ON THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES 



joined, while the prayer denominated from the regent: 

 of water is pronounced : " Becaufe Varuna, king of 



ers, fpread a road for the fun, therefore do I 



Oh ! he made that road in untrod- 



den ("pace, to receive the footfteps of the fun. It is 



who reftrains the heart-rending wicked." The 



li nfe is. " Varuna, king of waters, who curbs the 



ed, nir.de an expanded road in the other real re- 



: to receive the rays of the fun ; I therefore follow 

 that route/' Nexr, previous to fwimming, a fhort 

 prayer muft he meditated : " Salutation to the regent 

 "of -water! paftare the fetters of Varuna." This 

 explained as importing that the difpleafure of 

 Varuna, at a man's traverfing the waters which are 

 his fetters; is averted by falutation : fwimming is 

 re preceded by this addrefs. The prieft ihould 

 next recite the invocation of holy rivers, and thrice 

 throw water on his head from the hollow of both. 

 hands joined, repeating three feveral texts : iff. 

 ki Waters ! remove, this fin, whatever it be, which is 

 " in me ; whether I have done any thing malicious 

 " towards others, or curled them in my heart, or 

 (Jpoken falfehoods." 2d. " Waters ! mothers of 

 '' worlds ! purify us ; cleanfe us by the fprinkled ilniel 

 " ye who purify through libations ; for, ye, divine wa- 

 " ters, do remove every fin." 3d. " As a tired man 

 -' leaves drops of fweat at. the foot of a tree, &c." 

 Again, fwimming and making a circuit through the 

 fouth, this prayer fhould be recited : " May divine 

 " waters be aufpicious to us for accumulation, for 

 " gain, and for refreshing draughts : may they 

 <c lj len to us, that we may be afibciate with o;ood 

 " aufpices." Next reciting the following prayer the 



ft fhould thrice plunge into water : tk O confum- 

 ' mation of folemri rites ! who doft purify when per- 

 " formed by the molt grcivous offenders ; thou doft 

 k; invite the bafefl criminals to purification ; thou 

 " doft expiate the molt heinous crimes. I atone 

 <v for 1 i ia s towards the gods by gratifying them 

 " with oblations and facrilice ; I expiate fins to- 

 44 wards mortals by employing mortal men to ofhci- 



ate 





