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186
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
that is, 'should themselves drink of this honey and ghee.'
15. The gods who attained godhead over the gods,'-for these gods have indeed attained a divine state over the gods;-'who are the forerunners of this holy work,'-the holy work is this fire-altar (and sacrifice), and they are the forerunners thereof;-'without whom no dwellingplace becometh pure;' for without the vital airs no dwelling-place becomes pure1;-'they are not on the backs of the sky and the earth,'-that is, 'they are neither in the sky nor on earth: whatever breathes therein they are.'
16. With two (verses) he sprinkles,-two-footed is the Sacrificer, and the Sacrificer is Agni: as great as Agni is, as great as is his measure, with so much he thus sprinkles him.
17. He then descends again (from the altar), with (Vâg. S. XVII, 15), 'Givers of in-breathing, givers of off-breathing,'-for this Agni who has been built up is all these breathings; were he not to utter at this time this (declaration of) self-surrender, then that (Agni) would possess himself of those breathings of his (the Sacrificer's); but now that he gives utterance to this self-surrender, that (Agni) does not possess himself of those breathings of his;— 'Givers of in-breathing, givers of off-breathing, givers of through-breathing, givers of lustre, givers of room,'-he thereby says, 'A giver of this thou art to me,'-'let thy darts burn
It is doubtful in what sense the author understands this part of the verse. Mahidhara takes it to mean, without whom no body
moves.'
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