________________
II PRASNA, I PATALA, 4 SECTION, 17.
215
10. “This, O Varuna' (&c.; see I, chap. 27, Sätra 2, down to): "Hail ! Good luck!' Then let him give a name to the child, of two syllables or of four syllables, beginning with a sonant, with a semi-vowel in it, with a long vowel (or) the Visarga at its end, or a name that contains the particle su, for such a name has a firm foundation ; thus it is understood.
11. Let the father and the mother pronounce (that name) first. For it is understood, 'My name first, O Gâtavedas.'
12. He should give him two names. For it is understood (Taitt. Samh. VI, 3, 1, 3), “Therefore a Brâhmana who has two names, will have success.'
13. The second name should be a Nakshatra name.
14. The one name should be secret; by the other they should call him.
15. He should give him the name Somayagin (i.e. performer of Soma sacrifices) as his third name; thus it is understood.
16. When he returns from a journey, or when his son returns, he touches him with (the formula), With Soma's lustre I touch thee, with Agni's splendour, with the glory of the sun.'
17. With (the formula), · With the humkâra (the mystical syllable hum) of the cattle I kiss thee, N. N.! For the sake of long life and of glory! Hum!' he
11. The verse beginning with 'My name,' &c., contains the words, which my father and my mother have given me in the beginning' (pitâ mâtå ka dadhatur yad agre).
13. Comp. Professor Weber's second article, Die vedischen Nachrichten von den Naxatra' (Abh. der Berliner Akademie), Pp. 316 seq.
17. Comp. above, I, 2, 5, 14.
Digilized by Google
