Verse 2.34 [The Ceremony of ‘First Egress,’ (niṣkramaṇa) and that of ‘First Feeding,’ (annaprāśana)]

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

चतुर्थे मासि कर्तव्यं शिशोर्निष्क्रमणं गृहात् ।
षष्ठेऽन्नप्राशनं मासि यद् वैष्टं मङ्गलं कुले ॥ ३४ ॥

caturthe māsi kartavyaṃ śiśorniṣkramaṇaṃ gṛhāt |
ṣaṣṭhe'nnaprāśanaṃ māsi yad vaiṣṭaṃ maṅgalaṃ kule || 34 ||

In the fourth month should be performed the ceremony of the child’s ‘Egress’ from the room; and in the sixth month the ceremony of ‘Feeding’; or, whatever might be regarded as auspicious in the family.—(34)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘In the fourth month’—from birth—‘should be performed the ceremony of the child’s egress’—being taken out of the room and shown the sun. This implies that for three months the child should he kept in the lying-in room itself.

The common name ‘child’ is used, with a view to include the śūdra also.

Similarly ‘in the sixth month,’ the ceremony of First Feeding on grains. For five months the child should he kept purely on milk.

‘Or, whatever might be regarded as auspicious’—conducive to welfare—‘in the family’ of the child; such well-known rites, for instance, as making offerings to Pūṭanā, to Śakunika, to certain trees, etc., etc. This may he done at specified times.

This last clause is meant to apply to all ceremonies; so that the naming also may he done according to family custom, even though it be not in strict conformity with the rules laid down above. Hence with different families, such names become possible as—‘Indrasvāmī,’ ‘Indraśarman’ ‘Indrabhūti,’ ‘Indrarāta,’ Indraviṣṇu,’ ‘Indradeva,’ ‘Indrajyotiṣ,’ ‘Indrayaśaṣ,’ and so forth.—(34)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

‘Yadveṣṭam maṅgalam kule’—Medhātithi, along with Govindarāja and Kullūka, takes this as applicable to all the sacraments.—‘Kula’ is family, not tribe.

The first half of the verse is quoted in Parāśaramādhava (Ācāra, p. 442), and the second half in Madanapārijāta (p. 360) and in Vīramitrodaya (Saṃskāra, p. 267), which latter remarks that this option regarding family-custom applies only to the sacrament of the First Feeding. The verse is quoted in

Smṛticandrikā (Saṃskāra, pp. 55 and 57), which adds that the ‘Gṛha,’ ‘house,’ means the one in which birth has taken place;—in Gadādharapaddhati (Kālasāra, p. 218);—and in Nṛsiṃhaprasāda (Saṃskāra, p. 366).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Viṣṇu, 1.1.5.—‘In the fourth month, showing of the Sun; and in the sixth the feeding on grains.’

Yājñavalkva, 1.12.—‘During the fourth month the Going Out; during the sixth the feeding on grains.’

Āśvalāyana-Gṛhyasūtrā, 1.16.1.—‘During the sixth month, feeding on grains.’

Pāraskara-Gṛhyasūtra, 1.17.19-5.1.—‘The rite of Going Out during the fourth month, and the feeding on grains during the sixth month.’

Bhaviṣya-Burāṇa (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 250).—‘On the twelfth day the taking out of the baby from the house.’

Bṛhaspati (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 250).—‘The Going Out on the twelfth day, during the third month.’

Laugākṣi (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 250).—‘The showing of the Sun during the third fortnight; and the feeding on grains, during the sixth month, on the cutting of teeth’ (p. 267).

Yama (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 250).—‘During the third month should be done the showing of the Sun, and the showing of the Moon during the fourth month; the Going Out during the fourth month.’

[The several texts prescribing the third and the fourth month for this Rite are to be reconciled as referring respectively to the showing of the Sun and the showing of the Moon.]

Yama (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 267).—‘The feeding on grains should be done during the sixth or eighth month.’

Āśvalāyana (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 250).—‘The Going Out of the baby should be performed during the fourth month, and during the sixth month it may be carried to the temples of gods.’

Āśvalāyana (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 267).—‘The feeding on grains is to be done during the sixth month, or during the even months succeeding.’

Śaunaka (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 250).—‘During the fourth or the sixth month is to be performed the Going Out of the baby by the father or guardian.’

Nārada (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 267).—‘The best time for the feeding on grains is during the sixth solar month; if it is not done during that month, it should be done during either the eighth or the ninth or the tenth or the twelfth month.’ [The ninth month is prescribed with special reference to girls.]

Nārada (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 269).—‘The first feeding on grains should be for males during the sixth month and for females, during the fifth or seventh month; or during the eighth, ninth or tenth month.’

Śaṅkha-Likhita (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 268).—‘The feeding on grains on the lapse of a year.’

Śaṅkha (Aparārka, p. 268).—‘Feeding on grains after one year; or after half-year, say some.’

Bṛhaspati (Aparārka, p. 26S).—‘The feeding on grains is to be done after the 150th and before the 180th day.’

[Of the various alternatives laid down, one should adopt that which is in accordance with the practice in his family.]

Vaśiṣṭha (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 268).—‘The feeding on grains of male babies should be done during the even months, and that of female babies during the odd months.’

As regards the food to be given, says Āśvalāyana (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 276).—‘During the sixth month one should feed the baby with grains mixed with goat-meat, or partridge-meat, or rice mixed with butter, or rice mixed with curd, or rice mixed with honey, or grains mixed with curd and butter.’

Śāṅkhāyaua-Gṛhyasūtra (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 277).—‘The first feeding during the sixth month, with goat-meat or partridge-meat or fish or butter-rice or rice mixed with curd, honey and butter.’

Mārkaṇḍeya (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 275).—‘The child should be fed on rice cooked in milk.’

Purāṇa (Aparārka, p. 25).—‘During the fourth month, the child shall be shown the moon; O King, the taking out of the house should be done on the twelfth day; such is the opinion of some people.’

Lokāksi (? Laugākṣi; Parāśaramādhava, p. 442).—‘Showing of the sun during the third fortnight.’