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II KÂNDA, 3 ADHYAYA, 2 BRÂHMÀNA, 17.
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12. And when the flame of the waning (fire) gets lower and lower, and (burns) as it were sideways, then, indeed, that (fire) is Mitra. And if any one desires to consume food here through the kindness (maitra, of others),-as one of whom they say, ‘Truly, this Brahman is everybody's friend, he harms not any one,'- let him offer (the Agnihotra) then : and, assuredly, he who, knowing this, offers then (when the fire gets low), obtains that food.
13. And when the coals are glowing intensely, then, indeed, that (fire) is the Brahman. And if anybody wishes to become endowed with holy lustre (brahmavarkasin), let him offer then: and, assuredly, he who, knowing this, offers then, obtains that food (object).
14. Let him endeavour to adhere to some one of these (gods or fires) for a year, whether he (the householder) himself offer (the Agnihotra) or some one else offer for him. If, on the other hand, he offers now in this way, now in another, it is just as if, in digging for water or some other food, one were to leave off in the midst of it. But if he offers uniformly, it is just as if, in digging for water or some other food, one lays it open forthwith.
15. Indeed, these offerings are, as it were, the spades for (the digging up of) food; and, assuredly, whosoever, knowing this, offers the Agnihotra, procures food.
16. Now the first libation (purvâhuti) represents the gods, and the second (uttarâhuti) represents the men, and what remains in the ladle represents cattle.
17. Only a little he offers for the first libation, somewhat more for the second, and still more he leaves in the ladle.
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