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X KÂNDA, 6 ADHYAYA, 5 BRÂHMANA, 7.
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that time he produced him. He opened his mouth (to devour) the new-born one, and he (the child) cried 'bhân'; thus speech was produced.
5. He bethought him, 'Surely, if I kill him, I shall gain but little food 2' By that speech and that soul of his he created all this (universe) whatsaever there is,—Rik (hymn-verses), Yagus (formulas), Sâman (hymn-tunes), metres, sacrifices, men, and beasts. And whatsoever he created he set about devouring; and because he eats (ad) everything, hence the name 'Aditi'; and, verily, he who thus knows the nature of Aditi becomes an eater of everything, and all food becomes his.
6. He desired, “May I again sacrifice by yet another sacrifice.' He wearied himself and practised austerity. From him, thus wearied and heated, glory and vigour departed; and glory and vigour, indeed, are the vital airs. The vital airs having departed, that body of his began to swell. The mind was yet in the body ;
7. He desired, “May this (body) of mine be sacrificially pure: may I thereby be possessed of a self!' Thereupon the horse (asva) was produced; and because that which was swelling : (asvat) became pure (medhya) therefore the name Asvamedha (belongs to that sacrifice). He, indeed, knows the Asvamedha who thus knows him *.
Viz. Pragâpati, the year; Agni, the Purusha, the Self. * Or, I shall lessen my food (which would have become more abundant if the child had been allowed to live and grow).
• The commentaries on the Brihad-aranyakop. take this together with the preceding clause,—and because that (body) was swelling (asvat), therefore the horse (asva) was produced. • Viz. Agni-Pra gâpati, or Death, in the form of the horse.
dd 2
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