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SATAPATIA-BRAHMANA.
52
2. And, again, as to why he lays down Khandasyâs,--the metres are cattle, and cattle are food, and the middlemost layer is the middle (of Agni, the altar): he thus places food in the middle (of Agni's body).
3. He lays them down by twelves --for the Gagati consists of twelve syllables, and the Gagati is cattle, and the middlemost layer is the air: he thus places cattle in the air, whence cattle have their abode in the air.
4. And, again, why (he lays them down) by twelves,--the Gagati consists of twelve syllables, and the Gagati is cattle, and cattle is food, and the middlemost layer is the middle: he thus places food in the middle. He places them so as not to be separated from the Pranabhrits : hc thus places the food so as not to be separated from the vital airs; subsequently (to them he places them): he thus bestows food after (bestowing) the vital airs.
5. [He lays down the right set, with, Vag. S. XIV, 18], 'The metre Measure;'--the measure (ma), doubtless, is this (terrestrial) world, for this world is, as it were, measured (mita),-'the metre Foremeasure!'--the fore-measure (prama), doubtless, is the air-world, for the air-world is, as it were, measured forward from this world;- The metre Countermeasure,'--the counter-measure (pratima), doubtless, is yonder (heavenly) world, for yonder world is, as it were, counter-measured in the air ,-'The metre Asrivayas,'-'asrivayas,' doubtless, is food: whatever food there is in these worlds that is 'asrivayas.' Or, whatever food (anna) flows (sravati) from these
"That is, made a counterfeit, or copy, of the earth.