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GRIHYA-SUTRA OF HIRANYAKESIN.
touching it, he would bring upon himself (the guilt of) whatever faults have been committed at that sacrifice. If he touches one (sacrificial post), he should say, 'This is thy wind;' if two (posts), These are thy two winds;' if many (posts), These are thy winds.'
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17. The voices that are heard after us (?) and around us, the praise that is heard, and the voices of the birds, the deer's running (?) athwart that we fear (?) from our enemies'-this (verse) he murmurs when setting out on a road.
18. Like an Udgâtri, O bird, thou singest the Sâman; like a Brahman's son thou recitest thy hymn, when the Soma is pressed.
'A blessing on us, O bird; bring us luck and be kind towards us!'-(This Mantra) he murmurs against an inauspicious bird;
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19. If thou raisest thy divine voice, entering upon living beings, drive away our enemies by thy voice. O death, lead them to death!'-(thus) against a solitary jackal.
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20. Then he throws before the (jackal, as it were), a fire-brand that burns at both ends, towards that region (in which the jackal's voice is heard), with (the words), 'Fire! Speak to the fire! Death! Speak to the death!' Then he touches water,
17. The Mantra is very corrupt. Perhaps anihutam should be corrected into anuhutam, which is the reading of the Âpastambîya Mantrapâtha. In the last Pâda bhayâmasi is corrupt; the meaning seems to be, 'that we (avert from ourselves and) turn it to our enemies.' Probably Dr. Kirste is right in reading bhagâmasi.
18. Comp. Rig-veda II, 43, 2.
19. As to ekasrika, 'solitary jackal,' Âpastamba I, 3, 10, 17 (S. B. E., II, 38). mrigasabdam kurvâna ekasrika ity ukyate.
comp. Bühler's note on Mâtridatta says, srigâlo
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