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SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
this one, now that he is about to search in these (animals), place his vigour in front.
2. He addresses the horse, with (Vâg. S. XI, 12), 'Most speedily1, O courser, run hither,'-what is swift, that is speedy, and what is swifter than swift, that is most speedy;-'along the widest range,' the widest range doubtless is this (earth): thus, 'along this wide range;'-' in the sky is thy highest home, in the air thy navel, upon earth thy womb' he thus makes it to be those deities, Agni, Vâyu, and Âditya (the sun), and thus lays vigour into the horse.
3. Then the ass, with (Vâg. S. XI, 13), 'Yoke ye two the ass,' he says this to the Adhvaryu and the Sacrificer; upon this course, ye showerers of wealth!'-that is, 'upon this performance, ye showerers of wealth;'-'him, bearing Agni, and helpful' unto us;'—that is, 'him, bearing Agni, and urged forward by us:' he thereby lays vigour into the ass.
4. Then the he-goat, with (Vâg. S. XI, 14), 'At every yoking, at every race, we call him, the most powerful,'-race3 means food: thus, 'in every performance, in respect of every food we call him, the most powerful;'-'Indra to our help, we his friends!'-that is, 'him, the strong (indriyavat), to our help he thereby lays vigour into the he-goat. 5. With three (formulas) he addresses (the victims), threefold is Agni: as great as Agni is, as
Pratûrtam, 'sped forward, speeding forward.'
2 Asmayu, 'tending towards us, favourable to us,' is explained differently by the author of the Brahmana.
The author here, as elsewhere, rather takes 'vâga' in the sense of strength, sustenance.'
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