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IX KÂNDA, 5 ADHYAYA, 1 BRÂHMANA, 36.
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and performed the Udayaniya (concluding oblation)', he, after the animal cake of the offering of the barren cow?, prepares oblations for the goddesses.
35. For now Pragàpati, having gained his end, thought himself quite perfect. Establishing himself in the quarters he went on ordering (or creating) and disposing everything here ; and inasmuch as he went on ordering and disposing, he is the Orderer. And in like manner does the Sacrificer, establishing himself in the quarters, order and dispose everything here.
36. And, again, as to why he prepares these oblations. This Agni (the fire-altar) is the quarters (regions), and these he lays down beforehand (in the shape of) the bunch of Darbha grass 8 and the clod-bricks *; the Prânabhrits o in the first layer, the whole of the second, the whole of the third, and the whole of the fourth (layers'); and of the fifth
I See IV, 5, 1, I seq. · For this offering to Mitra and Varuna, see IV, 5, 1, 5.
3 The bunch of Darbha grass is placed in the centre of the newly ploughed altar-site; see VII, 2, 3, I seq.
* The four logeshtakâs (clods of earth), being placed at the ends of the two spines,' represent the four quarters, marking as they do the centre of the east, south, west, and north sides of the altar-site, sown with seeds of all kinds; see VII, 3, 1, 13 seq. The bunch of Darbha grass, placed in the centre, would thus represent the fifth region, viz. the one above.
Though the Pranabhrits are said to represent, not the regions, but the (channels of the) vital airs, they are placed in rows along the diagonals of the square body of the altar, thus marking, as it were, the intermediate regions; 'whilst the fifth set is placed in a circle round the centre. See VIII, 1, 1, 1 seq.
• The bricks of these layers are all of them supposed to be marked by their position to relate to the regions or quarters.
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