Garbharaksha and Payohinatva: past deeds

In the third month, a bali (offering to spirits) is given to the eleven Rudras. It is given at a place of water, for the protection of the baby. It is made with: milk rice, parched grain, a white flag, gold, cloth and scent.

With this mantra: "The eleven Rudras, as they are named, may accept this offering. For your pleasure it is made. Always protect this pregnant woman."

Next, in the fourth month, a bali (offering to spirits) goes to the twelve Adityas. It is given as before, for the protection of the baby. It is made with: red rice, a flag, scent, flowers, cloth, gold and the like.

"Twelve Adityas, as you are named, accept this offering. By the growth of your radiance, always protect this pregnant woman."

Next, in the fifth month, one makes a Vinayaka (Ganesha) out of cow dung. This is at the foot of a mango tree, for the protection of the baby. The offerings are: cooked and uncooked meat; cooked food; grapes; a honey drink; a grain drink; liquor; sugar; honey; liquorice; sugarcane; sesame paste; incense; parched grain; gold and the like. One wraps the figure in a pair of cloths and worships it. One gives the bali (offering to spirits) with this mantra. (Our text is unclear here: the words for the drinks are not certain.)

"Vinayaka, lord of the hosts, son of Shiva, very strong, accept this offering. Protect this pregnant woman together with her child."

Next, in the sixth month, a bali (offering to spirits) is given to Skanda. It is given at dawn on a river bank, for the protection of the baby. It is made as before, with: milk rice, ghee, sugar, parched grain and turmeric rice. It is given with this mantra.

With this mantra: "Skanda of the six faces, lord of the gods, who makes the joy of children grow, accept this offering. Protect this pregnant woman together with her child."

Next, in the seventh month, a bali (offering to spirits) is given to the eight Vasus on a river bank. It is made with milk rice, parched grain, sugar and ghee. It is adorned with turmeric, a flag and every kind of ornament. The giver wraps his body in a pair of red cloths.

"Prabhasa, Prabhava, Shyama, Pratyusha, Maruta, Anala, Dhruva and Dharadhara: these are called the eight Vasus. Accept this offering. Always protect this pregnant woman."

In the eighth month, a bali (offering to spirits) is given to protect the baby. It goes to Durga, or to the Mothers, by the rule told before. It is made with: curd rice; mung beans; rice cooked with sesame; ghee; cooked and uncooked fish and meat; liquor; sugarcane juice; scent; black cloth; a cock; flowers; incense; a lamp; gold. A full pot that holds a blue lotus goes with it. The giver dresses in red cloth and throws the offering toward the south.

"Goddess of the pitri (ancestors), eldest of the pitri, mother of many sons, very strong. Best among the spirits, dweller of the directions, content, dear to Shaunaka: accept this offering. Protect this pregnant woman together with her child."

In the ninth month, a bali (offering to spirits) is given at dawn, as before, to protect the baby. It is made with curd rice, mung beans and rice cooked with sesame. It is given with this mantra.

"Protect, protect, great god, who show kindness to your devotees, rider of the bird, Govinda. Protect this pregnant woman together with her child."

Next, in the tenth month, the one who gives the offering adorns it as told before. It is made with: milk rice, jaggery, cakes, parched grain, flour and roasted flour. It goes with: a dark flag, black scent, flowers, incense, a lamp, gold, and a full pot with a blue lotus. He worships at the temple of Vasudeva. Then he throws these things at the foot of a tree.

With this mantra: "Trivikrama, whose steps covered the three worlds and their many beings. Proud one, who lifted the great mountain Govardhana." (Our text is unclear here: the long compound about the steps can be read in more than one way.)

"Your nail tips tore open the chest of Hiranyakashipu. By your valour you are the eldest of the gods, red-limbed and very bright."

"Younger brother of Baladeva, eldest, killer of Kamsa and Chanura. With the Garuda banner, foe of the demons, endless, unfailing, four-armed."

"You took the life of Rahu. You hold the discus made by the Sun. You lie on a terrible snake. You are the colour of a blue lotus."

"Your power shows in the conch Panchajanya. You shine with the Kaustubha jewel like the sun. In the form of the boar you once held up the earth well."

"Great-armed one, marked by the bright scars of the Sharnga bowstring. Foe of the demons, without beginning or end, steady one, home of Lakshmi. Accept this offering. Protect this pregnant woman together with her child."

This is the method of protecting a pregnancy.

Next, from karmavipaka (fruit of past deeds), the text gives the cause of lack of milk. The text says that a woman may have stolen milk in a past life. In her next birth her breasts may give no milk. She should give milk rice to priests.

With the water from a priest's feet, she should wash her breasts, saying the Apamarjana stotra (hymn of praise). She should rub her breasts with the leftover food of a priest. She should give a bali (offering to spirits) to the bhutas (spirits): liquor, meat, honey and ghee, with scent, flowers and the like.

She should stir a lump of fresh butter with honey, together with vitunnaka (a plant, name not certain). Saying "this is the group of five bhutas (spirits)", she should set up the bhutas. They are divided as past, future and power.

A woman who steals milk in a past life, though she keeps her vows, finds her breasts give no milk. This is in her next birth.

She should feed priests with milk, with ghee and liquorice. Or she should rub her breasts, with devotion, with the leftover food of the priests. She should also wash her breasts with the water from the priests' feet.