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222
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SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
together; then this one and this one, whence these two also are joined together : first thus, then thus; then thus, then thus. This is moving (from left) to right, for so it goes) to the gods: with this and this one a means of healing is prepared; with this and this one he heals.
6. He then takes up together the black antelope skin and the lotus-leaf; for the lotus-leaf is the womb, and with the womb he takes up that infused seed: whence the infused seed is taken up by the womb. (He does so, with, Vag. S. XI, 40] Wellborn with splendour, the refuge and shelter, hath he settled down in the light;' for well-born he is, and he settles down in the refuge, and shelter, and light.
7. He then ties it (the lump) up: he thereby keeps the seed within the womb; whence the seed kept within the womb does not escape. With a string (he ties it), for with the string they yoke the draught beast ;-with a triple one of reed grass : the significance of this has been told .
8. He lays it round (the skin), with, 'Invest thyself, O lustrous Agni, in the many-coloured garment l' In the sacrifice the cord is Varunic; having thereby made it non-Varunic, he makes him put on (the skin) as one would make a garment be put on.
9. He then takes it and rises ;—that Agni being yonder sun, he thus causes yonder sun to rise ;-with (Vág. S. XI, 41), 'Rise, thou of good rites,'—the sacrifice doubtless is a rite: thus, ‘rise thou, well
obtained by the hand moving from east (along the south) to west, and then from south (along the west) to north.
See VI, 3, 1, 27. * See Rik S. VIII, 23, 5, differing considerably.
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