290 - Propitiatory rites for curing the ailments of horses

 Śhalihotra said: 

1. O Suśhruta! Listen to me. Ishall describe the three kinds of propitiatory rites for the horses-the daily, the periodical and optional (rites) that would cure the diseases of the horses. 

2. After having worshipped Sridhara (a form of Vishņu), Śri (consort of Vishņu) and Ucchaiḥśravas, the chief among the horses, on an auspicious day, oneshould offer ghee as oblation with (the recitation of the formula) Såvitra (Gayatri). 

3-6a. Then feesshould be paid to the brahmins. Then the horses would increase. The propitiatory rite (should be done) on the fifteenth (lunar) day of the bright fortnight in the (month of) ashvayuk (October-November). Itshould especially be donc outside (the stable). (Lord) Varuņa (water-god)should be worshipped. (A mystic) diagramshould be drawn and (the image of) the goddess (placed at the centre)should be surrounded by branches (of trees). Pitchers filled with all flavours and covered by clothshould be placed at the cardinal points. After offering oblations of barley and clarified butter, the horses and the Aśhvin gods¹should be worshipped. Feesshould be paid to the brahmins. Listen to me! (Ishall now describe) the periodical (rites). 

1. a pair of celestial gods believed to have been born to Sun through a nymph in the form of a mare. 

6b-8. Oneshould worship (Lord) Vishnu, (goddess) Śri (Lakshmi), (Lord) Brahma, (Lord)shankara, (Lord) Soma (Moon), (Lord) Aditya (Sun), the Ashvin gods, Revanta and Ucchaiḥśravas (the horse of Indra) in the constellations) Capricorn etc. for the horses with lotuses. The guardian deities of the cardinal points (should be worshipped) on the petals. Pitchers (should be dedicated) for each one of the (above) deities (and worshipped) on the altar at the auspicious place. After having fasted, oblations of sesamum, unbroken rice, clarified butter and white mustardshould be made a hundred times for everyone of the gods. This act would ward off the diseases of the horses.