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VI KANDA, 7 ADHYAYA, I BRÂHMANA, 19.
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regions ;-made of reed-grass, triply wound-the significance of this has been explained ;—and smeared with clay—(the significance) of this also has been explained; but it also serves to keep them from taking fire.
17. The waters are his (Agni's) foundation, for on the waters these worlds are founded. The sun is the connecting link ?, for to the sun these worlds are linked by means of the quarters: whosoever thus knows this, carries suchlike a one by suchlike a one 2.
18. And, again, why he carries him by means of a netting,-he, Agni, is the year, and the netting is the seasons ; for by means of the seasons the year is able to exist, and inasmuch as it is so able (sak), therefore the netting is called) 'sikya :' he thus carries him by the seasons. It is furnished with six strings, for there are six seasons.
19. Day and night are his foundation, for on day and night this year is founded. The moon is the connecting link, for to the moon this year is linked by means of the seasons: whosoever thus knows this, carries suchlike a one by suchlike a one. And verily by him who so knows this, he (Agni) is carried for a year; and by him who does not so know it, he is attended to for a year 3. Thus as to the deities,
Or, the central point, the hinge or hook, to which the worlds are attached.
? Lit. carries that form by that form,--that is to say, he sustains, by means of the sun, the whole world in the form of Agni.
. That is to say, he who desires to derive the full benefit from the initiation ceremony, and the Agnikayana generally, must not only keep up the Ukhya Agni (or pan-fire) during the year of the initiation, but must also carry him at least for a time every day during that period.
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