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III, 9.
ANASNATPÂRÂYANA.
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30. “Thereby the sages formerly purified themselves and accomplished their objects. That (rite) procures wealth, spiritual merit, sons, cattle, long life, heavenly bliss, and fame; it secures the fulfilment of all desires.'
31. 'He who studies this, becomes the companion of the lunar constellations, of sun and moon, and dwells in their world.'
PRASNA III, Adhyâya 9. 1. Now, therefore, we will explain the rule of the Anasnatpârâyana (recitation of the whole Veda during a fast).
2. Let him wear a clean garment or a dress made of bark (or grass).
3. Let him desire food, fit for a sacrifice, or water. and fruit.
4. Going forth from the village in an easterly or northerly direction, smearing a quadrangular sthandila, 'a bull's hide' in size, with cowdung, sprinkling it, drawing the marks on it, sprinkling it with water, heaping fuel on the fire and scattering (Kusa grass) around it, he offers burnt oblations to the following deities, to Agni Svâhâ, to Pragâpati
9. 2. M. and the MSS. of the commentary read kiravâsâh instead of kiravâsâh, clad with a garment of bark or grass,' and Govinda explains the var. lect. by dressed in old clothes.'
3. This rule refers to the case only where the performer of the vow is unable to bear the prolonged fasting.
4. A sthandila is the raised mound, four fingers high, which is used as the altar for the Grihya ceremonies. Regarding the term,
a bull's hide,' see Vishnu XCII, 2. The marks (lakshana) are the lines which must be drawn on the altar; see e. g. Asvalâyana Grihya-sûtra I, 3, 1,
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