________________
IX KÂNDA, 2 ADHYAYA, 2 BRAHMANA, 4. 189
2. He then takes (ghee) in sixteen ladlings1,Pragâpati consists of sixteen parts, and Pragâpati is Agni: he thus regales him with food proportionate to his body; and the food which is proportionate to the body satisfies and does no injury; but that which is excessive does injury, and that which is too little does not satisfy. He takes (the oblations) in the same offering-ladle, for one and the same (Agni) is he whom he regales therewith. With two (verses) addressed to Visvakarman he offers; for this Agni is Visvakarman (the all-worker): it is him he thereby gratifies. Three oblations he offers,-threefold is Agni: as great as Agni is, as great as is his measure, with so much food he thus regales him.
3. He then puts on the pieces of firewood: this is as if, after regaling some one, one were to attend upon him. They are of udumbara (ficus glomerata) wood; for the Udumbara is food and sap: with food and sap he thus regales him. They are fresh (green), for that part of trees which is fresh is uninjured and living: he thus regales him with what is uninjured and living in trees. They are soaked in ghee; for ghee is sacred to Agni: with his own portion, with his own sap he thus regales him. They remain the whole night in it, for there they become imbued with sap. Three pieces of wood he puts on,-threefold is Agni: as great as Agni is, as great as is his measure, with so much food he thus regales him.
4. And, again, as to why he offers those oblations; now that he (Agni) was about to go forward,
1 That is, he ladles sixteen sruva-spoonfuls of ghee into the sruk or offering-ladle.
G
