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IX KÂNDA, I ADHYAYA, 2 BRÂHMANA, 25. 175
22. They (the waters) said to Pragậpati, Whatever moisture we had, has gone down. He said, *This tree shall know it!'-he shall know (vettu), he shall taste it (sam vettu)—that one, indeed, they mystically call 'vetasa' (bamboo), for the gods love the mystic. And because they said, 'Down (avâk) has gone our moisture (ka),' they became avâkkâs ;'avâkkâs,' they mystically call 'avakâs (lotuses),' for the gods love the mystic. These, then, are those three kinds of water, to wit, the frog, the lotus-flower, and the bamboo-shoot : by means of these three kinds of water he appeases him.
23. And, again, why he draws them across it ;when he (Agni, the fire-altar) is built up, he is being born, and he is born for every kind of food; and these are every kind of food, to wit, the frog, the lotus-flower, and the bamboo-shoot, for these, indeed, are animals, water, and trees : with all this food he gratifies him.
24. With the frog, on the part of animals, whence, of animals, the frog is the one affording least subsistence, for he is used up ;-with the lotus-flower, on the part of water, whence of the kinds of water (plants), lotus-flowers are those affording least subsistence, for they are used up;-and with the bamboo-shoot, on the part of trees; whence, of trees, the bamboo is the one affording least subsistence, for it is used up.
25. Having tied them to a cane, he, in the first place, draws them eastwards along the right (south) part of the body of the) altar inside the enclosing
Thus, or essence (rasa), according to Sâyana ; cf. X, 6, 5, 1. The word 'ka' has, however, also the meaning joy.'
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