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VIII KÂNDA, 7 ADHYAYA, I BRAHMANA, 4. 125
plained1. Eight bricks he lays down: the meaning of this also has been explained 2.
SEVENTH ADHYAYA. FIRST BRAHMANA.
1. He lays down two Ritavyâ (seasonal bricks). The seasonal (bricks) are the same as these seasons: it is the seasons he thereby lays down. And, indeed, the seasonal ones are everything here, for the seasonal ones are the year, and the year is everything here he thus lays down everything here. And generative power they also are, for the seasonal ones are the year, and the year means generative power: it is generative power he thus lays down (or bestows on Agni and the Sacrificer).
2. And, again, as to why he lays down seasonal (bricks), the seasonal (ones) are the nobility and these other bricks are the peasantry: he thus places the nobility as the eater among the peasantry. He lays down (some of) them in all the layers: he thus places the nobility as the eater among the whole people 3.
3. And, again, as to why he lays down seasonal (bricks), this fire-altar the year, and it is joined together by means of the seasonal (bricks): he thus makes the year continuous, and joins it together, by means of the seasons. These (formulas of the seasonal bricks) begin in a different way, but end in the same way; for the seasons were created, and, when created, they were different.
4. They spake,' While being thus, we shall not be
1 Viz. VII, 1, 1, 28.
Or, he places the chieftaincy in
2 Viz. VII, I, I, 32. every clan.
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