PRASNA II, PATALA 8, SECTION 18.
1. Now we shall explain the opening and the conclusion (of the annual course of study).
2. 2 During the fortnight that precedes the Sravanâ
8 During the fortnight that precedes the Taishî full moon, under (the Nakshatra) Rohinî or on the full-moon day (itself), the Utsarga (or conclusion of the term of study) is celebrated.
9 (The teacher) with his pupils goes in an easterly or northerly direction, and where they find a pleasant water with a pleasant bathing-place, they dive into it and perform three suppressions of the breath with the Agharmarshana hymn (Rig-veda X, 190 = Taitt. Ar. X, 1, 13. 14.). Holding purifiers (i.e. Darbha blades) in their hands they bathe with the three (verses), 'Ye waters, ye are wholesome' (Taitt. Samh. IV, 1, 5, 1), with the four (verses), 'The gold-coloured, pure, purifying waters' (T.S.V, 6, 1, 1 seq.), and with the Anuvâka, '(Soma) which clears itself, the heavenly being' (Taitt. Br. I, 4, 8): giving the Darbha blades to each other and feigning to try to seize (??) each other.
10. Then they arrange on a pure spot that is inclined towards the east, seats of eastward-pointed Darbha grass, so that they end in the north—
Footnotes
241:2 18, 2. Sravanâpaksha means, according to Mâtridatta, srâvanapûrvapaksha, 242:8 As to taishîpaksha, comp. the note on Sûtra 2.
243:9 On the last words of this Sûtra, Mâtridatta says, ditsanta iveti dâtum ikkhanta ivânyonyam prati. athavâ âditsanta iveti pâthah. âditsanto mushnanta ivânyonyam.—Professor Kielhorn's text MS. has, âtsamta ivânyonyam; Professor Bühler's text MS., ditsamta ivânyonyam.
