Dhammapada

SR No.: 007674
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Max Muller
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1881
Total Pages: 2540
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 45 MB

Page 1004

172
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
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thus the generative power of Agni and Soma, becomes rich in offspring and cattle.
3r. When he (the sacrificer) is about to enter upon the fast of the full-moon ceremony, he may not be entirely sated. He therefore now compresses (that part of) his belly which relates to the Asuras; and next morning, by means of the oblations, that which relates to the gods. Now the practice regarding the full-moon ceremony is as follows:
32. One may (enter on the) fast at the very time (of full moon), thinking, 'Now I will slay Vritra, now I will slay the spiteful enemy!'
33. One may also fast only on the following day. Now he who (enters on the) fast at the very time (of full moon), gets, as it were, into collision ? (with some one); and when two come into collision with one another, it is indeed doubtful which of the two will get the better of the other. He, on the other hand, who prefers to fast on the second day (only), is as one who crushes from behind a retreating (enemy) before he is able to resist the attack : striking in one direction?, in fact, is he who thus keeps the fast on the second day only.
34. Let him therefore enter on the fast at the very time (of full moon). He who keeps the fast on the following day only is as one who finally crushes one struck down by some one else; he only does what has been done before by some one else, he only
1 Sam-kramate, literally comes together with, meets (somebody).' This symbolical explanation was probably suggested by the circumstance that the full moon marks the junction (sandhi) of the two pakshas or half months; whereas the new moon (amavâsya, dwelling together') marks the point of least distance between sun and moon.
Anyatoghâtin, ? thus St. Petersburg Dictionary.
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