________________
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
above the (mortal) beings he created Death as their
consumer.
2. Now, one half of that Pragâpati was mortal, and the other half immortal: with that part of him which was mortal he was afraid of death; and, being afraid, he became twofold, clay and water, and entered this (earth).
290
"
3. Death spake unto the gods saying, 'What has become of him who has created us?'Being afraid of thee, he has entered this (earth),' they said. He spake, Let us search for him, let us gather him up for I shall not injure him.' The gods gathered him from out of this (earth): that part of him which was in the water, they gathered as water, and that which was in this (earth, they gathered) as clay. Having gathered together both clay and water, they made a brick, whence a brick consists of both clay and
—
water.
4. And, indeed, these five forms (bodily parts) of him are mortal- the hair on the mouth, the skin, the flesh, the bone, and the marrow; and these are immortal-the mind, the voice, the vital air, the eye, and the ear.
5. Now, that Pragâpati is no other than the Firealtar which is here built up, and what five mortal parts there were of him, they are these layers of earth; and those which were immortal they are these layers of bricks.
6. The gods spake, 'Let us make him immortal!' Having encompassed that mortal form by those immortal forms of his, they made it immortal-the layer of earth by means of two layers of bricks: in like manner the second, the third, and the fourth (layers of earth).
Digitized by
Google
