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SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
once (with the band of the fire-wood along each of the three enclosing-sticks); for thrice each time they swept for the gods on the former occasion ?:
Lest we should do it in the same way as for the gods;' thus he thinks, and accordingly he sweeps once each time in order to avoid repetition (of sacrificial performance). Repetition he would undoubtedly commit, if he were to sweep thrice the first time and thrice the second : for this reason he sweeps once (along each stick).
6. He sweeps (each time), with the formula (Vâg: S. II, 14 b), 'O Agni, food-gainer, I cleanse thee, the food-gainer, who hast hastened to the food !' On the former occasion he said, 'thee who art about to hasten (to the food),' for on that occasion he was indeed about to hasten thither; now, however, he says, who hast hastened to the food),' for now he has indeed hastened thither : for this reason he says 'thee who hast hastened.'
7. He now makes the after-offerings. Whatever gods he invokes by means of this sacrifice, and for whichever of them this sacrifice is performed, to all offering has now been made; and to all those to whom offering has been made, he now, after that, offers once more: hence the name after-offerings.'
8. Now this is why he makes the after-offerings. The after-offerings assuredly are the metres ?, and the metres are the cattle of the gods: hence as cattle, when harnessed, here convey (burdens) for men, so in like manner the metres, being harnessed,
See I, 4, 4, 14. While, on the former occasion, the Âgnidhra in sweeping moved round the fire, on the present occasion he remains standing on the north side of it. Kâty. III, 5, 4.
? See I, 3, 2, 8, 9.
Digitized by Google
| SR No. | 007674 |
| Book Title | Dhammapada |
| 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 |