And should bathe the bull and young cow with the water from the pot of Rudra, and, having worshipped them with fragrances and garlands, walk round them.

He should [mark] the right side with the trident of S'iva and the, left side with a discus. Having released the bull, the son, with hands folded together, should recite this mantra:--

"Thou art Justice in the form of a bull. Thou wert formerly created by Brahma. On account of your being released, help over this ocean of existence!"

Having thus bowed to it, with this mantra, he should release the bull and the young cow. "I shall always be the grantor of boons to you, and will give release to the departed."

43. Therefore this should be done. Its fruit comes even during life. The man who has no son, doing it himself, goes easily to the highest condition.

44-45. In the month of Kartika and in other auspicious months, when the sun is going north, in the bright fortnight, or the dark on the twelfth and following days,

In the two eclipses, at a sacred bathing place, at the equinoctial and solstitial points, one should perform the dedication of a bull.

46-49. At the hour when the sun enters an auspicious constellation, and in a pure place, a Brahmin who knows the rites and has the auspicious signs should be invited.

By recitation, by fire-offerings, likewise by gifts, the purification of the body should be done. As in the former case, all the rites should be done; such as the fire-offering and the rest;

And having placed a S'alagrama one should do the Vaisnava S'raddha, and then perform the S'raddha for himself and give gifts to the twice-born.

He who does this, O Bird, whether having a son or not, by the performance of the dedication of a bull obtains the fruit of all his desires.

50. That condition which is obtained by the performance of the release of a bull, is not reached by oblations to the fire and other sacrifices, nor by manifold gifts.

51-53. The sins which are committed in infancy, in childhood, in youth, in manhood and in old age are destroyed, without doubt, by the dedication of a bull.

The betrayer of friends, the ungrateful, the drinker of intoxicants, he who goes with his teacher's wife, the slayer of a Brahmin, the stealer of gold are all absolved by the dedication of a bull.

Therefore should one perform the bull sacrifice with all diligence, O Tarksya; there is no merit in all the three worlds equal to that from the dedication of a bull.

54. If a woman, having a husband and a son, predeceases both, the dedication of a bull should not be performed,--one should present a milk-giving cow.

55-56. He who burdens a bull on the shoulder or on the back, falls into a dreadful hell, O bird! until the coming of the deluge.