Praśna I, Paṭala 2, Section 6

1. (This verse the teacher) murmurs in (the boy's) right ear;

2. (The verse), 'Life-giving, Agni' (Taitt. Saṃh. I, 3, 14, 4) in his left ear.

3.^[1] Both times he adds (to the verses quoted in the last Sūtras the formula), 'Stand fast in Agni and on the earth, in Vāyu and in the air, in Sūrya and in heaven. The bliss in which Agni, Vāyu, the sun, the moon, and the waters go their way, in that bliss go thy way, N.N.! Thou hast become the pupil of breath, N.N.!'

4.^[2] Approaching his mouth to (the boy's) mouth he murmurs, 'Intelligence may Indra give thee, intelligence the goddess Sarasvatī. Intelligence may the two Aśvins, wreathed with lotus, bestow on thee.'

5.^[3] He then gives (the boy) in charge (to the gods and demons, with the formulas), 'To Kashaka (?) I give thee in charge. To Antaka I give thee in charge. To Aghora ("the not frightful one") I give thee in charge. To Disease . . . to Yama . . . to Makha . . . to Vaśinī ("the ruling goddess") . . . to the earth together with Vaiśvānara . . . to the waters . . . to the herbs . . . to the trees . . . to Heaven and Earth . . . to welfare . . . to holy lustre . . . to the Viśve devās . . . to all beings . . . to all deities I give thee in charge.'

6.^[4] He now teaches him the Sāvitrī, if he has (already) been initiated before.

7. If he has not been initiated (before, he teaches him the Sāvitrī) after three days have elapsed.

8. (He does so) immediately, says Pushkarasādi.

9.^[5] Having placed to the west of the fire a bunch of grass with its points directed towards the north, (the teacher) sits down thereon, facing the east, with (the formula), 'A giver of royal power art thou, a teacher's seat. May I not withdraw from thee.'

10. The boy raises his joined hands towards the sun, embraces (the feet of) his teacher, sits down to the south (of the teacher), addresses (him), 'Recite, sir!' and then says, 'Recite the Sāvitrī, sir!'

11. Having recited over (the boy the verse), 'We call thee, the lord of the hosts' (Taitt. Saṃh. II, 3, 14, 3), he then recites (the Sāvitrī) to him, firstly Pāda by Pāda, then hemistich by hemistich, and then the whole verse (in the following way),

'Bhūs! Tat Savitur vareṇyaṃ (That adorable splendour)—

'Bhuvo! Bhargo devasya dhīmahi (of the divine Savitṛ may we obtain)—

'Suvar! Dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt (who should rouse our prayers).—

'Bhūr bhuvas! Tat Savitur vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi—

'Suvar! Dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt.—

'Bhūr bhuvaḥ suvas! Tat Savitur . . . pracodayāt.'

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

6, 3. Āśvalāyana I, 20, 8.

[2]:

Āśvalāyana I, 15, 2; 22, 26; Pāraskara II, 4, 8.

[3]:

Comp. Śāṅkhāyana II, 3, 1; Pāraskara II, 2, 21. The name p. 154 in the first section of the Mantra is spelt Kashakāya and Kaśakāya. Comp. Mantra-Brāhmaṇa I, 6, 22: Kṛśana, idaṃ te paridadāmy amum; Atharva-veda IV, 10, 7: Karśanas tvābhirakṣatu.

[4]:

'A repetition of the initiation takes place as a penance.' Mātṛdatta.

[5]:

9-11. Comp. Śāṅkhāyana II, 5, &c.