________________
IX'KÂNDA, 4 ADHYÂYA, 4 BRÂHMANA, 8.
251
5. Then on the northern (left) one, with (Vâg. S. XVIII, 53), “The potent drop, the faithful eagle, the golden-winged bird, the active (bhuranyu),'—golden means immortal : thus, the immortal-winged bird, the bearer (bhartri); '
the mighty is seated in the firm seat: homage be to thee, injure me not!'-he thereby gives utterance to a surrender of his own self.
6. Now that middle formula is the body, and the two on both sides thereof are the wings (of the birdshaped altar): hence these two allude to 'wings,' for these two are the wings.
7. With three (formulas) he yokes it—threefold is Agni: as great as Agni is, as great as is his measure, with so much he thus yokes him.
8. And when he has pressed the king (Soma) he offers in the fire 2. This, indeed, is that very rite of consecration (or pressing)--and by that he is now consecrated (or pressed)—which this (Sacrificer) is permitted to perform by those deities with whose permission he is consecrated %, for he alone becomes king whom the (other) kings allow (to assume) the royal dignity, and not he whom (they do) not (allow to assume it). Now when he offers in the fire he thereby consecrates (anoints) Agni, and that divine body of his, being consecrated by Soma, becomes consecrated by the nectar of immortality. And he himself drinks (thereof): he thereby conse
1 In the first formula the word for "bird (eagle)' is 'suparna, literally the well-winged (well-feathered) one.'
? This refers to the libations made from the several cups (grahas), the contents of which are afterwards consumed by the priests (and Sacrificer); cf. part ii, p. 316, note 1.
3 For the same irregular construction, see IX, 4, I, 13.
