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IX KÂNDA, 2 ADHYÂYA, 3 BRÂHMANA, 14. 195
the verses, the Brahman mutters the Apratiratha (hymn) on the south side; this (set of verses), then, is the fourth sacrifice ;-'may the prayers, the blessings favour us?!'—that is, 'may both prayers and blessings favour us!'
12. "The sun-rayed, golden-haired Savitri ever lifted up the light in front,'—this Agni, doubtless, is yonder sun, and that sun-rayed, goldenhaired Savitri in front ever lifts up that light;
-'at his behest Pashan goeth, the wise,'— Pashan, doubtless, means cattle, and they indeed start forth at his (Agni-Surya's) behest;—'viewing all beings as their guardian,'—for he indeed views everything here, and he is the protector of all this world.
13. Now, the gods thereby (viz. by these five verses) wrested from the Asuras the five regions which are on this side of yonder sun, and then ascended them; and so does the Sacrificer now wrest them from his hateful rival, and then ascend them. And by means of them the gods reached this place, and in like manner does this (Sacrificer): by means of them reach this place :.
14. He then sets up a variegated stone ;-the
17 Or, May they favour our prayers and blessings !' These verses are rather enigmatical. .
* The author of the Brâhmana connects ‘udayam' with ‘yam,' Mahîdhara with 'yâ' (udayân for udayât).
s? Or, reach that place; Sâyana, in the first instance, takes it to mean as far as this place' (from beyond the sun down to the end of the air); but in the second instance, he takes it as referring to the particular spot on the sacrificial ground near which this part of the ceremonial is performed, viz. the Âgnidhra's fire-shed (as representing the air), south of which the Adhvaryu lays down a variegated stone close to the 'spine.'
O 2
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