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SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
summer ;-when it rains, it is that of the rainy season; when it lightens, it is that of autumn";—when it ceases to rain, it is that of winter. The rains are all the seasons. The seasons he (Agni) entered: from out of the seasons, therefore, he now produces him.
9. But the sun also is all the seasons: when he rises, then it is spring ;—when the cows are driven together (for milking), then it is summer ;-when it is mid-day, then is the rainy season ;—when it is afternoon, then it is autumn ;-when he sets, then it is winter. At mid-day (madhyandina), therefore, he should establish his fires, for then that (sun) is nearest to this world, and hence he produces that (fire) from the nearest centre (madhya).
10. Verily, this man is affected with evil, as with a shadow. But then (at mid-day) that (evil) of his (like his shadow) is smallest, and shrinks, as it were, beneath his foot: hence he thereby crushes that evil, when it is smallest. For this reason also he should establish his fires (the second time) at mid-day.
11. He takes it out (from the Gârhapatya) by means of sacrificial grass. By means of fire-wood, indeed, he takes it out the first time; and (were he to take it out) with fire-wood the first time, and with fire-wood the second time, he would commit a repetition, and raise a conflict. Now sacrificial grass means water, and the rainy season also means water. He (Agni) entered the seasons: with water he accordingly produces him from out of the waters; this is why he takes it (the fire) out by means of sacrificial grass.
12. Having prepared an (ordinary) rice cake on
i During the autumn, or sultry season succeeding the rains, there are frequent displays of sheet-lightning along the horizon at night.
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