﻿2SS ON THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES 



worlds : IMay this oblation to the solar planet be 

 efficacious. " 



<2. "Gods! produce that [^Mooii] which has no 

 foe, wliich is the son of the solar orb, and be^ 

 came the offspring of space, for the benefit of this 

 world *; produce it for the advancement of know- 

 ledge, fax protection from danger, for vast supre- 

 macy, fjr empire, and for the sake of Ixgra's or- 

 gans of sense : May this oblation to the lunar 

 planet be efficacious." 



3. " This gem of the sky, whose head resembles 

 fire, is the lord of waters, and replenishes the seeds 

 of the earth : May this oblation to the planet Mars 

 be efficacious." 



4. " Be roused O fire! and thou [O Bud'ha] ! 

 perfect this sacrificial rite, and associate with us ; 



Jet tliis votary and all the Gods sit in this most 

 excellent assembly. May this oblation to the 

 planet ]\Jercury be efficacious." 



5. " O VrIhaspati, sprung from eternal truth, 

 confer on us abundantly that various wealth 

 "which the most venerable of beings may revere; 

 which shines gloriously amongst all people, which 

 serves to defray sacrifices, which is preserved by 

 strengtii. I^Iay this oblation to the planet Jupiter 

 be efficacious." 



6. " The lord of creatures drank the invigorating 

 essence distilled from food ; he drank milk; and 

 the juice of the moon plant. By means of scrip- 

 ture, 



* According to one legend, a ray of the sun, called sjishnmna, be- 

 came the moon ; according to another, a ilafh of light from the eye of 

 Atri vas received by space, a goddefs ; she conceived and bore Soma, 

 who is therefore called a fon of Atri. This legend may be found in 

 the Hari'vans'a. C a' L IDA'S a alludes to it in the Raghwvans'ay 

 (b. 2. V. 75) comparing oudacshin'a', when she conceived Raghu, 

 to the via lactea receiving the luminary which sprung from tlie eye 

 of Atri, 



