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GRIHYA-SÚTRA OF HIRANYAKESIN.
9. On that (skin) they both sit down facing the east or the north, so that the wife sits behind her husband, with (the verse), 'Here may the cows sit down, here the horses, here the men. Here may also Pashan with a thousand (sacrificial) gifts sit down.'
10. They sit silently until the stars appear.
11. When the stars have appeared, he goes forth from the house (with his wife) in an easterly or northerly direction, and worships the quarters (of the horizon) with the hemistich), Ye goddesses, ye six wide ones' (Taitt. Samh. IV, 7, 14, 2).
12. (He worships) the stars with (the Pâda), May we not be deprived of our offspring ;'
13. The moon with (the Pâda), May we not get into the power of him who hates us, O king Soma!'
14. He worships the seven Rishis (ursa major) with (the verse), · The seven Rishis who have led to firmness she, Arundhati, who stands first among the six Krittikâs (pleiads) :-may she, the eighth one, who leads the conjunction of the moon with the) six Krittikâs, the first (among conjunctions) shine upon us!' Then he worships the polar star with (the formula), 'Firm dwelling, firm origin. The firm one art thou, standing on the side of firmness. Thou art the pillar of the stars; thus protect me against my adversary.
Adoration be to the Brahman, to the firm, immovable one! Adoration be to the Brahman's son, Pragâpati! Adoration to the Brahman's children,
9. Comp. Påraskara I, 8, 10, and the readings quoted there from the Atharva-veda.
12, 13. These are the two last Padas of the verse of which the first hemistich is quoted in Satra II.
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