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196
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
variegated stone, doubtless, is yonder sun: it is thus yonder sun that is set up. It is variegated, for by means of its rays that disk is variegated. He sets it up between the Âhavantya and the Gârhapatya; for the Garhapatya is this (terrestrial) world, and the Ahavaniya is the sky: he thus places him (the sun) between these two worlds, whence he shines between these two worlds.
15. On the Agnidhra range1 (he places it), for the Agnidhra's fire-shed is the air; he thus places it in the air, whence that (sun) has the air for his seat. Halfway (between the two fires he places it); for that (sun) is halfway from this (earth).
16. This (stone) is the breath,-he thus puts the breath into the body; and it is the vital power,-he thus puts vital power into the body; it is food, for it is vital power, and vital power is indeed food. It is a stone, for a stone is firm: he thus makes the vital power firm. It is variegated, for food is variegated (varied).
17. He sets it up (with, Vâg. S. XVII, 59, 60), 'Measuring he keeps in the middle of the sky,' -for that (sun) indeed keeps measuring in the middle of the sky;-'filling the two worlds and the air,' for even in rising he fills these (three) worlds;—' he scans the all-reaching, the butter-reaching,'he thereby means the offering-ladles and the offeringgrounds; between the front and back lights,' -that is, between this world and that one; or that (fire-altar) which is here at this moment being built, and that which was there built at first.
1 That is, where the Âgnîdhra shed and hearth will afterwards have to be erected (see IX, 4, 3, 5-6) on the northern edge of the Vedi, midway between the Gârhapatya and Âhavanîya fire-places.
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