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SATAPATHA BRAHMANA.
front, he lays down those at the back (of the altar); for the upward air, becoming the downward air, passes along thus from the tips of the fingers ; and the downward air, becoming the upward air, passes along thus from the tips of the toes : hence when, after laying down (the bricks) in front, he lays down those at the back, he thereby makes these two breathings continuous and connects them ; whence these two breathings are continuous and connected.
9. And when he has laid down those on the right side, he lays down those on the left side ; for the outward air, becoming the circulating air, passes along thus from the tips of the fingers?; and the circulating air, becoming the outward air, passes along thus from the tips of the fingers ? : hence when, after laying down (the bricks) on the right side, he lays down those on the left side, he thereby makes these two breathings continuous and connects them; whence these two breathings are continuous and connected.
10. And those (bricks) which he lays down in the centre are the vital air; he lays them down on the range of the two Retahsik (bricks), for the retahsik are the ribs, and the ribs are the middle: he thus lays the vital air into him (Agni and the Sacrificer) in the very middle (of the body). On every side he lays down (the central bricks) *: in every part he thus
'? Or, perhaps, the fingers and toes. The same word (anguli), having both meanings, makes it difficult exactly to understand these processes. The available MSS. of Harisvâmin's commentary unfortunately afford no help.
That is to say, he lays down the fifth set round the (central) Svayamârinna, on the range of the two Retahsik bricks. It is,
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