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VIII KANDA, 6 ADHYAYA, 2 BRÂHMANA, I. 109
pronounces the prayers for prosperity to Agni. There are five of them, for at the sacrifice there are five prayers for prosperity1. Between (each) two he throws loose soil, for these two bricks being fires, he does so fearing lest these two fires should blaze up together. And, moreover, loose soil means food: it is thus by means of food that he brings about concord between them.
23. Now, then, as to the order of proceeding. Having laid down (a brick) in front, he lays down those on the right, behind, on the left, and in the middle. Then the upper ones: having first laid down one in front, he lays down those on the right, on the left, in the middle, and behind. And, indeed, the world of heaven is entered from below, for the gods, having at that time, closed up these worlds on all sides, entered the world of heaven from below; and in like manner does the Sacrificer now, having closed up these worlds on all sides, enter the world of heaven from below.
SECOND BRAHMANA.
2
1. He lays down Khandasyâs (bricks pertaining to the metres). Completed now was the entire
1 Viz. for long life, offspring, cattle, social distinction, and a seat in heaven;-see the Sûktavâka I, 9, 1, 12 seqq.
2 The Khandasyâs represent the principal metres, the formulas used in laying down the bricks being composed in the respective metres. They consist of ten sets of three bricks each, representing the ten metres, and an additional (thirty-first) brick representing the Atikhandas, or redundant metre. Each of the ten sets consists of a central brick of full size (a foot square) placed on one of the two spines, and flanked on the two sides not in contact with the spines by two half-size bricks, viz. :-1. gâyatrî at the east end of the spine'; 2. trishtubh on the Retahsık range (joining the
