________________
VIII KÂNDA, 7 ADHYAYA, I BRÂHMANA, 16.
129
the seasons for him who dies : hence, in whatever place he lays down the first two, there let him lay down all.
12. But the seasonal (bricks), indeed, are also these (three) worlds : by the (different) layers he thus builds up these worlds one above the other. And the seasonal (bricks), indeed, are also the nobility: by the (different) layers he thus builds up the nobility above (the peasantry). And the seasonal ones, indeed, are also the year: by the (different) layers he thus builds up the year. Let him not thereafter place over them any other brick with a sacrificial formula, lest he should place the peasantry above the nobility.
13. Now these same (bricks) are indeed steppingstones, for by means of the seasonal (bricks) the gods then stepped over these worlds, both from hence upwards and from above downwards: and in like manner does the Sacrificer now, by means of the seasonal (bricks), step over these worlds, both from hence upwards and from above downwards.
14. Now, the Karakâdhvaryus lay down here yet other 'stepping-stones'; but let him not do so, for they do what is redundant, and these are indeed (all) the stepping-stones.
15. He then lays down a Visvagyotis (all-light brick) ;—the last Visvagyotis, doubtless, is the sun, for in yonder (celestial) world the sun, indeed, is 'all the light': it is the sun he thereby sets up.
16. And, again, as to why he lays down a Visvagyotis :—the Visvagyotis, doubtless, means progeny, for progeny indeed is all the light :-he thus lays generative power into it (or into him, Agni and the Sacrificer).
[43]
Digitized by Google
