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IX KÂNDA, 3 ADHYÂYA, 3 BRÂHMANA, 18. 221
esoterically the same as the Vashat-call, and either with the Vashat-call, or the Svâhâ-call is food offered to the gods : he thus gratifies him by both the Vashat and the Svâhâ, and also consecrates him by both of them. He now throws the offering-ladle after (the ghee into the fire) lest what there is anointed with ghee should remain outside of the fire.
15. Now as to this same shower of wealth, the body (from which it flows) is the sky, the udder the cloud, the teat the lightning, and the shower (of ghee) is the (rain-) shower: from the sky it comes to the cow.
16. Its body is the cow, its udder the cow's) udder, its teat the (cow's) teat, its shower the shower (of milk): from the cow (it comes) to the Sacrificer.
17. Its body is the Sacrificer, its udder his arm, its teat the offering-ladle, its shower (of milk) the shower of ghee): from the Sacrificer (it goes) to the gods, from the gods to the cow, from the cow to the Sacrificer: thus circulates this perpetual, never-ending food of the gods. And, verily, for whosoever knows this, there will thus be perpetual, never-ending food. Now as to the (mystic) correspondence.
18. As to this they say, 'How does this wealthshower of his obtain (conformity with) the year, and Agni? how does it correspond to the year, to Agni ?' Well, this shower of wealth consists of three hundred and sixty (libations), and of (other) six, and of thirty-five. Now, the three hundred and sixty which there are, --so many being the days in the year,—thereby it obtains the days of the year. And what six there are,—the seasons being
