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VI KANDA, 3 ADHYAYA, 2 BRAHMANA, IO. 205
great as is his measure, by so much he thus lays vigour into them.
6. He then makes them walk forward to the east: he thus searches for him (Agni) by means of these animals. He does not touch (them) lest he, Agni, should injure him; for Agni is the same as the animals 1.
7. He makes the horse walk on, with (Vâg. S. XI, 15), 'Forth-speeding, come treading down the curses!'-curse means evil: thus, 'running come, treading down the evil!'-'come, delighting, into Rudra's chieftainship!'—beasts belong to Rudra : thus, 'come thou, delighting, into the chieftainship of him who is thy deity!' he thus searches for him by means of the horse.
8. Then the ass with, 'Traverse the wide air, thou possessed of prosperous pastures and affording safety!'-as the text, so its meaning;'with Pushan as thy mate;'-Pûshan, doubtless, is this earth; thus, 'together with her as thy mate:' he thus searches for him by means of the ass.
9. Then the he-goat, with (Vâg. S. XI, 16), 'From the Earth's seat, Angiras-like, bring thou Agni Purishya!'-that is, 'from the Earth's lap bring thou Agni, favourable to cattle, as Agni (did)!' he thus searches for him (Agni) by means of the he-goat.
10. With three (animals) he searches,-threefold is Agni: as great as Agni is, as great as is his measure, with so much he thus searches for him.
1 The text here has the ordinary Sanskrit construction, running literally thus:-he does not touch-Agni (being) the same as the animals' lest he, Agni, should injure me!'
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