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VIII KANDA, 7 ADHYAYA, 3 BRAHMANA, 12. 141
sky are close together. The Vikarni he lays down first he thereby places the wind on this side of the sky; whence that wind blows only on this side (thereof).
10. And, again, as to why he lays down the Vikarni. When, on that (former) occasion, they make the horse smell (the pile of bricks of) the (first) layer1, then yonder sun strings these worlds to himself on a thread. Now that thread is the same as the wind; and that wind is the same as this Vikarni: thus when he lays down the latter, then yonder sun strings to himself these worlds on a thread.
11. And, again, as to why he lays down the Vikarni and the Svayamâtrinnâ; the Vikarni, doubtless, is vital power, and the naturally-perforated one is vital air: he thus bestows both vital power and vital air. He lays them down as the two last (highest bricks), because vital power and vital air are the two highest (endowments); and close together, because vital power and vital air are closely (bound) together. The upper (northern) Vikarni he lays down first 2: he thereby encloses the vital air on both sides in vital power.
12. [He lays it down, with, Vâg. S. XV, 62; Rigveda VII, 3, 2], 'When, like a snorting steed, that longeth for the pasture, he started forth from the great enclosure, then the wind fanned his flame, and black then was thy path;'-for when the wind fans his (Agni's) flame,
1 See VII, 3, 2, 13.
As' uttarâm' means both 'northern' and 'higher,' so' pûrvâm' means both 'first' and 'eastern,' hence, by a whimsical play on these double meanings, ' on both (or two) sides.'
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