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SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
power; for the Trishtubh consists of eleven syllables, and the Trishtubh is energy, or vital power.
19. Savitri's (cake) is one on twelve potsherds, for there are twelve months in the year, and the year means constantly existing food : from the year he thus secures for him food.
20. Varuna's (cake) is one on ten potsherds, for the Virag consists of ten syllables, and Varuna is Virág (the widely ruling), the lord of food : through Varuna he thus secures food for him. In the middle (of the sacrifice) they proceed with (the offering of) these cakes, for the centre means their (mother's) womb: he thus causes them to be produced from their own (mother's) womb.
21. A mare with a foal is the sacrificial fee, for such a (mare) produces both the horse and the mule, and the Sautrâ mani is both an ishti-offering and an animal sacrifice: thus it is so in order that he may secure both of these.
THIRD BRÂHMANA. 1. By means of the Sura-liquor Namuki, the Asura, carried off Indra's (source of) strength, the essence of food, the Soma-drink. He (Indra) hasted up to the Asvins and Sarasvati, crying,
I have sworn to Namuki, saying, “I will slay thee neither by day nor by night, neither with staff nor with bow, neither with the palm of my hand nor with the fist, neither with the dry nor with the moist !" and yet has he taken these things from me : seek ye to bring me back these things!'
2. They spake, 'Let us have a share therein, and we will bring them back to thee.'—'These things
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