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274
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
intends to press Soma for a year, for he, manifestly, supports him by food in the shape of) those libations.
67. And, indeed, let him by all means build who offers the Agnihotra for a year, for he who offers the Agnihotra indeed supports him (Agni, the fire).
68. And, indeed, let him by all means build who was born a year (after conception); for Agni is the breath: it is thus him (Agni) he holds. And, indeed, as the breath, he enters into the infused seed, and takes possession of it; and inasmuch as he takes possession (vid) of every one that is born (gâta), he is Gâtavedas. Wherefore by all means let even one who knows this build him as one ever carried (within him). And, indeed, if one who knows this either drinks (Soma), or offers drink to any one else, these libations of his will be offered even as would be his libations, when offered on a complete Sândila fire-altar built up with wings and tail.
SECOND BRÂHMANA. I. Indra saw this seven-versed (hymn, suitable) for making good what is deficient", for reducing what is redundant, and for perfecting what is imperfect. And, indeed, after building the fire-altar, one is (still) apt to get into trouble, or to stumble, or what not. Now, when Syâparna Sâya kâyana heard this, he ventured upon this performance.
2. Now, there is here a perfecting of three things, —the perfecting of the fire-altar, the perfecting of
· Viz. in the building of the fire-altar; literally, for the obtainment of the deficient,
