Praśna 3, Section 9

1. Each following night with an even number, from the fourth (after the beginning of her monthly illness) till the sixteenth, brings more excellent offspring to them, if chosen for the (first) cohabiting after her illness; thus it is said.

2. If he sneezes or coughs while going about on business, he should touch water and should murmur the two following (verses; M. I, 13, 5. 6) according to the characteristics (which they contain).

3. In the same way with the next (Mantras—M. I, 13, 7-10—he should address the following objects), according to the characteristics (which those Mantras contain): a conspicuous tree, a heap of excrements, the skirt (of his garment) which is blown against him by the wind, and a shrieking bird.

4. One (for instance, the wife's father) who wishes that the hearts of both (husband and wife) may be in accord should observe chastity through at least three nights and should prepare a Sthālīpāka. Then (the ceremonies) from the putting (of wood) on (the fire) down to the Ājyabhāga oblations (are performed), and while the wife takes hold of him, he sacrifices of the Sthālīpāka the oblations (indicated by the) next (Mantras; M. I, 14, 1-7); then he enters upon the performance of the Jaya and following oblations, and performs (the rites) down to the sprinkling (of water) round (the fire). (The remains of) the (sacrificial food) with butter, he should give to eat to an even number of Brāhmaṇas, at least to two, and should cause them to pronounce wishes for his success.

5.^[1] When the moon, on the following day, will be in conjunction with Tiṣya, she strews three times seven barley-grains around (the plant) Clypea Hernandifolia with (the formula), 'If thou belongest to Varuṇa, I redeem thee from Varuṇa. If thou belongest to Soma, I redeem thee from Soma.'

6. On the following day she should set upright (the plant) with the next (verse; M. I, 15, 1), should recite the next three (verses; M. I, 15, 2-4) over it, should tie (its root) with the next (verse; M. I, 15, 5) to her hands so that (her husband) does not see it, and should, when they have gone to bed, embrace her husband with her arms, with the verse alluding to the word upadhāna ('putting on;' M. I, 15, 6).

7. Thus he will be subject to her.

8. By this (rite) also (a wife) overcomes her co-wives.

9. For this same purpose she worships the sun daily with the next Anuvāka (M. I, 16).

10. If a wife is affected with consumption or is otherwise sick, one who has to observe chastity, should rub her limbs with young lotus leaves which are still rolled up, and with lotus roots, with the next (formulas, limb by limb) according to the characteristics (contained in those formulas; M. I, 17, 1-6), and should throw away (the leaves and roots) towards the west.

11. With the next (verses; M. I, 17, 7-10) he should give the wife's garment (which she has worn at the wedding [?]) to (a Brāhmaṇa) who knows this (ceremony).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

9, 5. Comp. Gobhila II, 6, 6 seq.