Sankhayana-grihya-sutra

by Hermann Oldenberg | 1886 | 37,785 words

The Grihya-sutra ascribed to Shankhayana, which has been edited and translated into German in the XVth volume of the "Indische Studien", is based on the first of the four Vedas, the Rig-veda in the Bashkala recension, and among the Brahmana texts, on the Kaushitaka. Alternative titles: Śāṅkhāyana-gṛhya-sūtra (शाङ्खायन-गृह्य-सूत्र), Shank...

Adhyāya VI, Khaṇḍa 3

1. Now after they have entered the circle—

2[1]. The teacher sits down with his face to the east, the others, according to their rank, (sit down) towards the south, with their faces to the north.

3. If that is impossible, with their faces to all directions.

4. Let them expect the rising of the sun,

5. And when they behold it in its splendour,

6[2]. Let them with (the words), 'Recite, sir!' seize with their hands, holding the right hand uppermost, the feet of the teacher, which have been washed, with the right (hand) the right (foot), with the left the left,

7[3]. And having then put (the hands) into the vessel used for the expiation, into water in which pieces of Dūrvā stalks are, let them begin their study, when their hands have ceased to drip.

8. This is the rite. But when they are tired, let one of them bring it about that the vessel used for the expiation be not empty.

9. And all (should do so) at the beginning and the end of (each) Adhyāya.

10[4]. (All) that is done continuously, without interruption.

11. Now the expiation.

12[5]. The syllable OM, the Mahāvyāhṛtis, the Sāvitrī, the Rathantara, the Bṛhat, the Vāmadevya; Bṛhat and Rathantara with repetition and Kakubh-forming.

13[6]. These (holy words and verses) are (thus) made to attain (the number of) ten.

14[7]. 'Of decades consists the Virāj'—thus says the Brāhmaṇa.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

3, 2, 3. Comp. IV, 8, 2-4.

[2]:

Comp. above, II, 5, 10, &c.

[3]:

The translation of apinvamānaiḥ pāṇibhiḥ is conjectural. Nārāyaṇa's explanation of apinvamāna by asaṃsṛṣṭa is inadmissible.

[4]:

Nārāyaṇa explains this Sūtra in the following way. if it is impossible, for any reason, to recite the whole text, only the beginning and the concluding words of each Adhyāya (see Sūtra 9) are to be repeated; and these should be recited without interruption so as to form one continual text.

[5]:

Comp. above, III, 4, 5.

[6]:

The Gāyatrī is one verse; the Rathantara and the Bṛhat are Pragāthas which are changed in the usual way into Tṛcas; the Vāmadevya is one Tṛca: thus the number of ten is obtained.

[7]:

Kaush. Brāhmaṇa 17, 3; 19, 5.

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