Satapatha-brahmana
by Julius Eggeling | 1882 | 730,838 words | ISBN-13: 9788120801134
This is Satapatha Brahmana XI.8.2 English translation of the Sanskrit text, including a glossary of technical terms. This book defines instructions on Vedic rituals and explains the legends behind them. The four Vedas are the highest authortity of the Hindu lifestyle revolving around four castes (viz., Brahmana, Ksatriya, Vaishya and Shudra). Satapatha (also, Śatapatha, shatapatha) translates to “hundred paths”. This page contains the text of the 2nd brahmana of kanda XI, adhyaya 8.
Kanda XI, adhyaya 8, brahmana 2
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
1. Verily, there are four kinds of fire,--the one laid down, the one taken out, the one taken forward, and the one spread (over the three hearths). Now, that which is laid down is this very (terrestrial) world; that which is taken out is the air-world, that which is taken forward is the sky, and that which is spread is the regions. And that which is laid down is Agni, that which is taken out is Vāyu (the wind), that which is taken forward is Āditya (the sun), and that which is spread is Candramas (the moon). And that which is laid down is the Gārhapatya, that which is taken out is the Āhavanīya, that which is taken forward is the (fire) they lead forth eastwards from the Āhavanīya; and that which is spread is the one they take northwards for the cooking of the victim, and that (used) for the by-offerings[1]: let him therefore perform the animal sacrifice on a fire taken forward.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
See III, 8, 3, 18; 8, 4, 9, with note.