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 1245

240
SATAPATHA-BRÅHMANA.
produces offspring from his own self. He makes them without interruption : he thus produces uninterrupted offspring from his own self. He makes them subsequently (to the fire-pan): he thus produces the offspring subsequently to his own self. They are marked with three lines, for generation is threefold, father, mother, and son ; or, the embryo, and the inner and outer membrane.
6. He makes these from (clay) prepared with prayer, the others from (clay) prepared without prayer; for these are defined, the others undefined ; these are limited (in number), the others unlimited.
7. That Agni is Pragâpati; but Pragâpati is both of this, defined and undefined, limited and unlimited : thus when he makes (bricks) from (clay) prepared with prayer, he thereby makes up that form of his (Pragâ pati's) which is defined and limited; and when he makes them from (clay) prepared without prayer, he thereby makes up that form of his which is undefined and unlimited. Verily, then, whosoever knowing this does it on this wise, makes up the whole and complete Agni. From the (clay) lying ready prepared, he leaves over a lump for expiations
8. He (the Adhvaryu) now fumigates it (the firepan)—just for the sake of strength, or to (mark) the progress of the work. And, again, as to why he fumigates,-that fire-pan is the head of the sacrifice, and the smoke its breath: he thus puts breath into the head.
9. He fumigates it with horse-dung, to insure it against injury; for the horse is sacred to Pragâpati,
1 That is, in case the fire-pan were to break. See VI, 6, 4, 8 seq.
Digitized by Google