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74
GRIHYA-SUTRA OF GOBHILA.
sing to him the (first) Stotriya verse (of the Mahânâmnis).
32. In the same way the two other Stotriya verses (after two-thirds of the time and at the end of the whole time).
33. Or all (the three verses) at the end of the whole (time).
34. He should sing them to (the student) who has fasted and shuts his eyes.
35. Having filled a brass vessel with water, having thrown into it all sorts of herbs, and dipped (the student's) hands into it, the teacher should veil (the student's eyes) from left to right with a (new) garment that has not yet been washed.
36. Or he should sing (the Mahânâmnis to him) immediately after he has veiled (his eyes).
37. With veiled eyes, keeping silence, he should abstain from food through a period of three nights, or through one day and one night.
38. Or he should stand in the forest till sunset (and spend the night in the village).
39. On the next morning he should put wood on the fire in the forest, should sacrifice with the Mahâvyâhritis, and should cause the student to look at (the following objects, viz.)
40. Fire, Âgya, the sun, a Brahman, a bull, food,
water, curds,
41. With (the words), 'The sky have I beheld! Light have I beheld!'
35. Comp. Sânkhâyana-Grihya VI, 3, 7.
36. I. e. the fasting prescribed in Sûtras 34 and 37 may, if they like, follow after the teaching of the sacred song, instead of preceding it.
37. Sankhayana-Grihya II, 12, 6 seq.
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