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Satapatha Brahmana Part V (SBE44), Julius Eggeling tr. [1900], at sacred-texts.com


12:1:4

FOURTH BRÂHMANA.

12:1:4:11. The Year, indeed, is Man;--the opening (prâyanîya) Atirâtra is his feet, for by means of their

p. 145

feet (men) go forward (prayanti): that part of them which is white is of the form of the day, and that which is black is (of the form) of the night; the nails are of the form of herbs and trees. The Katurvimsa day is the thighs, the Abhiplava the breast, and the Prishthya the back.

12:1:4:22. The Abhigit is this right arm, the Svarasâman days these three (openings of the) vital airs on the right side 1 the Vishuvat the head, and the (second period of) Svarasâman days these three vital airs on the left side.

12:1:4:33. The Visvagit is this left arm,--the Prishthya and Abhiplava have been told,--the Go and Âyus those downward vital airs; the Dasarâtra the limbs, the Mahâvrata the mouth; and the concluding (udayanîya) Atirâtra is the hands, for by means of the hands (men) move (reach) upwards (udyanti) that part of them which is white is of the form of the day, and that which is black is of that of the night; and the nails are of the form of the stars. Thus that year is established in respect of the body; and, verily, whosoever thus knows that year to be established in respect of the body, establishes himself by means of offspring and cattle in this, and by immortality in the other, world.


Footnotes

145:1 Viz. the right eye, ear, and nostril.


Next: XII, 2, 1. Second Adhyâya. First Brâhmana