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SATAPATHA-BRÂHNANA.
4. He places them in the (four) quarters; for that firmament, the world of heaven, is the quarters : he thus establishes them in the world of heaven. On the range of the Ritavyâs (he places them); for the Ritavyâs (seasonal bricks) are the year, and the world of heaven is the year: it is in the world of heaven he thus establishes them. Within the Stomabhâgâs (he places them); for this is the firmament, the world of heaven: it is therein he thus establishes them.
5. In front he lays down one, with (Vâg. S. XV, 10), Queen thou art, the Eastern region,' for a queen indeed the eastern region is;— The divine Vasus are thine overlords ",' for the divine Vasus are indeed the overlords of that region ;-'Agni is the repeller of shafts,' for Agni, indeed, is here the repeller of shafts ;—' The Trivrit-Stoma may uphold thee on earth!' for by the threefold hymn(-form) this one is indeed upheld on earth ;"The Ägya-sastra may support thee for steadiness' sake?!' for by the Âgya-sastra it is indeed supported on earth for steadiness' sake ;-'the Rathantara-sâman for stability in the air!' for by the Rathantara-sâman it is indeed established in the air ;-'May the Rishis, the first-born, magnify: thee among the gods!'--the Rishis, the first-born, doubtless, are the vital airs *, for they are the first-born Brahman 8;'with the measure, the width of the sky!'--that is, 'as great as the sky is, so much in width may they broaden thee!'
1 Or, perhaps, the Vasus are thy divine overlords;' but see paragraph 9.
? Lit. for unwaveringness (so as not to totter). * Lit broaden, widen. * See VI, 1, 1, 1; VII, 2, 3, 5.
o See VI, I, I, 8.