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 1196

VI KÂNDA, 3 ADHYAYA, I BRÂHMANA, 6.
191
2. Now when they said, 'Meditate ye !' they doubtless meant to say, 'Seek ye a layer !' and inasmuch as they saw it whilst meditating (ketay), therefore it is a layer (kiti). And the libation is a sacrifice; and inasmuch as he saw it after sacrificing (ishtva), it is a brick (ishtaka).
3. Now that same (libation of ghee), while being a single one, he offers as an eightfold one with eight formulas: whence this ('invincible' brick), while being a single one, is eightfold appointed.
4. He offers while raising upwards (the spoon) ;he thereby raises this earth upwards by means of its forms?: whence this earth is raised (above the water) by its forms.
5. He offers it continuously ;-for at that time the gods were afraid lest the Rakshas, the fiends, should come thither after them! They saw that continuous libation for preventing the Rakshas, the fiends, from coming after them: hence he offers it continuously.
6. And, again, why he offers that libation ;-this Agni is Savitri, and him he gratifies at the outset by this libation; and having sacrificed to, and gratified, him (Agni), he then puts him together. And inasmuch as by this (libation) he gratifies Savitri, they (the formulas are called) Sâvitra : that is why he offers this libation. kâm apasyat; puraiva lokâpavarga kala (? kâle or kâlât) srishtâm satim. Though in the cosmogonic account, VI, I, 1, 13 seq., the earth is rather said to consist of nine different elements, the 'invincible' brick is commonly identified with the earth. See VI, 5, 3, 1. For the (eightfold) compositions of the clay used for the fire-pan and bricks, see VI, 5, 1, 1 seq.
That is to say, the offering-spoon is filled by eight dippings with the dipping-spoon.
• That is, by means of its constituent elements ;—prithivîm ũrdhyam rupair mridẫdibhir udgamayati, Sấy.
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