18. With what did he cover this earth? with what did he surround the sky? by what is man a match for (abhí) mountains in greatness? by what, for deeds?
This verse, as noted above, is wanting in Ppp.
19. With what does he go after Parjanya? with what [after] the out-looking Soma? with what [after] both sacrifice and faith? by whom was mind put in him?
Ppp. reads āpnoti for anv eti, and has for c, d our 20 c, d (but puruṣaḥ in c).
20. Wherewith does he obtain one learned in revelation (çrótriya)? wherewith this most exalted one? wherewith does man [obtain] this Agni? wherewith did he measure (make?) the year?
Ppp. has for b our 19 b again; also puruṣaḥ in c.
21. The bráhman obtains one learned in revelation, the bráhman this most exalted one; the bráhman [as] man this Agni; the bráhman measured the year.
Here and in vss. 23 and 25 an instrumental is distinctly and strongly called for, instead of the nominative bráhma; yet to call bráhma an instr., and translate it as such, does not seem possible. ⌊Cf. Caland, KZ. xxxi. 261.⌋ Ppp. reads, for c, d, brahma yajñasya çraddhā ca brahmā ’smi ca hataṁ manaḥ.
22. Wherewith does he dwell upon (? anu-kṣi) the gods? wherewith [upon] the people of the god-folk? wherewith this other asterism? whereby is authority (kṣatrá) called real (sát)?
The sense here is very obscure, and the rendering mechanical. ⌊Griffith suggests that the point may lie in using nakṣatram as if it were na kṣatram, 'non-power,' in opposition to kṣatram in d.⌋ Ppp. has, for b, kena devīr ajanayad diçaḥ. The meter requires in a kṣyati, as the forms are written in some texts. The Anukr. takes no notice of the irregularity.
23. The bráhman dwells upon the gods, the bráhman [upon] the people of the god-folk; the bráhman this other asterism; the bráhman is called real authority.
This verse is wanting in Ppp.
24. By whom is this earth disposed? by whom the sky set above? by whom this atmosphere, the expanse, set aloft and across?
Ppp. reads, for a, kene ’daṁ bhūmir nihataḥ.
25. By the bráhman is the earth disposed; the bráhman [is] the sky set above, the bráhman this atmosphere, the expanse, set aloft and across.
Ppp. reads, for a, b, brahmaṇā bhūmir niyatā brahma dyām uttarāṁ dadhāu, thus relieving in b the difficulty as to the construction of brahma. ⌊Ci. note to vs. 21.⌋
