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140
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
he makes those creatures here on earth that are not forlorn, take part in the sacrifice : behind the men are the beasts, and behind the gods are the birds, the plants, and the trees; and thus all that here exists is made to take part in the sacrifice.
5. These same (preceding formulas) are nine utterances; for nine, in number, are those breaths (or vital airs) in man', and these he thereby puts into him (the sacrificer): for this reason there are nine utterances.
6. The sacrifice fled away from the gods. The gods called out after it, 'Listen (a-sru) to us! come back to us!' It replied, 'So be it!' and returned to the gods; and with what had thus returned to them, the gods worshipped; and by worshipping with it they became the gods they now are.
7. Now when he (the Adhvaryu) calls (on the Agnidhra), he thereby calls after the sacrifice, 'Listen to us! come back to us!' and when he (the Âgnidhra) responds, then the sacrifice comes back, saying 'so be it!' and with it, thus passing over to them, as with seeds, the priests carry on the tradition, imperceptibly to the sacrificer; for even as people hand on from one to the other a full vessel, in
* See p. 20, note 1.
* The legend is intended to explain the origin and symbolical meaning of the call (a srâvana) of the Adhvaryu (viz. O srâvaya! 'make listen l') and the response (pratyâsravana) of the Âgnidhra (viz. astu sraushat!).
• The sacrifice is the seed (viga) that produces heaven as its fruit. Sayana.
• I. e. even as they pass on from hand to hand a pail (ghala) filled with water when a tub is to be filled inside the house.' Sayana.
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 |