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XXVI, 25.
PENANCES.
299
14. Offerings of clarified butter (must be made with the help of) the same (texts).
15. At the end of the period of twelve days he shall boil rice and make offerings to the following deities,
16. (Viz.) to Agni svâhâ, to Soma svâhâ, to Agni and Soma (conjointly), to Indra and Agni (conjointly), to Indra, to all the gods, to Brahman, to Pragâpati, (and) to Agni Svishtakrit.
17. Afterwards (he must feed) Brâhmanas.
18. By the above (rules) the Atikrikkhra (or exceedingly difficult) penance has been explained.
19. (But when he performs that), he shall eat (only) as much as he can take at one (mouthful).
20. The third (Krikkhra) is that where water is the (only) food, and it is called Krikkhrâtikrikkhra (or the most difficult penance).
21. He who has performed the first of these (three) becomes pure, sanctified, and worthy (to follow) the occupations (of his caste).
22. He who has performed the second is freed from all sins which he commits, excepting mortal sins (mahâpâtaka).
23. He who has performed the third, removes all guilt.
24. Now he who performs these three Krikkhras becomes perfect in all the Vedas, and known to all the gods;
25. Likewise he who knows this.
18. Sâmavidhâna I, 2, 6. 19. Sâmavidhâna I, 2, 7; Manu XI, 214; Yâgñavalkya III, 320. 20. Sâmavidhâna I, 2, 8; Yâgñavalkya III, 321. 21-23. Sâmavidhâna I, 2, 9. 24-25. Sâmavidhana I, 2, 10. Sarveshu vedeshu snâtah, perfect
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