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 man who, having ignited a fire at sunrise, makes gifts of gold in view of the observance of a particular vow, succeeds in attaining to the fruition of all his wishes.  It has been said that gold is identical with Agni.  The gift of gold, therefore, is productive of great felicity.  The gift of gold leads to the possession of those merits