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106
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
sacrifices. Even in late summer that (river), as it were, rages along": so cold is it, not having been burnt over by Agni Vaisvânara.
17. Mathava, the Videgha, then said (to Agni), "Where am I to abide ?' 'To the east of this (river) be thy abode !' said he. Even now this (river) forms the boundary of the Kosalas and Videhas; for these are the Mathavas (or descendants of Mathava).
18. Gotama Râhûgana then said (to Mathava), Why didst thou not answer when addressed by us?' He replied, 'Agni Vaisvânara was in my mouth ; I did not reply, lest he should escape from my mouth.'
19. 'How then did this happen?'—'At the moment when thou didst utter the words, “ (Thee), O buttersprinkled one, we invoke!" just then, at the mention of butter, Agni Vaisvânara flashed forth from my mouth; I was unable to hold him back, he issued from my mouth.'
20. That (word) in the sâmidhenis, therefore, which contains butter (ghrita) is especially suitable for kindling (sam-indh); and by it he accordingly kindles him (Agni, the fire) and bestows vigour on this (sacrificer).
21. Now that (word) is ghritâkyâ, 'with the buttered (spoon).' — He nears? the gods, wishful of bliss.' Wishful of bliss, truly, is the sacrificer, since he wishes to approach the gods, to go to 3
That is to say, it is not affected by the heat of the summer, as the other rivers, but rushes along as rapidly and as well-filled as ever.
2 Gigâti is taken by Sâyana in the sense of 'he sings, praises.' Our author, on the other hand, seems to interpret it by 'he conquers (gi);' see, however, next note.
3 The text has, Sa hi devân gigishati sa hi devân gigamsati.' The Kanva recension has the same reading, except that it omits 'hi'
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| 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 |