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VIII KÂNDA, 2 ADHYÂYA, 3 BRÂHMANA, 6.
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they put it into that (fire-altar) and in like manner does he now put it therein.
5. He put on the Apasyàs; for rain is water (ap); it is rain he thereby puts into it (the altar; or into him, Agni). On the range of the Retahsik (he places them), for, the Retahsik being these two (worlds), it is on these two (worlds) that he thereby bestows rain, whence it rains therein. He places them on every side: he thus puts rain everywhere, whence it rains everywhere. [He places them] so as everywhere to fun in the same direction?: he thereby bestows rain (falling) everywhere in the same direction, whence the rain falls everywhere, and from all quarters, in the same direction. He places them alongside of those referring to the wind 2: he thereby puts rain into the wind, whence rain follows to whatever quarter the wind goes.
6. And, again, as to why he lays down Apasyâs,-he thereby puts water into the vital airs. He places them so as not to be separated from the Prânabhrits: he thus places the water so as not to be separate from the vital airs. Moreover, water is food: he thus introduces food not separated from (the channels of) the vital airs. (He lays them down with, Vâg. S. XIV, 8], 'Make the waters swell! Quicken the plants! Bless thou the two-footed! Protect the four-footed! Draw thou rain from the sky!' He thereby puts water that is made fit, into those (vital airs).
i See p. 26, note 3
? The five Apasyâ bricks are placed immediately to the right of the Pranabhrits (looking towards the latter from the centre of the altar), so as to fill up the four remaining spaces between the four sets of bricks on the range of the Retahsık.
