Pra<I>s</I>na IV, Adhyâya 6

PRASNA IV, ADHYÂYA 6.

1. The (eleven Anuvâkas called) Rudras together with (the ten hymns) seen by Madhukkhandas, the Gâyatrî with the syllable Om, and likewise the seven Vyâhritis (are the texts) which should be muttered (and) which remove guilt. ¹

2. The Mrigâreshti, the Pavitreshti, the Trihavis, the Pâvamânî are the Ishtis which efface sin, if they are (each) combined with the Vaisvânara (Dvâdasakapâla). ²

3-4. Learn, also, the following most excellent secret; he will be freed from all sins of all kinds who sprinkles himself with water, reciting the Pavitras, who mutters the eleven (Anuvâkas called) Rudras, who offers burnt oblations of butter, reciting the Pavitras, and gives gold, a cow, and sesamum (to Brâhmanas).

5. He who partakes of boiled barley-gruel, mixed with cow's urine, liquid cowdung, sour milk, milk, and butter, is quickly freed from sin. ⁵

6. Both he who has begotten a child on a Sûdra woman and he who has had connexion with a female, ⁶

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intercourse with whom is forbidden (agamyâ), are purified (if they live) according to this rule during seven days.

7. (That is likewise) the remedy when one has swallowed semen, ordure, and urine, or eaten the food of persons whose food must not be eaten, (and also) when a younger brother has kindled the sacred fire, has offered a Srauta sacrifice, or taken a wife before the elder. ⁷

8. He who has committed even a great number of (wicked) actions, excepting mortal sins, will be freed (by that rule) from all guilt. That is the statement of the virtuous.

9. But (this) ordinance, which is based on the authority of the sacred texts, is stated (to be that) through which Bharadvâga and others became equal to Brahman,

10. Through the performance of these rites a Brâhmana, whose heart is full of peace, obtains whatever desires he may have in his heart.

Footnotes

328:1 6. The hymns are Rig-veda I, 1-10.

328:2 Regarding the Mrigâreshti, see Taitt. Samhitâ IV, 7, 15. In explanation of the term Trihavis, Govinda adds the word Savaneshti.

328:5 Yâvaka, translated, as usually, by barley-gruel, can also denote, as Govinda points out, other dishes made of barley.

328:6 See above, II, 1, 2, 7, 10, 13-14.

329:7 See above, II, 2, 1, 21, 39-40. I follow the reading of M. and of the commentary, paryâdhânegyayor etat parivitte ka bheshagam. The reading of the Dekhan MSS. is etat patite kaiva bhoganam, 'that food must be eaten  and when one has become an outcast.'