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VIII KANDA, 7 ADHYAYA, 4 BRAHMANA, 12. 147
is the sacrificer: as great as Agni is, as great as is his measure, with so much he thus bestows upon him immortality, that highest form. Five times (he strews),-five-layered is the altar, five seasons make a year, and Agni is the year: as great as Agni is, as great as is his measure, with so much he thus bestows upon him immortality, that highest form. With a thousand (chips he bestrews him),-a thousand means everything: with everything he thus confers upon him immortality, that highest form.
10. First (he scatters them) at the back whilst standing with his face towards the east; then on the left (north) side towards the south; then in front whilst facing the west; then, having gone round the back, from the south whilst facing the north: this is from left to right (sunwise), for that is (the way) with the gods. Then, having gone round, (he scatters chips) at the back whilst standing with his face to the east, for in this way that former performance of him1 took place.
II. [He scatters, with, Vâg. S. XV, 65], 'The fore-measure of a thousand thou art,—The counter-measure of a thousand thou art,The up-measure of a thousand thou art,The thousandfold thou art,-For a thousand thee!' a thousand, doubtless, means everything: thus, 'Everything thou art,-thee for everything!'
12. Now, then, the consideration of the layerfillings. The first layer is this (terrestrial) world; and the filling of soil means cattle: thus, in
1 Viz. of Agni (and the Sacrificer). The ceremony alluded to was the fivefold libation of ghee offered on the gold man (representing Agni and the Sacrificer), see VII, 4, 1, 34-35.
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