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 2292

SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
the navel. . He lays them down both lengthwise and crosswise ', whence there are here in the body (channels of) the vital airs both lengthwise and crosswise. He lays them down touching each other : he thereby makes these vital airs continuous and connects them; whence these (channels of the) vital airs are continuous and connected.
Fourth BRAHMANA, 1. Now some lay down (these bricks) so as to be in contact with the (gold) man, for he is the vital air, and him these (bricks) sustain; and because they sustain (bhre) the vital air (prâna), therefore they are called 'Prânabhritah. Let him not do so : the vital air is indeed the same as that gold man, but this body of his extends to as far here as this fire (altar) has been marked out. Hence to what
been laid down, knots being then made in the cord over the middle of each of the special bricks. The retahsik range is consequently ascertained, in subsequent layers, by a circle drawn round the centre, with that part of the cord marked by the central and the retahsik knot for the diameter. The foregoing diagram shows that portion of the first layer which contains the continuous row of special bricks laid down first, viz. Svayamâtrinna, Dviyagus, two Retahsik, Visvagyotis, two Ritavyâ, and Ashâdhâ; and further the central (or fifth) set of ten prânabhritah, placed round the central brick on the range of the retahsik.
Fach special brick is marked on its upper surface with (usually three) parallel lines. Now the bricks are always laid down in such a way that their lines run parallel to the adjoining spine, whence those on the east and west sides have their lines running lengthwise (west to east), and those on the north and south sides crosswise (north to south). As to the four corner bricks there is some uncertainty on this point, but if we may judge from the analogy of the second layer in this respect, the bricks of the south-east and north-west corners would be eastward-lined, and those of the northeast and south-west corners northward-lined.
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