Page Text
________________
224
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
FOURTH BRAHMANA.
1. That (lump of clay representing Agni) is still in his hand when he addresses the animals; for the gods, being about to equip1 (Agni), now first laid vigour into them; and in like manner does this (Sacrificer, or priest) now, being about to equip (Agni), first lay vigour into these (cattle).
2. He addresses the horse, with (Vâg. S. XI, 43; Rik S. X, 1, 2), 'Thus born, art thou the child of the two worlds;'-the two worlds, doubtless, are these two, heaven and earth; and he (Agni) thus born, is the child of these two;-'O Agni, the lovely (child), distributed among the plants,'for he, the lovely one, is indeed distributed among all the plants;-'a brilliant child, through gloom and night,'-for as a brilliant child, he (Agni) indeed shines beyond gloom and night;-'crying aloud thou didst go forth from the mothers;'his mothers, doubtless, are the plants, and from them he comes forth crying aloud. He thereby lays vigour into the horse.
3. Then (he addresses) the ass, with (Vâg. S. XI, 44), 'Steadfast be thou, firm-limbed, and a swift racer be thou, O steed!'-that is, 'be thou steadfast, and firm-limbed, and swift, and a racer, O steed!'' Ample be thou, and well to sit upon, thou, the bearer of Agni's supply!'—that is, 'be
1 For the ceremony of equipping' Agni, see part i, p. 276,
note I.
2 Viz. inasmuch as fire may be elicited from dry wood. See also I, 6, 4, 5, where Soma, frequently identified with Agni (see VI, 5, I, I), is said at new moon to come down to the earth, and enter the waters and plants in order to be born anew from them.
Digitized by
Google
| SR No. | 007681 |
| Book Title | Questions of King Milinda Part 01 |
| 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 |