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 2303

VIII KÂNDA, 2 ADHYATA, I BRÂHMANA, 17.
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is as a nest for his body.— By thine own powers seat thee here, a holder of powers,' he says, for they did make that (part) of him powerful. Thou art the Earth's soil-cover,' he says, for that (lower part) of his body is, as it were, in connection with the soil-cover. At the range of the Retahsik (he places the bricks),—the Retahsik are the ribs, for level with the ribs, as it were, is that (part) of his body. He places them on every side, for on every side the Asvins restored that (part) of his (Pragậpati's) body.
16. He then lays down two Rita vyâ' (seasonal bricks) ;-these two, the Ritavyâ, are the seasons (ritu): it is the seasons he thus bestows thereon. [He lays them down, with Vâg. S. XIV, 6], Sukra and Suki, the two summer-seasons;'—these are the names of these two : it is with their names that he thus lays them down. There are two bricks, for a season consists of two months. He settles them once only: he thereby makes (the two months) one season.
17. And as to why he lays down these two in this (layer) :-this Agni (fire-altar) is the year, and the year is these worlds. Now that part of him which is above the earth and below the atmosphere, is this second layer; and that same part of him (Agni, the year,) is the summer season. And when he lays down those two in this (layer), he thereby restores to him (Agni) that part of his body which these two are: this is why he lays down these two (bricks) in this (layer).
"These two bricks are placed exactly upon the two Ritavyás of the first layer, that is, in the fifth space from the centre; see p. 1, note 1.
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