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LAWS OF MANU.
1, 21.
21. But in the beginning he assigned their several names, actions, and conditions to all (created beings), even according to the words of the Veda.
22. He, the Lord, also created the class of the gods, who are endowed with life, and whose nature is action; and the subtile class of the Sâdhyas, and the eternal sacrifice.
23. But from fire, wind, and the sun he drew forth the threefold eternal Veda, called Rik, Yagus, and Sâman, for the due performance of the sacrifice.
24. Time and the divisions of time, the lunar mansions and the planets, the rivers, the oceans, the mountains, plains, and uneven ground,
25. Austerity, speech, pleasure, desire, and anger, this whole creation he likewise produced, as he desired to call these beings into existence.
verses, I would propose to insert here ver. 27 and to place this verse (20) after ver. 78.
22. The commentators differ very much regarding the explanation of this verse. Medh. proposes, 'And the Lord created (for the sake of men who are intent on performing sacrificial rites (the multitude) of the gods, the subtile class of the Sâdhyas and the eternal sacrifice.' Others' mentioned by him, Gov. and Kull., insert another and between karmâtmanam and prâninâm, and explain,
The Lord created the multitude of the gods whose nature is the sacrifice and of those endowed with life.' By the 'gods whose nature is the sacrifice' they understand the inanimate implements, used at sacrifices, but frequently addressed in the Veda as divine beings, while the gods endowed with life are said to be Indra, and So forth. Râgh., with whom Nar. seems to have agreed, says,
And the Lord created among beings endowed with life the to us invisible multitude of the gods, who by the results of their actions have obtained their divine station, or who subsist on offerings.' None of these speculations is of much use. But it may be that karman means 'sacrificial rites,' and karmâtmanâm may be translated by 'whose nature is the sacrifice,' or 'whose divinity depends on the performance of sacrifices.' Regarding the Sâdhyas, see Wilson, Vishnu-purâna II, p. 22 (ed. Hall).
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