1. When he has first seen the new moon, he sips water, and holding (a pot of) water (in his hands) he worships (the moon) with the four (verses), 'Increase' (Taitt. Samh. I, 4, 32), 'May thy milk' (ibid. IV, 2, 7, 4), 'New and new again (the moon) becomes, being born' (ibid. II, 4, 14, 1), 'That Soma which the Âdityas make swell' (ibid. II, 4, 14, 1).
3. 3 If the skirt (of his garment) is blown upon him (by the wind), he murmurs, 'A skirt art thou. Thou art not a thunderbolt. Adoration be to thee. Do no haft to me.'
4. He should tear off a thread (from that skirt) and should blow it away with his mouth.
5. 5 If a bird has befouled him with its excrements, he murmurs, 'The birds that timidly fly together with the destroyers, shall pour out on me happy, blissful splendour and vigour.'
Then let him wipe off that (dirt) with something else than his hand, and let him wash himself with water.
6. 6 'From the sky, from the wide air a drop of water has fallen down on me, bringing luck. With my senses, with my mind I have united myself, protected by the prayer that is brought forth by the righteous ones'—this (verse) he should murmur, if a drop of water unexpectedly falls down on him.
7. 7 'If a fruit has fallen down from the top of a tree, or from the air, it is Vâyu (who has made it fall). Where it has touched our bodies or the garment, (there) may the waters drive away destruction'—this (verse) he should murmur, if a fruit unexpectedly falls down on him.
8. 8 'Adoration to him who dwells at the cross-roads,
15. The same during the night, if the sun sets whilst he sleeps.
16. 16 Let him not touch a sacrificial post. By
18. 18 'Like an Udgâtri, O bird, thou singest the Sâman; like a Brahman's son thou recitest thy hymn, when the Soma is pressed.
'A blessing on us, O bird; bring us luck and be kind towards us!'—(This Mantra) he murmurs against an inauspicious bird;
19. 19 'If thou raisest thy divine voice, entering upon living beings, drive away our enemies by thy voice. O death, lead them to death!'—(thus) against a solitary jackal.
20. Then he throws before the (jackal, as it were), a fire-brand that burns at both ends, towards that region (in which the jackal's voice is heard), with (the words), 'Fire! Speak to the fire! Death! Speak to the death!' Then he touches water,
179:7 Probably we should write agîtâkshî. 179:8 Mâtridatta says, prativâdinam abhigapaty eva. 179:16 This chapter contains different Prâyaskittas. 180:2 Âsvalâyana-Grihya. III, 6, 7. 180:3 Pâraskara III, 15, 17. 180:5 I propose to read, nirrithaih saha. 180:6 Atharva-veda VI, 124, 1. Read sukritâm kritena. 180:7 Atharva-veda VI, 124, 2. The Atharva-veda shows the way to correct the corrupt third Pâda. 180:8 8 seq. Comp. Pâraskara III, 15, 7 seq. 181:14 14, 15. Âpastamba II, 5, 1 2, 13. 14; Gobhila III, 3, 34, &c. 181:16 Gobhila III, 3, 34. Should it be esha te vâyur iti? 182:17 The Mantra is very corrupt. Perhaps anihûtam should be corrected into anuhûtam, which is the reading of the Âpastambîya Mantrapâtha. In the last Pâda bhayâmasi is corrupt; the meaning seems to be, 'that we (avert from ourselves and) turn it to our enemies.' Probably Dr. Kirste is right in reading bhagâmasi. 182:18 Comp. Rig-veda II, 43, 2. 182:19 As to ekasrika, 'solitary jackal,' comp. Bühler's note on Âpastamba I, 3, 10, 17 (S.B.E., II, 38). Mâtridatta says, srigâlo mrigasabdam kurvâna ekasrika ity ukyate.
