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 1289

284
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
third time in the waters,'—inasmuch as he there did generate him a third time from the waters ;'he, the manly-minded, (kindling him) the imperishable,' — the manly-minded, doubtless, is Pragàpati ; and the imperishable, Agni?;— kindling him the mindful praises (gar) him,'--for he who kindles him generates him, mindful.
4. 'We know, O Agni, thy threefold three,' -Agni, Vâyu (wind), Aditya (sun), these are his three in three forms ;-'We know thy manifold scattered sites,'—inasmuch as he (Agni) is here distributed manyways ;'we know thy highest name which is in secret,'— the youngest,' that indeed is his highest name in secret ;-'we know that source whence thou art come;'—the source, doubtless, is the (heavenly) waters, for from the waters he first came.
5. 'In the sea the manly-minded (kindled) thee, in the waters,'—the manly-minded is Pragapati : thus, 'In the waters Pragâ pati (kindled) thee;' -'the man-watcher hath kindled thee, O Agni, in the udder of the sky,'—the man-watcher, doubtless, is Pragâpati, and the udder of the sky is the waters ;—'thee, whilst standing in the third region,'—the third region, doubtless, is the sky ;-'the buffaloes made (thee) grow in the lap of the waters ;'-the buffaloes, doubtless, are
The construction of the text here favoured by the author is very doubtful. It has probably to be construed,—the third time (he, Agni, was born) in the waters, he, the manly-minded (or, friendly to men). Kindling him, the imperishable (Agni), the heedsul (? or pious) one praises him,'-or perhaps, While kindling him, the considerate one praises him unceasingly. A point which favours the author's construction is that, in verse 3, nrimanaas' certainly resers not to Agni, but to him who generated him.
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