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VIII KÂNDA, 6 ADHYÂYA, 3 BRÂHMANA, 10. 119
that (Gârhapatya) is built up outside the womb, and outside of the womb indeed takes place that performance regarding the fire-altar which takes place prior to the laying down of the) lotus-leaf : thus, when they bring it (the Gârhapatya) here and lay it down, he then establishes it in the womb, on the lotus-leaf; and thus indeed it is not outside. Eight bricks he lays down : the significance of this has been explained'. He builds it up with the same formulas and in the same order, for this one is the same as that (former Gârhapatya Agni): he thus brings it (or him) here and lays it down.
8. He then lays down the Punaskiti? Now at that time the gods, having built the Gârhapatya, did not find success therein; for the Gårhapatya pile is a womb, and success in a womb consists in seed, in generative power; and in this womb they saw no seed, no generative power.
9. They spake, ' Think ye upon this, how we may lay seed and generative power into this womb !' They spake, Meditate ye!' whereby, indeed, they meant to say, 'Seek ye a layer ! seek ye that we may lay seed and generative power into this womb !'
10. Whilst meditating, they saw this Punaskiti, and put it on (the Gårhapatya), and thereby laid seed and generative power into this womb;-in the centre (they placed it): they thus laid seed and
of the altar-site on which the Âhavanîya) altar is to be raised, see VII, 4, 1, 7 seqq. The Gârhapatya bad been built previous to that (VII, I, I, I seqq.).
i See VII, 1, 1, 19 seqq.
· The Punaskiti (re-piling) is a second pile or layer of eight bricks corresponding exactly to the first, and placed thereon.
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