History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c51.68

v3.c51.68

About 250 verses²⁵⁷⁸ are set out by Āśv. for being recited in the Uṣas kratu and about 407 in the Āśvina kratu of the prātaranuvāka (in all about 2000 verses i. e. nearly one-fifth of the whole of the Ṛgveda). The prātaranuvāka is to be recited in the low or base (mandra) scale (Āśv. IV. 13. 6). Āśv. further directs that even when the minimum of 100 verses or any number short of the one prescribed by him are recited, the order of the hymns set out by him is to be followed and that the three hymns Ṛg. VII. 12 (to Agni in Triṣṭubh), VII. 73 (to Aśvins in Triṣṭubh) and I. 112 (to Aśvins in Jagatī) are called maṅgala (auspicious) and that if the darkness of night is still there when he is about to finish the prātaranuvāka he should go on repeating Ṛg. I. 112 till sun-light appears (Āśv. IV. 15. 7 and 9).