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 1188

VI KÂNDA, 2 ADHYAYA, 2 BRÂHMANA, 34.. 183
31. Here now they say, 'How does that sacrificial performance of his (the animal sacrifice) gain the year, Agni ? how does it correspond with the year, with Agni ?' Well, for those five victims there are twenty-five kindling-verses, twelve Apri-verses,—that makes thirty-six ;-eleven after-offerings, eleven byofferings, that makes fifty-eight.
32. Now what forty-eight there are in these fifty-eight), they are the Gagati (metre) consisting of forty-eight syllables ;—the Gagati doubtless is this earth, for it is thereon that everything is that moves (gagat); and Agni also is this earth, for it is thereof that the whole Agni is built up : as great as Agni is, as great as is his measure, so great does this become 8.
33. And, again, why there are forty-eight;-of forty-eight syllables consists the Gagatt; the Gagati (comprises) all the metres; all the metres are Pragâ pati (the sacrifice); and Pragâpati is Agni : as great as Agni is, as great as is his measure, so great does this become.
34. And what (remaining) ten there are in those fifty-eight), they are the Virág, consisting of ten syllables; and the Virag is Agni,--there are ten regions, and the regions are Agni ; ten vital airs, and the vital airs are Agni: as great as Agni is,
1 Or, come up to, tally with,-katham samvatsarena sampadyate sangakkhate Avayavasâmyena, Sây.
. For these supplementary oblations at the animal sacrifice, see III, 8, 4, 10 seq.
That is, the animal sacrifice that has been performed is thus made out to be equal to Agni, or to the object for which it was performed.
- That is, because all the metres are employed in the chants and recitations during the sacrifice.
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