Rāhu

Like Rohiṇī, the beloved wife of the enemy of Rāhu — though radiant with splendor — oppressed and afflicted by a planet that had risen against her.

Seeing them flee, Khara turned them back in fury, then himself rushed directly at Rāma, as Rāhu rushes at the moon.

"Then, once those two have gone away and the place is empty, I shall carry off Sītā at my ease without hindrance, as Rāhu seizes the moon's radiance.

> At the junction of the full moon and Pratipad (*Pratipad* (प्रतिपद्)), Rāhu (*Rāhuḥ* (राहुः)) with a full disc / > swallows the moon, and the sun at the junction of the new moon and Pratipad (*Pratipad* (प्रतिपद्)).

> For all social classes, there is ritual impurity (*sūtakaṃ* (सूतकं)) at the sight of Rāhu (*Rāhu* (राहु)).

> The ancestral rite (*śrāddham* (श्राद्धम्)) given at the sight of Rāhu (*Rāhu* (राहु)) lasts as long as the moon and stars.

Just as Rāhu, though invisible [in himself], becomes manifest when he rests upon the disc of the moon, so this Self, though all-pervading, [becomes manifest] in the mirror of the intellect by taking on objects.

As Rāhu, though [himself] invisible, becomes manifest to the world when [he] stands upon the disc of the moon, so the {{ātman / paramātman|Self}}, though all-pervading, comes into view when [reflected as] resident in the intellect (buddhi).

Bathing at night is not praised, except for the sighting of Rāhu (an eclipse).

All water is equal to the Gaṅgā when the sun is seized by Rāhu (a solar eclipse).

At the birth of a son, at a sacrifice, and likewise at a rite of great urgency, and at the sighting of Rāhu, charity is praised at night, but not at other times.

/ > But it should be performed even at those times, if there is a sighting of Rāhu (an eclipse).