________________
388
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
14. But, indeed, that built Agni (the fire-altar) is all beings, all the gods; for all the gods, all beings are the waters 1, and that built fire-altar is the same as those waters 2;-the navigable streams (round the sun) are its enclosing-stones, and there are three hundred and sixty of these, because three hundred and sixty navigable streams encircle the sun on all sides; and the navigable streams, indeed, are also the Yagushmati bricks, and there are three hundred and sixty of these, because three hundred and sixty navigable streams flow towards the sun. And what is between (each) two navigable rivers is the Sûdadohas; and those thirty-six bricks which remain over are the same as that thirteenth month, and the body (of this altar, the waters 4,) is the same as this gold man.
15. His feet are that gold plate and lotus-leaf(that is) the waters and the sun's orb—are his feet; his arms are the two spoons, and they are Indra and Agni; the two naturally-perforated (bricks) are this earth and the air; and the three Visvagyotis (all-light) bricks are these deities-Agni, Vâyu, and
1 Viz. inasmuch as they are the foundation and ultimate source of the universe, cf. VI, 8, 2, 2. 3; and everything is contained therein, X, 5, 4, 3.
2 Viz. inasmuch as the built Agni is the same as the sun, and the sun is surrounded by water; cf. p. 368, note I.
It is not clear whether these rivers are meant to be different ones from those flowing round the sun, or whether they are the same as washing against' the sun.
Athokteshu paryâyeshv agnyavayava - trayodasamâsâtmika atma agnyâtmanâ dhyeyânấm apâm âtmety arthah. Sây.
5 That is, in regard to the sacrifice, the gold plate and lotus-leaf are his feet, and in regard to the deity, the waters and the sun's disk. Sây. They are, nevertheless, counted as four.
