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VIII KÂNIA, I ADHYÂYA, I BRÂHMANA, 6.
5
'From the Upâmsu the Trivrit,'—from out of the Upânısu-graha he fashioned the nine-versed hymn-form ;- From the Trivrit the 'Rathantara,'--from out of the Trivrit-stoma he fashioned the Rathantara-prishtha ?
6. The Rishi Vasishtha?'—the Rishi Vasishtha, doubtless, is the breath: inasmuch as it is the chief (thing) therefore it is Vasishtha (the most excellent); or inasmuch as it abides (with living beings) as the best abider (vastri), therefore also it is Vasishtha.-By.thee, taken by Pragâpati'that is, .by thee, created by Pragâpati,'—'I take breath for my descendants (and people)!'therewith he introduced the breath from the front. Separately he lays down (these ten bricks): what separate desires there are in the breath, those he thereby lays into it Only once he settles them 3: he thereby makes it one breath; but were he to settle them each separately, he assuredly would cut the breath asunder. This brick is trivrit (threefold): the formula, the settling, and the sûdadohas 4, that is threefold, and threefold is Agni, -as great as
that he who is desirous of obtaining holiness, should press eight times at each turn
For this and the other Prishtha-samans see part in, introd. pp. XV), xx seqq. .
2 In Taitt. S. IV, 3, 2, 1, this formula is connected with the preceding one, —' from the Rathantara (was produced) the Rishi Vasishtha.' Similarly in the corresponding passages of the subsequent sets of bricks.
s The sâdana, or settling, consists in the formula, By that deity, Angiras-like, lie thou steady!' being pronounced over the bricks See VI, 1, 2, 28
4 For the sûdadohas verse, the pronunciation of which, together with the settling,' constitutes the two necessary (nitya) ceremonies, see part 111, p. 307.