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the Naksatras are the lights of the doers of good deeds; verily he wins them; verily also he makes
these lights into a reflection [3] to light up the world of heaven. If he were to place them in contact,
he would obstruct the world of rain, Parjanya would not rain; he puts them down without touching;
verily he produces the world of rain, Parjanya is likely to rain; on the east he puts down some
pointing west, on the west some pointing east; therefore the constellations move both west and east.
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He puts down the seasonal (bricks), to arrange the seasons. He puts down a pair; therefore the
seasons are in pairs. This middle layer is as it were unsupported; it is as it were the atmosphere; he
puts down a pair on the other layers, but four in the middle one, for support. The seasonal (bricks)
are the internal cement of the layers; in that he puts down the seasonal (bricks), (it is) to keep apart
the layers. He puts down next an Avaka plant; this is the birthplace of Agni; verily he piles up the
fire with its birthplace [1]. Viçvamitra says, 'He shall eat food with holy power, for whom these
shall be put down, and he who shall know them thus'. It is the year which repels from support him
who having piled up the fire does not find support; there are five layers preceding, and then he piles
up the sixth; the year has six seasons; verily in the seasons the year finds support. These are the
bricks [2], called the over-ladies; he for whom they are put down becomes the overlord of his
equals; he should think of him whom he hates as he puts (them down); verily he cuts him off for
those deities; swiftly he goes to ruin. The Angirases, going to the world of heaven, made over to the
seers the accomplishment of the sacrifice; it became gold; in that he anoints with fragments of gold,
(it is) for the completion of the sacrifice; verily also he makes healing for it [3]; moreover he unites
it with its form, and with golden light he goes to the world of heaven. He anoints with that which
contains the word 'of a thousand'; Prajapati is of a thousand; (verily it serves) to win Prajapati. 'May
these bricks, O Agni, be for me milch cows', he says; verily he makes them milch cows; they,
milking desires, wait upon him yonder in yonder world.
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The fire is Rudra; he is born then when he is completely piled up; just as a calf on birth desires the
teat, so he here seeks his portion; if he were not to offer a libation to him, he would suck the
Adhvaryu and the sacrificer. He offers the Çatarudriya (oblation); verily he appeases him with his
own portion; neither Adhvaryu nor sacrificer goes to ruin. If he were to offer with the milk of
domesticated animals [1], he would afflict domestic animals with pain; if (with that) of wild
(animals), wild (animals); he should offer with groats of wild sesame or with groats of Gavidhuka
grass; he harms neither domesticated nor wild animals. Then they say, 'Wild sesame and Gavidhuka
grass are not a proper offering'; he offers with goat's milk, the female goat is connected with Agni;
verily he offers with a proper offering; he harms neither domesticated nor wild animals. The
Angirases going to the world of heaven [2] spilled the cauldron on the goat; she in pain dropped a
feather (like hair), it became the Arka (plant); that is why the Arka has its name. He offers with a
leaf of the Arka, to unite it with its birthplace. He offers standing facing north; this is the quarter of
Rudra; verily he propitiates him in his own quarter. He offers on the last brick; verily at the end he
propitiates Rudra. He offers dividing it into three; these worlds are three; verily he makes these
worlds of even strength; at this height he offers [3], then at this, then at this; these worlds are three;
verily he appeases him for these worlds. Three further libations he offers; they make up six, the
seasons are six; verily with the seasons he appeases him. If he were to offer while wandering round,
he would make Rudra come within (the sacrifice). Or rather they say, 'In what quarter is Rudra or in
what?' He should offer them while wandering round; verily he appeases him completely [4]. The
highest (bricks) are the heavenly deities; over them he makes the sacrificer speak; verily by them he
makes him attain the world of heaven; he should throw (the leaf) down in the path of the cattle of
him whom he hates; the first beast that steps upon it goes to ruin.
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Keith: Taittiriya-Samhita, Translation - Page 237 of 341