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VI KÂNDA, 7 ADHYAYA, 3 BRÂHMANA, 8.
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these worlds both from here upwards and from thence backwards.
6. [Vâg. S. XII, 7-10] 'Ever returning Agni, turn thou back unto me, with life, with vigour, with offspring, with riches; with gain, with wisdom, with wealth, with prosperity!-O Agni, Angiras! may thine be a hundred courses, and a thousand returns: with increase of increase bring back what was lost by us, and bring us again riches !— Return again with sustenance, again, O Agni, with food and life, guard us again from trouble! With wealth return, O Agni, overflow with the all-feeding stream on every side!'—that is, ' with all this return thou to me!' Four times he lowers (the fire further and further), for four times it rises upwards : thus as often as it rises upwards, so often he lowers it; and having lowered it (completely), he holds it above his navel : the significance of this has been explained.
7. He then addresses him (Agni); for Agni is vital power: he thus lays vital power into his self: [Vâg. S. XII, 11] Hither have I brought thee,'
—for they do indeed bring him hither;—' thou hast entered,'—he then lays vital power into his self;—'stand thou firm, never staggering!'--he thus lays the vital power firmly into his self ;'may all the people long for thee!'—the people are food : thus, 'may all food long for thee!'—'may thy rule not fall away from thee!'-rule means glory: thus,'may thy glory not fall away from thee!'
8. He then unties the sling of the netting, and the sling of the gold plate ; for the sling belongs to
1 VI, 7, 1, 8 seq.
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