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SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
16. Having kindled it, he makes it blaze, thinking, 'Herein I will worship, herein I will perform the sacred work!' Thereby he makes blaze that fire which has been established in his innermost soul.
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17. 'It (or some one) might come between,-it might go away!' so (fear some)1; but, surely, as long as he lives no one comes between him and that fire which has been established in his innermost soul: let him, therefore, not heed this. And as to its becoming extinguished:-surely, as long as he lives, that fire which has been established in his innermost soul, does not become extinct in him.
18. The (sacrificial) fires, assuredly, are those breaths: the Âhavaniya and Gârhapatya are the out-breathing and the in-breathing; and the Anvâhârya-pakana is the through-breathing.
19. Now, attendance on (or, the worship of) that consecrated fire (agnyâdheya) means (speaking) the truth. Whosoever speaks the truth, acts as if he sprinkled that lighted fire with ghee; for even so does he enkindle it: and ever the more increases his own vital energy, and day by day does he become better. And whosoever speaks the untruth, acts as
This paragraph is somewhat obscure. The Kânva recension has the following more explicit paragraphs instead:-As to this, there is a source of anxiety (âgas) to some, fearing that 'it (that fire) might go out (anvagan).' But let him not heed this, for, assuredly, that fire of his, which has been established in his innermost soul, does not go out. The carriage might pass through (vyayâsît), the cart might pass through ;-it (or some one) may come between (me and the fire)!' such is another source of anxiety to some; but let him not heed this either; for, assuredly, the carriage does not pass through, the cart does not pass through that fire of his which has been established in his innermost soul. Cf. XII, 4, 1, 2-3.
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