________________
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
hymn-form which is fifteenfold (fifteen-versed). And when he calls it 'the bright one,' it is that the bright one is the thunderbolt, and the thunderbolt is fifteenfold. But the bright, fifteenfold one, doubtless, also is the Moon : he waxes during fifteen days, and wanes during fifteen days. And as to his calling him 'the bright one,' the Moon indeed shines: being the Moon it remained on the right side,-it is that form he now lays down.
11. [The left (north) one, with], 'The (aerial) space, the Saptadasa!' he therewith lays down that hymn-form which is seventeenfold. And as to his calling it 'the space,'—the (aerial) space is Pragâpati, and the seventeenfold one is Pragâ pati. But indeed the seventeenfold space also is the year : in it there are twelve months and five seasons. And as to his calling it space, the year indeed is space : being space, it remained on the left side, - it is that form he now lays down.
12. [The right (south) one, with], 'The upholder, the Ekavimsa!'he therewith lays down that hymnform which is twenty-one-fold. And as to his calling it'the upholder,'—the upholder means a foothold, and the Ekavimsa is a foothold. But indeed the twenty-one-fold upholder also is yonder sun: to him belong the twelve months, the five seasons, these three worlds, and yonder sun himself is the upholder, the twenty-one-fold. And as to his calling him 'the upholder,'—when he sets everything here holds its peace: being the sun, it remained at the back, -it is that form he now lays down; and the forms of the year he lays down.
13. 'Speed, the Ashtâda sa !'he therewith lays down that hymn-form which is eighteenfold. Now,
Digitized by Google