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238
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
For now the whole Agni was completed; he now wished for brilliance (ruk), and the gods, by means of these lightsome (oblations), endowed him with brilliance; and in like manner does this (Sacrificer) now endow him therewith.
13. And, again, as to why he offers the lightsome oblations. When Pragâpati was dismembered, his brilliance departed from him. When the gods restored him, they, by means of these lightsome oblations, endowed him with brilliance; and in like manner does this (Sacrificer) endow him therewith.
14. [He offers, with, Vâg. S. XVIII, 46-48], 'O Agni, what lights of thine in the sun'...,'
O ye gods, what lights of yours are in the sun...1'—'Bestow thou light upon our priests, (work thou light in our kings, light in our people and Sûdras, bestow light upon me by thy light)!' He thus says 'light' each time,-light is immortality: it is immortality he thus bestows upon him.
15. He then offers one relating to Varuna. That whole Agni has now been completed, and he now is the deity Varuna : it is to him that he offers this oblation, and by the oblation he makes him (Agni) a deity, for that one alone is a deity to whom offering is made, but not that one to whom (offering is) not (made). With a verse addressed to Varuna (he offers): he thus gratifies him by his own self, by his own deity.
16. And, again, as to why he offers one relating
verses used with them contain the word 'ruk,' being prayers for the bestowal of light.
1 These two verses had already been used in laying down the Dviyagus bricks; see VII, 4, 2, 21.
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