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SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
The reason, then, why the night envelops that (sun), is that embryos also are, as it were, enveloped.
4. Now when he offers in the evening after sunset, he offers for the good of that (sun) in the embryo state, he benefits that embryo; and since he offers for the good of that (sun) in the embryo state, therefore embryos here live without taking food.
5. And when he offers in the morning before sunrise, then he produces that (sun-child) and, having become a light, it rises shining. But, assuredly, it would not rise, were he not to make that offering : this is why he performs that offering.
6. Even as a snake frees itself from its skin, so does it (the sun-child) free itself from the night, from evil: and, verily, whosoever, knowing this, offers the Agnihotra, he frees himself from all evil, even as a snake frees itself from its skin; and after his birth all these creatures are born; for they are set free according to their inclination.
7. Then, as to his taking out the Ahavaniya (from the Gârhapatya) before the setting of the sun; -the rays, doubtless, are all those gods; and what highest light there is, that, indeed, is either Pragåpati or Indra. Now all the gods approach the house of him who performs the Agnihotra : but whosesoever (offering) they approach before the fire has been taken out, from that the gods turn away, and he fails in it; and after the failure of that (offering) from which the gods turn away, people say, that, whether one knows it or not, the sun went down on account of that (fire) not having been taken out.
8. And another reason why he takes out the Âhavaniya before the setting of the sun, is this. In like manner as, when one's better comes to visit
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