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SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
characteristic1 of that (Agnihotra), for the domestic offering pertains to beasts (or cattle).
22. Now the first of these libations, doubtless, is the same as that which Pragâpati offered in the beginning2; and as those (gods) thereupon continued (to sacrifice),-namely, Agni, that blower (Vâyu), and Surya,- -so this second libation is offered.
23. What first libation (pûrvâhuti) is made, that is the deity of the Agnihotra, and to that (deity) it is accordingly offered; and what second one (uttarâhuti) is made, that indeed is equivalent to the Svishtakrit (Agni, the maker of good offering); whence he offers it on the north part (of the fire), since that is the region of the Svishtakrit3. Moreover, this second libation is made in order to effect a pairing, for a couple forms a productive pair.
24. These two libations, then, form a duad: the past and the future, the born and the to-be-born, the actual and the hope, the to-day and the morrow,— (these are) after the manner of that duad.
25. The past is the self, for certain is that which is past, and certain also is that which is a self. The future, on the other hand, is progeny; for uncertain is that which is to be, and uncertain also is progeny.
26. The born is the self, for certain is that which is born, and certain also is the self. The to-be-born,
1 Pasavyam rupam,-that is to say, its relation to the pasu or animal sacrifice; and hence also to the idâ at the haviryagña; cf. I, 7, 4, 19.
See II, 2, 4, 4 seq.
See II, 2, 4, 18.
That is to say, it represents the chief offering at the haviryagña, which is followed by the (oblation to Agni) Svish/akrit. See I, 7, 2, I seq.
6
See I, 7, 3, 20.
Âgatam, 'what has arrived or come to pass,' "the accomplished.'
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