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went on. Brahman (as the Hotri) was pouring libations on the fire. While thus employed, the grandsire became excited with |
desire (and his seed came out). As soon as that seed came out, he took it up with the sacrificial ladle and poured it as a libation |
of ghee, O delighter of the Bhrigus, with the necessary Mantras, on the blazing fire. From that seed, Brahman of great energy |
caused the four orders of creatures to spring into existence. That seed of the Grandsire was endued with the three attributes of |
Sattwa, Rajas, and Tamas. From that element in it which represented the principle of Rajas, sprang all mobile creatures endued |
with the principle of Pravritti or action.[390] From the element of Tamas in it, sprang all immobile creatures. The principle of |
Sattwa, however, which dwelt in that seed, entered both kinds of existences. That attribute of Sattwa is of the nature of Tejas or |
Light (being identical with Buddhi or the Understanding). It is eternal and of it is unending Space.[391] In all creatures the |
attribute of Sattwa is present and is identical with that light which shows what is right and what is wrong. When the seed of |
Brahman was thus poured as a libation on that sacrificial fire, there sprang from it, O mighty one, three beings into existence. |
They were three male persons, endued with bodies that partook of the characters of the circumstances from which they |
respectively sprang. One arose first from the flames of the fire (called Bhrig) and hence he came to be called by the name of |
Bhrigu. A second came from the burning charcoals (called Angara) and hence he came to be called by the name of Angiras. |
The third sprang from a heap of extinguished charcoals and he came to be called by the name of Kavi. It has been already said |
that the first came out with flames emanating from his body and hence he was called Bhrigu. From the rays of the sacrificial |
fire sprang another called Marichi. From Marichi (afterwards) sprang Kasyapa. It has been already said that from the (burning) |
charcoals sprang Angiras. The (diminutive) Rishis called Valakhilyas sprang from the blades of Kusa grass spread out in that |
sacrifice. From the same blades of Kula grass, O thou of great puissance, sprang Atri. From the ashes of the fire sprang all |
those that are numbered among the regenerate Rishis, viz., the Vaikhanasas, endued with penances and devoted to Vedic lore |
and all excellent accomplishments. From the eyes of Agni sprang the twin Aswins endued with great beauty of person. At last, |
from his ears, sprang all the Prajapatis. The Rishis sprang from the pores of Agni's body. From his sweat sprang Chhandas, and |
from his strength sprang Mind. For this reason, Agni has been said to be all the deities in his individual self, by Rishis endued |
with Vedic lore, guided by the authority of the Vedas. The pieces of wood that keep alive the flames of Agni are regarded as |
the Months. The Juices that the fuel yields constitute the Fortnights. The liver of Agni is called the Day and Night, and his |
fierce light is called the Muhurtas. The blood of Agni is regarded as the source of the Rudras. From his blood sprang also the |
gold-complexioned deities called the Maitradevatas. From his smoke sprang the Vasus. From his flames sprang the Rudras as |
also the (twelve) Adityas of great effulgence. The Planets and Constellations and other stars that have been set in their |
respective orbits in the firmament, are regarded as the (burning) charcoals of Agni. The first Creator of the universe declared |
Agni to be Supreme Brahma and Eternal, and the giver of all wishes. This is verily a mystery. |
"After all these births had taken place, Mahadeva who had assumed the form of Varuna (for his sacrifice) and who had Pavana |
for his soul, said, 'This excellent Sacrifice is mine. I am the Grahapati in it. The there beings that first sprang from the |
sacrificial fire are mine. Without doubt, they should be regarded as my offspring. Know this, ye gods who range through the |
skies! They are the fruits of this Sacrifice.'" |
"Agni said, 'These offspring have sprung from my limbs. They have all depended upon me as the cause of their starting into |
life. They should, therefore, be regarded, as my children. Mahadeva in the form of Varuna is in error in respect of this |
matter.[392] After this, the master of all the worlds, the Grandsire of all creatures, viz., Brahman, then said, 'These children are |
mine. The seed was mine which I poured upon the sacrificial fire. I am the accomplisher of this Sacrifice. It was I who poured |
on the sacrificial fire the seed that came out of myself. The fruit is always his who has planted the seed. The principal cause of |
these births is the seed owned by me.' The deities then repaired to the presence of the Grandsire and having bowed their heads |
unto him joined their hands in reverence and they said unto him, "All of us, O illustrious one, and the entire universe of mobile |
and immobile creatures, are thy offspring. O sire, let Agni of blazing flames, and the illustrious and puissant Mahadeva who |
has, for this sacrifice, assumed the form of Varuna, have their wish (in the matter of the offspring).' At these words, although |
born of Brahman, the puissant Mahadeva in the form of Varuna, the ruler of all aquatic creatures received the firstborn one, |
viz., Bhrigu endued with the effulgence of the sun as his own child. The Grandsire then intended that Angiras should become |
the son of Agni. Conversant with the truth in respect of everything, the Grandsire then took Kavi as his own son. Engaged in |
procreating creatures for peopling the earth, Bhrigu who is regarded as a Prajapati thence came to be called as Varuna's |
offspring. Endued with every prosperity, Angiras came to be called the offspring of Agni, and the celebrated Kavi came to be |
known as the child of Brahman himself. Bhrigu and Angiras who had sprung from the flame and the charcoals of Agni |
respectively, became the procreators of extensive races and tribes in the world. Verily, these three, viz., Bhrigu and Angiras |
and Kavi, regarded as Prajapati, are the progenitors of many races and tribes. All are the children of these three. Know this, O |
puissant hero. Bhrigu begot seven sorts all of whom became equal to him in merits and accomplishments. Their names are |
Chyavana, Vajrasirsha, Suchi, Urva, Sukra, that giver of boons, Vibhu, and Savana. These are the seven. They are children of |
Bhrigu and are hence Bhargavas. They are also called Varunas in consequence of their ancestor Bhrigu having been adopted by |
Mahadeva in the form of Varuna. Thou belongest to the race of Bhrigu. Angiras begot eight sons. They also are known as |
Varunas. Their names are Vrihaspati, Utathya, Payasya, Santi, Dhira, Virupa, Samvarta, and Sudhan was the eighth. These |
eight are regarded also as the offspring of Agni. Freed from every evil, they are devoted to knowledge only. The sons of Kavi |
who was appropriated by Brahman himself are also known as Varunas. Numbering eight, all of them became progenitors of |
races and tribes. Auspicious by nature, they are all conversant with Brahma. The names of the eight sons of Kavi are Kavi, |
Kavya, Dhrishnu, Usanas endued with great intelligence, Bhrigu, Viraja, Kasi, and Ugra conversant with every duty. These are |
the eight sons of Kavi. By them the whole world has been peopled. They are all Prajapatis, and by them have been procreated |
many offspring. Thus, O chief of Bhrigu's race, hath the whole world been peopled with the progeny of Angiras, and Kavi and |
Bhrigu. The puissant and supreme Lord Mahadeva in the form of Varuna which he had assumed for his sacrifice had first, O |
learned Brahmana, adopted both Kavi and Angiras. Hence, these two are regarded as of Varuna. After that the eater of |
sacrificial libations, viz., the deity of blazing flames, adopted Angiras. Hence, all the progeny of Angiras are known as |
belonging to the race of Agni. The Grandsire Brahman was, in olden days, gratified by all the deities who said unto him, 'Let |
these lords of the universe (referring to Bhrigu and Angiras and Kavi and their descendants) rescue us all. Let all of them |
become progenitors of offspring (for peopling the earth). Let all of them become endued with penances. Through thy grace, let |
all these rescue the world (from becoming an uninhabited wilderness). Let them become procreators and extenders of races and |
tribes and let them increase thy energy. Let all of them become thorough masters of the Vedas and let them be achievers of |
great deeds. Let all of them be friends to the cause of the deities. Indeed, let all of them become endued with auspiciousness. |
Let them become founders of extensive races and tribes and let them be great Rishis. Let all of them be endued with high |
penances and let all of them be devoted to high Brahmacharya, All of us, as also all these are thy progeny, O thou of great |
puissance. Thou, O Grandsire, art the Creator of both, deities and the Brahmanas. Marichi is thy first son. All these also that are |
called Bhargavas are thy progeny. (Ourselves also are so). Looking at this fact, O Grandsire, we shall all aid and support one |
another. All these shall, in this way, multiply their progeny and establish thyself at the commencement of each creation after |
the universal destruction.' Thus addressed by them, Brahman, the Grandsire of all the worlds, said unto them, 'So be it! I am |
gratified with you all! Having said so unto the deities he proceeded to the place he had come from. Even this is what happened |
in days of old in that sacrifice of the high-souled Mahadeva, that foremost one of all the deities, in the beginning of creation, |
when he for the purposes of his sacrifice had assumed the form of Varuna. Agni is Brahman. He is Pasupati. He is Sarva. He is |
Rudra. He is Prajapati.[393] It is well-known that gold is the offspring of Agni. When fire is not obtainable (for the purposes of |
a sacrifice), gold is used as substitute. Guided by the indications afforded by the auditions of the Veda, one that is conversant |
with authorities and that knows the identity of gold with fire, acts in this way. Placing a piece of gold on some blades of Kusa |
grass spread out on the ground, the sacrificer pours libations upon it. Upon also the pores of an ant-hill, upon the right ear of a |
goat, upon a piece of level earth, upon the waters of a Tirtha, or on the hand of a Brahmana, if libations are poured, the |
illustrious deity of fire becomes gratified and regards It as a source of his own aggrandisement as also that of the deities |
through his. Hence, it is that we have heard that all the deities regard Agni as their refuse and are devoted to him. Agni sprang |
from Brahman, and from Agni sprang gold.[394] Hence, it has been heard by us, that those persons observant of righteousness |
that make gifts of gold are regarded as giving away all the deities. The man who makes gifts of gold attains to a very high end. |
Regions of blazing effulgence are his. Verily, O Bhargava, he becomes installed as the king of kings in heaven. That person |
who, at sunrise, makes a gift of gold according to the ordinance and with proper Mantras, succeeds in warding off the evil |
consequences foreshadowed by ominous dreams. The man who, as soon as the sun has risen, makes a gift of gold becomes |
cleansed of all his sins. He who makes a gift of gold at midday destroys all his future sins. He who with restrained soul, makes |
a gift of gold at the second twilight succeeds in attaining to a residence with Brahman and the deity of wind and Agni and |
Soma in their respective regions. Such a man attains to auspicious fame in regions of great felicity that belong to Indra himself. |
Attaining to great fame in this world also, and cleansed of all his sins, he sports in joy and happiness. Verily, such a man attains |
to many other regions of happiness and becomes unequalled for glory and fame. His course perfectly unobstructed, he succeeds |
in going everywhere at will. He has never to fall down from the regions to which he attains and the glory he acquires becomes |
great. Indeed, by making gifts of gold one attains to innumerable regions of felicity all of which he enjoys for eternity. That |
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