Questions of King Milinda Part 01

SR No.: 007681
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T W Rhys Davids
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1890
Total Pages: 2695
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 47 MB

Page 1150

VI KANDA, I ADHYÂYA, I BRÂHMANA, 9.
145
to wit, the body (trunk) of four, and the wings and tail of three; for the body of that (first) Person (was composed of) four, and the wings and tail of three. And inasmuch as he makes the body larger by one person, by that force the body raises the wings and tail.
7. And as to the fire which is deposited on the built (altar),—whatever excellence, whatever lifesap there was in those seven persons, that they now concentrate above, that is his. (Pragâpati's) head. On that same (head) all the gods are dependent (srita), for it is there that offering is made to all the gods: therefore also it is the head (siras).
8. Now this Person Pragâpati desired, “May I be more (than one), may I be reproduced !' He toiled, he practised austerity. Being worn out with toil and austerity, he created first of all the Brahman (neut.), the triple science. It became to him a foundation : hence they say, 'the Brahman (Veda) is the foundation of everything here.' Wherefore, having studied (the Veda) one rests on a foundation ; for this, to wit, the Veda, is his foundation. Resting on that foundation, he (again) practised austerity.
9. He created the waters out of Vâk (speech, that is) the world; for speech belonged to it?: that was
man's lengths square; the particular length being that of the Sacrificer. This, however, is the smallest size allowed for an altar, there being altogether ninety-five different sizes specified, varying between seven and 101 man's lengths square.
Or, perhaps, to him (Pragâpati). Sâyana merely says,—vâg evâsya sâsrigyata, vâk sahakâri rasanam abhavat, tad asrigyatety arthah; sâ vâk sahakâri rasanam prâgâpatya(m) srishtam sad idam sarvam âpnot.-On the part which Vâk (the personification of the Brahman or Veda) takes by the side of Pragâpati in the creation [41]
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