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VI KÂNDA, I ADHYAYA, 3 BRÂHMANA, 4.
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fire also is these worlds : therefore he may say, A cow.'
36. As to this they say, 'For what object is this fire (altar) built ?'— Having become a bird, he (Agni) shall bear me to the sky !' so say some; but let him not think so; for by assuming that form, the vital airs became Pragàpati; by assuming that form, Pragàpati created the gods ? ; by assuming that form, the gods became immortal : and what thereby the vital airs, and Pragâpati, and the gods became, that indeed he (the Sacrificer) thereby becomes.
Third BRAHMANA. 1. Verily, Pragâpati alone was here in the beginning. He desired, 'May I exist, may I reproduce myself!' He toiled, he practised austerity (or, became heated). From him, worn out and heated, the waters were created : from that heated Person the waters are born.
2. The waters said, 'What is to become of us ?'Ye shall be heated,' he said. They were heated; they created foam : hence foam is produced in heated water.
3. The foam (m.) said, "What is to become of me ?'—' Thou shalt be heated !' he said. It was heated, and produced clay; for indeed the foam is heated, when it floats on the water, covering it; and when one beats upon it, it indeed becomes clay.
4. The clay (f.) said, 'What is to become of me?'• Thou shalt be heated !' he said. It was heated,
See VI, 1, 1, 2 seq., where the seven vital airs are represented as assuming the form of a bird—the Purusha Pragâpati.
* See paragraphs 7-11.
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