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SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
3. [Vâg. S. XI, 33; Rik S. VI, 16, 14] 'Also the sage Dadhyañk, the son of Atharvan, kindled thee;'-Dadhyaйk, the Âtharvana, doubtless is speech; and he did kindle him therefrom ;'as the Vritra-slayer, the breaker of strongholds,'-Vritra is evil, thus: 'as the slayer of evil, the breaker of strongholds.'
4. [Vâg. S. XI, 34; Rik S. VI, 16, 15] Also Pâthya, the bull, kindled thee, as the greatest slayer of enemies,'-Pâthya, the bull, doubtless is the Mind, and he did kindle him therefrom;-'as a winner of wealth in every battle,'-as the text, so its meaning.
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5. With Gâyatri verses (he performs),-the Gayatri is the vital air: he thus lays vital air into him. With three (verses); there are three vital airs, the out-breathing, the in-breathing, and the through-breathing: these he thus lays into him. These (verses) consist of nine feet, for there are nine vital airs, seven in the head, and two downward ones: these he thus lays into him.
6. And these two following ones are Trishtubhs,— (Vâg. S. XI, 35, 36; Rik S. III, 29, 8; II, 9, 1). Now, the Trishtubh is the body (self): it is his (Agni's) body he makes up by means of these two
show how the author of this part of the Brahmana interprets 'vâghat.' Cf. VI, 4, 3, 10.-Professor Ludwig (Rik S. VI, 16, 13) translates, from the head of the priest Visva.' Mahîdhara offers several interpretations, according to which 'vâghatah' may either be taken as nom. plur., the verb being again supplied in the plural,'the priests churned thee out from the head of the universe,' or 'the priests of the universe (or all priests) churned thee out,'-or 'vâghatah' may be ablative sing., like' mûrdhnah,' qualifying 'pushkarât,'-from the lotus, the head, the leader (or, starter, vâhakât) of the universe.
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