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I PRASNA, 3 PATALA, II SECTION, II.
169
7. With the formula), “On the impulse of the god,' &c., he takes a staff of reed (which somebody hands him), and with the formula), 'Thou art the thunderbolt of Indra. O Asvins, protect me!'he thrice wipes it off, upwards from below.
8. With the formula), 'Speed! Make speed away from us those who hate us, robbers, creeping things, beasts of prey, Rakshas, Pisakas. Protect us, O staff, from danger that comes from men; protect us from every danger; from all sides destroy the robbers' (and with the verse), ‘Not naked (i. e. covered with bark) thou art born on all trees, a destroyer of foes. Destroy all hosts of enemies from every side like Maghavan (Indra)'—he swings (the staff) three times from left to right over his head.
9. With the formula), “The divine standingplaces are you. Do not pinch me'-he steps into the shoes.
10. With the formula), Pragâ pati's shelter art thou, the Brahman's covering '-he takes the parasol.
11. With the verse, ‘My staff which fell down in the open air to the ground, that I take up again for the sake of long life, of holiness, of holy lustre'he takes up his staff, if it has fallen from his hand.
End of the Third Patala.
7. He takes the staff with the well-known Savitra formula, On the impulse of the god Savitri ... I take thee.'
9. Asvaldyana III, 8, 19; Paraskara II, 6, 30. 10. Asvalâyana III, 8, 19; Pâraskara II, 6, 29.
II. Instead of yamayushe I propose to read â yushe. Comp. Paraskara II, 2, 12.
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