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328
SATAPATHA-BRÂHMANA.
that downward breathing ;—these are the seven metres increasing by four (syllables) each”, which are produced in Agni (the fire-altar).
2. "The Gayatri is the breath,'--thus, whatever power, whatever vigour there is in the breath that is this one thousand ; and to the breath, indeed, this vigour belongs ; for were the breath of him who builds it to pass away, this fire-altar, assuredly, would not be built: by this its form that (altar) becomes built (so as to contain) a thousand Gayatris.
3. 'The Ushnih is the eye,'—thus, whatever power, whatever vigour there is in the eye that is this one thousand; and to the eye, indeed, this vigour belongs, for were the eye-sight of him who builds it to pass away, this fire-altar, assuredly, would not be built: by this its form that (altar) becomes built (so as to contain) a thousand Ushnihs.
4. 'The Anushtubh is the voice,'—thus, whatever power, whatever vigour there is in the voice that is this one thousand; and to the voice, indeed, this vigour belongs, for were the voice of him who builds it to pass away, this fire-altar, assuredly, would not be built: by this its form that (altar) becomes built (so as to contain) a thousand Anushtubhs.
5. 'The Brihati is the mind,'—thus, whatever power, whatever vigour there is in the mind that is this one thousand; and to the mind, indeed, this vigour belongs, for were the mind of him who builds it to pass away, this fire-altar, assuredly,
"The Gayatri verse consists of twenty-four syllables; and each of the following increases by four syllables, the Gagatî consisting of 4 x 12, or forty-eight syllables.
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