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174
GRIHYA-SUTRA OF HIRANYAKESIN.
highest form of honey may I become highest, honied, and an enjoyer of food.' He partakes of it three times with (the formula), 'I eat thee for the sake of brilliancy, of luck, of glory, of power, and of the enjoyment of food,' and gives the remainder to a person who is kindly disposed towards him.
9. Or he may eat the whole (Madhuparka). Then he sips water with (the formula), 'Thou art the covering of Ambrosia.'
10. Then he utters to him the announcement, "The cow!'
11. That (cow) is either killed or let loose.
12. If he chooses to let it loose, (he murmurs), *This cow will become a milch cow.
*The mother of the Rudras, the daughter of the Vasus, the sister of the Adityas, the navel of immortality. To the people who understand me, I say, “Do not kill the guiltless cow, which is Aditi.”
Let it drink water! Let it eat grass '
(And) gives order (to the people), Om! Let it loose.'
13. If it shall be killed, (he says), 'A cow art thou; sin is driven away from thee. Drive away my sin and the sin of N. N.! Kill ye him whoever hates me. He is killed whosoever hates me. Make (the cow) ready!'
14. If (the cow) is let loose, a meal is prepared with other meat, and he announces it (to the guest) in the words, . It is ready!'
9. Asvalâyana I, 21, 27. 28. .
10 seq. Âsvalâyana I, 21, 30 seq.; Paraskara I, 3, 26 seq. ; Sankhâyana II, 15, 2. 3 note; Gobhila IV, 10, 18 seq.
13. N. N., of course, means the host's name. 14 seq. Comp. Gobhila I, 3, 16 seq.; Âpastamba II, 2, 3, II.
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