinary size, ¹⁰

11. The first (saying, 'I offer) thee to Prâna,' the second (saying,' I offer) thee to Apâna,' the third (saying, 'I offer) thee to Vyâna,' the fourth (saying, 'I offer) thee to Udâna,' the fifth (saying, 'I offer) thee to Samâna.' If there are only four (mouthfuls, he eats) the first reciting two (texts); if there are three, (he eats) the first two reciting two (texts) with each; if there are two, (he eats) the first reciting two (texts and) the second reciting three texts; (if, there is only) one, (he recites) all (the five texts) together. ¹¹

12. Having drunk water (with the text), 'Thou ¹²

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art water used for moistening Soma,' &c., he then offers the (following) additional oblations of clarified butter, with the seven Anuvâkas (beginning), 'May my Prâna, Apâna, Vyâna, Udâna, and Samâna be purified;' 'May my voice, mind, eye, ear,' &c.; 'May my head, hands, feet;' 'May my skin;' 'May the sense of hearing, touch;' 'May earth, water;' 'May that which consists of food.'

13. (The ceremonies) beginning with the muttering (of sacred texts) and ending with the gift of a cow as a fee are known. ¹³

14. He worships the sun with (three verses) ad--dressed to Sûrya and the moon with (three verses) addressed to Kandramas. ¹⁴

15. When he goes to rest, he mutters (the verse), 'O fire, keep thou good watch,' ¹⁵

16. When he awakes (in the morning, the verse), 'O fire, thou art the protector of vows.' ¹⁶

17. Let him not talk with women and Sûdras addressing them first; let him not look at urine and ordure.

18. If he has seen any impure substance, he mutters (the text), 'Unrestrained (was) the internal organ, wretched my eye; the sun is the most ¹⁸

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excellent among the lights of heaven; O initiation, mayest thou not forsake me.'

19. On the first day of the latter half (of the month he eats) fourteen mouthfuls.

20. Thus (he takes every day) one (mouthful) less up to the day of the new moon.

21. On the day of the new moon there is not (even) one mouthful (left to take).

22. On the first day of the first half (of the month) one (mouthful may be eaten), on the second two.

23. Thus he daily increases (his meal) by one (mouthful) up to the day of the full moon.

24. On the day of the full moon he offers a Sthâlîpâka  to Agni, to the lunar day whichever it may be, and to the lunar mansions as well as to their (guardian) deities.

25. Having offered a burnt oblation to (the lunar mansion) Abhigit (which stands) before Sronâ, and to its (guardian) deity, he must give a cow to the Brâhmanas.

26. That is the ant-shaped lunar penance; (that which is performed in the) inverted (order is called) the barleycorn-shaped (lunar penance). ²⁶

27. A sinner who has performed either of these two (penances) becomes free from all mortal sins (pâtaka).

28. They declare that the (Kândrâyana) shall be performed for the sake of the fulfilment of wishes of all kinds.

29. 'Thereby man obtains every wish which he may conceive.'

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30. 'Thereby the sages formerly purified themselves and accomplished their objects. That (rite) procures wealth, spiritual merit, sons, cattle, long life, heavenly bliss, and fame; it secures the fulfilment of all desires.'

31. 'He who studies this, becomes the companion of the lunar constellations, of sun and moon, and dwells in their world.'

Footnotes

303:1 8. For this chapter compare Gautama XXVII.

303:4 The meaning of the Sûtra is that the fire which has been carried into the âvasatha must be kept burning during the whole month which the Kândrâyana lasts. For a burnt oblation has to be performed at the end of the penance. Should it be extinguished, it must be rekindled by friction.

303:8 The text quoted occurs Taitt. Brâhmana I, 5, 8, 1.

304:10 Taitt. Samhitâ II, 3, 5, 3.

304:11 This is an imitation of the Prânâgnihotra described above, II, 7, 12.

304:12 Taitt. Samhitâ III, 1, 8, 1. The seven Anuvâkas are Taitt. Âranyaka X, 51-57. One oblation is to be offered with each Anuvâka.

305:13 Govinda here mentions that the whole of the ceremonies alluded to are the uttaram dârvihomikam tantram.

305:14 As Govinda states, the former verses are 'ud vayam tamasas pari,' Taitt. Samhitâ IV, I, 7, 4; 'ud u tyam gâtavedasam,' ibid. I, 1, 8, 4; 'kitram devânâm,' ibid. I, 4, 43, 1; while the verses addressed to the moon are 'nano navo,' Ibid. II, 4, 14, 1; 'sa kitrakitram,' Rig-veda VI, 6, 7; and 'atrâha gor,' Taitt. Brâhmana 1, 5, 8, 1.

305:15 Taitt. Samhitâ I, 2, 3, I.

305:16 Taitt. Samhitâ, loc. cit.

305:18 Taitt. Samhitâ III, I, 1, 2.

306:26 Vishnu XLVII, 3-5.