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X KÂNDA, 5 ADHYAYA, 5 BRÂHMANA, 7.
391
2. 'If perchance thou hast built him looking forward, it would be just as if one were to offer food from behind to one sitting with averted face 1: he thereby will not receive thy offering. • 3. 'And if thou hast built him looking backward, wherefore, then, hast thou made him 'a tail behind ?
4. 'And if thou hast built him with his face downward, it would be just as if one were to put food on the back of one lying with his face downward: he surely will not receive thy offering.
5. 'And if thou hast built him with his face upward-surely, a bird does not fly towards heaven with its face turned upward 2: he will not carry thee to heaven, he will not become conducive to heaven for thee.'
6. He said, 'I have built him with his face forward; I have built him with his face backward ; I have built him with his face downward; I have built him with his face upward: I have built him in all directions.
7. When he lays down the (gold) man with his head forward (eastward), and the two spoons (with their bowls) forward, thereby he (Agni) is built looking forward; and when he lays down the tor
1 The oblations are offered by the Adhvaryu whilst standing south, or south-west, of the fire, with his face turned towards northeast-hence Agni, looking eastwards, would not see the food offered him.
2 Yady agnir uttânas kitas tarhi yathâ uttanam vayah pakshi svayam âkâsam utpatitum na saknoti kim utânyam purusham dvâbhyam pakshâbhyâm grihîtvotpatitum na sakta iti ... tvâm kitavantam svargam lokam prâpayitum na saknoty uttâna kayanâd ity arthah; abhivakshyatîti vahah prâpane Irati syapratyaye rupam. Sây.
* See VII, 4, 1, 15. 16.
