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The Agni that was before and the one in the fire-pan are at variance; 'Be
united', with four (verses) he unites them together; the metres are four,
Agni's dear body is the metres; verily with his dear body he puts them in
order. 'Be united, he says; therefore the kingly power unites with the holy
power; in that after uniting (them) he separates (them), therefore the holy
power separates from the kingly power. With the seasons [1] they consecrate
him; with the seasons likewise he must be set free; 'As a mother her son, the
earth Agni of the dust', he says; verily having consecrated him with the seasons,
with the season he sets him free. With (a verse) addressed to Vaiçvanara, he
takes the sling; verily he makes it ready. For Nirrti there are three (bricks)
black, dried by a chaff fire; chaff is the portion of Nirrti, black is the form
of Nirrti; verily by her own form he propitiates Nirrti. They go to this
quarter; this [2] is the quarter of Nirrti; verily in her own quarter he
propitiates Nirrti. He places (it) in a self-made hole or a cleft; that is the
abode of Nirrti; verily he propitiates Nirrti in her own abode. He places
(them) over against the sling, the noose is connected with Nirrti; verily he
frees him straightway from the noose of Nirrti. He places three, man is
threefold in arrangement; verily he removes by sacrifice Nirrti from the whole
extent of man. He places them going away (from the place of sacrifice); verily
he drives away Nirrti from him [3]. They return without looking round, to
conceal Nirrti. Having purified, they pay reverence, for purity. To the
Garhapatya they pay reverence; verily having wandered in the world of Nirrti,
they return, purified, to the world of the gods. They pay reverence with one
(verse); verily in one place they bestow strength on the sacrificer. 'Abode and
collector of riches', he says; rich are offspring and cattle; verily he unites
him with offspring and cattle.
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