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SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
by means of all the trees the gods bore (or, maintained) it, and by means of all the trees does he now bear it.
14. It (the seat) is a span high; for Vishnu, as an embryo, was a span high: he thus makes the womb equal in size to the embryo. It is a cubit across; for the cubit is (the length of) the (fore-) arm, and strength is exerted by the arm. It thus is made equal to strength, and strength is indeed capable of sustaining him (Agni): by means of strength the gods did bear him, and by means of strength does he now bear him.
15. The feet and boards1 are four-cornered; for there are four regions, and the regions are able to sustain him by means of the regions the gods bore him, and by the regions does he now bear him. It is interwoven with cords of reed-grass, triple ones, the significance of this has been explained; and smeared over with clay, (the significance) of this also has been explained; but it also serves to keep them from taking fire 2.
16. Now he carries him (Agni, the fire) by means of a netting,-he, Agni, is these worlds, and the netting is the regions, for by means of the regions these worlds are able to stand; and inasmuch as they are so able (sak), it is called a netting (sikya): he thus carries him by means of the regions. It is furnished with six strings,--for there are six
1 That is, the boards forming the seat itself, and being a cubit long. 2 Lit. 'from (the fire in the pan) burning over (or through the clay);' or 'from (their) being burnt over.'
Apparently a round netted mat, on which the fire-pan is to be placed, and which is fastened to a cord by means of six strings, thus somewhat resembling the scale of a balance.
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