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VIII KÂNDA, 5 ADHYAYA, 4 BRAHMANA, 5.
95
Fourth BRAHMANA. 1. He lays them down on the range of the Ashadha; for the Ashâdha is speech, and this (set of bricks ?) is the essence (of food): he thus lays into speech the essence of food ; whence it is through (the channel of) speech that one distinguishes the essence of food for all the limbs.
2. And, again, as to why (on the range) of the Ashâdhà ;—the Ashâdha, doubtless, is this earth), and the Stomabhagas are yonder sun: he thus establishes yonder sun upon this earth as a firm foundation.
3. And, again, why (on that) of the Ashådhå ;the Ashâdha, doubtless, is this earth), and the Stomabhâgås are the heart: he thus lays into this (earth) the heart, the mind : whence on this (earth) one thinks with the heart, with the mind. He lays them down on every side: he thus places the heart, the mind everywhere; whence everywhere on this (earth) one thinks with the heart, with the mind. And, moreover, these (bricks) are lucky signs: he places them on all sides; whence they say of him who has a (lucky) sign (lakshman) on every (or any) side that he has good luck (punyalakshmika).
4. He then covers them with loose soil; for loose soil (purisha) means food, and this (set of bricks) is the essence (of food): he thus makes it invisible, for invisible, as it were, is the essence of food.
5. And, again, as to why (he covers it) with loose
Or, this fire-altar.
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