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 1129

II KÂNDA, 1 ADHYAYA, 4 BRAHMANA, 18.
297
he leaves over, and thereby those (five syllables) become of renewed efficacy; and with all the five syllables—'Bhûr bhuvah svah'-he lays down the Ahavaniya. Thus result eight syllables; for of eight syllables consists the gâyatri, and the gâyatri is Agni's metre : he thus establishes that (fire) by means of its own metre.
15. Now when the gods were about to set up their fires, the Asuras and Rakshas forbade them, saying, • The fire shall not be produced; ye shall not set up your fires!' and because they thus forbade (raksh) them, they are called Rakshas.
16. The gods then perceived this thunderbolt, to wit, the horse. They made it stand before them, and in its safe and foeless shelter the fire was produced. For this reason let him (the Adhvaryu) direct (the Âgnidhra) to lead the horse to where he is about to churn the fire. It stands in front of him?: he thus raises the thunderbolt, and in its safe and foeless shelter the fire is produced.
17. Let it be one used as a leader2; for such a one possesses unlimited strength. Should he be unable to obtain a leader, it may be any kind of horse. Should he be unable to obtain a horse, it may also be an ox, since that (fire) is related (bandhu) to the ox3.
18. And when they carry that (fire) eastward",
1 The horse is to stand east of the Garhapatya fire-place, with its head to the west, where, behind the khara, the Adhvaryu is about to produce the fire.
• Pârvavah, 'drawing in front,' i.e. a young (newly-harnessed) horse. The term may also mean 'conveying eastwards,' whence it is probably used here ; cf. Taitt. Br. I, 1, 5, 6.
. See XIII, 8, 4, 6, where the ox is said to be sacred to Agni (agneya). See also p. 292, note 1; and I, 2, 3, 6.
• The following particulars, not alluded to by our author, have
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