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I, 4, 7. THE WATERPOT.
163 15. Baudhayana (says), 'Or if on the occasion of each personal purification (he washes himself with other water) up to the wrist, (he will become) pure.'
16. Now they quote also (the following verses):
PRASNA I, Adhyâya 4, KANDIKÂ 7. 1. 'Formerly (the use of) a waterpot has been prescribed by Brahman and the chief sages for the purification of twice-born men. Therefore he shall always. carry one.'
'He who desires his own welfare, shall use it without hesitation, for purifying (his person), for drinking, and for performing his twilight devotions.'
2. Let him do it with a believing heart; a wise man must not corrupt his mind. The self-existent
literally, it is distinctly known,' always indicates that the passage quoted is taken from the Veda. The rites for which water from the waterpot is not to be used, are libations to the manes, the gods, and the fire. See also below, I, 4, 7, 5.
15. The words enclosed between parentheses are Govinda's.
7. 1. The division of this chapter into two sections occurs in the M. manuscript only. The Dekhan MSS., which give the division into Kandikâs, do not note it, and have at the end of the Prasna the figure 20, while M. has 21 and in words ekavimsatih after the enumeration of the Pratikas.
2. A wise man must not corrupt his mind,' i. e. must not doubt or adopt erroneous views regarding the teaching of the Sâstras with respect to the waterpot. It seems to me that this passage indicates the existence of an opposition to the constant carrying of the waterpot in Baudhayana's times. This is so much more probable, as the custom is now obsolete, and is mentioned in some Puranas and versified Smritis as one of the practices forbidden in the Kali age; see e.g. the general note appended to Sir W. Jones' translation of Manu.
M 2
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