263 - Appeasing rites for portents

Pushkara said:

         1. The srisūkta¹ of each Veda is known to be capable of increasing fortune. The fifteen hymns (beginning with) hiranyavarņam hariņim² (are considered to be conferring) fortune. 

1. The Atharvaņa hymns.

2. RV. Kh. 5.87.1a.

2.The four hymns ratheshvakseshu vrushabha³ in the Yajur (Veda) (are said to confer) fortune. The Sama hymns sråvantiyam⁴ is the Srisūkta in the Sāmaveda. 

3. Vidh. 65.7.

4. Cf. Srayantaiva, Vaj. Sam. 33.41a.

3. In the same way, (the hymn) Sriyam dhātarmayi dhehi⁵ in the Atharvaveda is said (to be conferring fortune). One who repeats the srisūkta with devotion and offers oblation gets fortune. 

5. Ap.Sr.6.20.2.

4. One will get fortune by offering oblations of lotuses, bilva (leaves), clarified butter and sesamum. The purushasūkta⁶ is the same for each one of the Vedas. It gives everything. 

6. RV. 10.90.1a. 

5. If libation of water is presented with the recitation of) each one of the hymns, it will make one free from sin. One will destroy his sins by offering flowers to Vishnu with each one (of the hymns) after bathing. 

6. One would get all the pleasures by giving away a fruit with each one (of the hymns) after bathing. By the repetition of the Purushasukta major and minor sins are destroyed. 

7. One gets everything by repeating the krucchra (hymns) and offering oblations (with them) after becoming clean by bathing. Three other appeasing (hymns) besides the eighteen appeasing (hymns) are excellent. 

8-10. Amrutå, abhaya and saumyå destory all the calamities. Amrutå (is governed) by all the gods. Abhaya (is governed) by Brahma and Saumya by all gods. Any one (of them will) confer all the pleasures. O Foremost among Bhrgus! The wristlet with the Varuņa (hymn) is to be prepared for the abhaya appeasement. Similarly satakāņda is (for the wristlet) for amruta and conch for saumyā. In order to accomplish (the desired results) the respective hymns of the deitiesshould be used for the wristlets. 

11-13. These are capable of destroying the calamities relating to the heavens, atmosphere and earth. Listen to me! (Ishall describe) the supernatural events relating to the heavens, atmosphere and the earth. You learn from me that (the phenomena) relating to the heavens are caused by the ruling asterisms of the day. (Those) of the sky are the fall of a meteor, scorching glow in the directions, the halo around the sun or moon, (the appearance of) fairy towns and rains. (The phenomena) relating to the earth are the extraordinary events affecting the movable and immovable things and earthquake. 

14. The portent will not bear any fruit if it rains within seven days. A portent without any appeasement within three years is very dangerous. 

15-16a. The images of gods will dance,shake, glow,shout, weep, perspire and laugh. (These are portents.) The changes in the images can be pacified by worshipping (lord) Prajapati (Brahma) and offering oblations. 

16b-17. When there is blaze in a country without fire, with loud noise and without fuel that burns, that country will be tormented by kings. O Son of Bhrugu! The change in the fire is appeased with the hymns of Fire (god). 

18. When the trees bear fruit out of season, ooze out milk and blood, oneshould do the appeasing rite for the portents after worshipping (Lord)shiva. 

19-20a. Both excessive rains and drought are considered to give rise to famine. Rain occurring consecutively for three days out of season is known (to be a portent) of danger. The change in the pattern of) rain is nullified by the worship of Parjanya (Rain god), Moon and Sun. 

20b-21. If rivers recede from the cities or come near them, if they flow gushing forth or get dried up, then the Varuņa hymnshould be recited as also in the case of deterioration in the (state of) the reservoirs. 

22-23a. The women may deliver prematurely or may not deliver at the appropriate time. They may deliver children with deformities or deliver twins etc. Oneshould worship the women and brahmins in the case of such deviations in the delivery (as above). 

23b-25a. If a mare orshe-elephant or cow gives birth to twins or to deformed younger or to ones different from the species, it will die within six months. In the case of deformed youngs there will be danger from hostile forces. The recitation and oblation as well as worship of brahminsshould be done (in such cases). 

25b-26a. If vehicles run without being yoked (to steeds), if (vehicles) yoked (to steeds) do not run, or trumpet sounds (are heard) in the sky, then it forebodes great impending danger. 

26b-30a. If wild animals and birds enter village and those of village enter forest; land (animals) enter water and water (animals) enter land, vixens howl at the threshold of a palace, cocks crow at pradosha (the time preceding the night fall) ; vixens howl at the residence or at the rising Sun; dove enters the house, carnivorous birds stoop down on the head; bees make sweet (sound); crows mate in sight; strong arches of palace, garden, door-ways, corridor and mansions fall without an obvious cause, it forebodes evil. .(It forcbodes) the death of the king. 

30b-31. If the quarters are filled by dust or smoke, if (the country is) under the influence of the descending node, if spots in the moon and sun are visible, or if the stars and planets are not to be seen, it also indicates fear. 

32. Where the fire does not glow, the waterpots ooze, there is the fear of death and witchcraft as the result of the portents. The portent is appeased by the worship of brahmins and gods, recitation of hymns and offer of oblations.