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VI KÂNDA, 3 ADHYÂYA, 2 BRÂHMANA, 1. 203
it up by means of the Anushubh metre, and lays the Anushubh metre into it: for his undertaking that spade of bamboo is thus made to be those
metres.
42. Some, indeed, make it of gold, saying, 'It is spoken of as golden.' Let him not do so: in that it is the metres, thereby that (spade) is gold, immortal gold, the immortal metres.
43. He takes it up with four (formulas), for all speech consists of four syllables: 'vâk' (speech) is one syllable, and 'aksharam' (syllable) consists of three syllables. Now that monosyllable 'vâk' is the same as this last one, the Anush/ubh; and that trisyllable 'aksharam' is the same as those former formulas he thus digs up Agni by the whole speech, and equips it with the whole speech,-hence with four (formulas).
44. And, again, why with four (formulas) ;—there are four quarters: he thus lays speech into the four quarters, whence speech speaks in the four quarters. He takes it up both by metres and by formulas, that makes eight-there are four quarters, and four intermediate quarters: he thus lays speech into all the quarters, whence speech speaks in all the quarters.
THE SEARCH AND DIGGING FOR AGNI (THE LUMP OF CLAY).
SECOND BRAHMANA.
1. The spade is still in his hand, when he addresses the beasts. For when the gods at that time were about to search (for Agni) in these (animals) they placed their vigour in front; and in like manner does
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