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II KÂNDA, 6 KANDIKÂ, 12.
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7. Not so that he only knows the ceremonial.
8. But optionally by one who knows the sacrifices (the bath may be taken).
9. (The student) after having embraced (the feet of) his teacher, and put the pieces of wood on the fire, places himself northwards of an enclosure, on eastward-pointed Kusa grass, to the east of eight vessels with water.
10. The fires that dwell in the waters; the fire which must be hidden, the fire which must be covered, the ray of light, the fire which kills the mind, the unwavering one, the pain-causing one, the destroyer of the body, the fire which kills the organs -those I leave behind. The shining one, that I seize here'—with (this formula) he draws water out of one (of the eight vessels);
11. With that he besprinkles himself with (the words), 'Therewith I besprinkle myself for the sake of prosperity, of glory, of holiness, of holy lustre.'
12. (A second time he draws water out of a second of the eight vessels with the formula given in Satra 10, putting instead of the words, 'The shining one, &c.,' the verse): 'By which you have created prosperity, by which you have touched surâ, with which you have anointed the eyes, which is your glory, O Asvins.'
10. As to the names of the eight hostile powers of Agni, comp. Sankhayana-Grihya V, 2; Atharva-veda XIV, I, 38; XVI, 1; Mantrabrâhmana I, 7, 1.
12. The reading of the Mantra seems to be corrupt. Compare the form in which it is given by Bhavadeva, quoted in Professor Stenzler's note on this Satra. Instead of sriyam we have probably to read, as Bhavadeva has, striyam; instead of a kshyau, akshân. Professor Stenzler very pertinently compares Atharva-veda XIV, I, 35. 36. Comp. also Mantrabrâhmana I, 7, 5.
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