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 1237

232
SATAPATHA-BRÂHMANA.
10. [Vâg. S. XI, 56] Sinivali, the fair-knotted, fair-braided, fair-locked,- for Sinivalt is a woman, and that is indeed the perfect form of woman, to wit, the fair-knotted, fair-braided, fairlocked : he thus makes her perfect;—'may she place the fire-pan into thy hands, Ogreat Aditi!'—the great Aditi doubtless is this earth : it is to this earth that he says this.
11. [Vâg. S. XI, 57] 'Let Aditi fashion the fire-pan, by her skill, her arms, her wisdom!' —for by her skill, by her arms, and by her wisdom she does indeed fashion it ;-'may she bear Agni in her womb, even as a mother (bears) her son in her lap!'--that is, as a mother would bear her son in her lap, so may she (Aditi) bear Agni in her womb !'
12. With three (formulas) he kneads (the clay),threefold is Agni : as great as Agni is, as great as is his measure, with so much he thus kneads him. With two (verses) he mixes,—that makes five ;-of five layers consists the fire-altar (Agni); five seasons are a year, and the year is Agni : as great as Agni is, as great as is his measure, so great does this become. With three (formulas) he pours water thereto,—that makes eight;-of eight syllables the Gayatri metre consists, and Agni is Gayatra : as great as Agni is, as great as is his measure, so great does this become. And, moreover, as one of eight syllables this (earth) was created in the beginning : thus as great as this (earth) was created in the beginning, so great he thus makes this (fire-pan representing the earth).
· See VI, 1, 2, 6-7.
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