422 ON THE ve'das, 



herbs and trees. The breast opened; from the 

 breast, mind issued : and, from mind, the moon. 

 The navel burst : from the navel, came degluti- 

 tion*; from that, death. The generative organ 

 hurst: thence flowed productive seed; whence 

 waters drew their origin. 



' These deities, being thus framed, fell into this 

 Vast ocean ; and to him they came with thirst and 

 hunger: and him they thus addressed; "Grant 

 lis a [smaller] size, wherein abiding we may eat 

 food." He oftered to them [the form of] a cow : 

 the}^ said, " that is not sufficient for us." He ex- 

 hibited to them [the form of] a horse : they said, 

 *' neither is that sufficient for us." He showed 

 them the human form : they exclaimed : " well 

 done ! ah ! wonderful !" Therefore man alone is 

 [pronounced to be] " well formed," 



" He bade them occupy their respective places. 

 Fire becoming speech, entered the mouth. Air, 

 becoming breath, proceeded to the nostrils. The 

 sun, becoming sight, penetrated the eyes. Spa^ce 

 became hearing and occupied the ears. Herbs and 

 trees became hair and filled the skin. The moon, 

 becoming mind, entered the breast. Death, be- 

 coming deglutition, penetrated the navel ; and 

 water became productive seed and occupied the 

 generative organ. 



' Hunger and thirst addressed him, saying "As- 

 sign us [our places]." He replied: " You I distri- 

 bute anu)ng these deities; and I make you parti- 



* Ap6tia. From llie aialogy between the acts af inhalinc and 

 of svallowintr, the latlti is cuii.Mclcre<i as a sort of brenlh or in- 

 gpiif.ricn: i.t-ncc ilie aii, diawn n, h\ (leiilutiiuai, is reckoned one 

 of five breaths, or airs inhaled into the body. 



