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262
VISHNU.
LXXXVI, 13.
which must also have been washed and decorated, and he must mutter the Rudras ?, the Purushasûkta, and the Kushmândise.
13. Then let him pronounce in the bull's right ear the Mantra, 'The father of calves;'
14. And the following (Mantras):
15. Holy law is a bull and is declared to have four feet 1: him I choose for the object of my worship; may he protect me wholly.
16. *This young (bull) I give you as husband (O ye calves), roam about sportingly with him for your lover. May we not be deficient in progeny, O king Soma, and may we live long, and may we not be oppressed by our enemies.'
17. He must drive away the bull together with the calves in a north-eastern direction and give a pair of garments, gold, and a vessel made of white copper to the officiating priest.
18. The blacksmith shall receive as wages as much as he claims, and food prepared with a great deal of butter, and (three) Brâhmanas shall be fed.
19. Any pool from which the bull drinks after
12. 1 Taitt. Samh. IV, 5, 1-11. — ? See LVI, 7.
13. Nand. states expressly that this Mantra is from the Kathaka. It is found Kath. XIII, 9; Taitt. Samh. III, 3, 9, 2; Kath. Grihyasûtra XLVII.
15. 1 This term refers perhaps to the four feet of a judicial proceeding. See Narada I, II; 2,9.
16. Taitt. Samh. III, 3, 9, 1, &c. The second half of this Mantra is found in the Kathaka Grihya-sûtra only.
18. The clause regarding the food,' which has been rendered in accordance with Nand.'s Commentary, might also be construed with 'fed,' which would bring the whole into accordance with the precepts of the Kathaka Grihya-sûtra and of the two other Grihyasûtras.
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