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X KANDA, 2 ADHYAYA, I BRAHMANA, II. 303
just as much as he draws them in; and thus, indeed, he neither exceeds (its size) nor does he make it too small.
8. He now gives to it (the altar) the highest form1. This Agni had now been completely restored, and the gods conferred upon him this highest form; and in like manner does this (Sacrificer) confer upon him this highest form: he makes a thousand bricks marked with straight lines, a thousand marked this way (from left to right), and a thousand marked that way (from right to left).
9. And when he has laid down the fifth layer, he measures out the altar in three parts, and on the central part he places the one thousand bricks marked with straight lines: he thereby gives to it those straight plumes of the bird pointing backwards (with their tops, and covering it) from head to tail.
10. On the right side he then lays down the one thousand (bricks) marked thus (from left to right). he thereby gives to it those curved plumes on the right side of the bird 2.
II. On the left side he then lays down the one thousand (bricks) marked thus (from right to left): he thereby gives to it those curved plumes on the left side of the bird. With a thousand (bricks he does it each time)-a thousand means everything:
' vakratvam' refers to the irregular shape, or to the curved nature, of the wings.
1 That is, he gives to it the last finish.
2 Or, perhaps, those soft feathers of the bird curved towards the right Sâyana as above-dakshinatah dakshinapakshe ityâlikhitâ dakshinâvrita ishtakâh, uttaratah uttarasmin pakshe ty âlikhitâh savyâvrata ishtaka upadadhyât.
