Kaṭha Āraṇyaka 2.19

2.19

daśākṣarā virāḍannaṃ virāḍ . virājyevānnādye pratitiṣṭhati . kindīkṣayā spṛṇotītyāhuḥ kimavāntara-dīkṣayeti . ātmānameva dīkṣayā spṛṇoti prajāmavāntaradīkṣayā . dvādaśa vā eṣa varṣāṇi dīkṣito bhavati yo brahmacārī . tasya vā eṣā dīṣkā yadavāntaradīkṣā . mekhalāmābadhnāte . daṇḍamupayaśchati . samidha āharati . punaradhyāharati . audumbarīrbhavanti . ūrgvā udumbara . ūrjameva brahma-cāriṇi nidadhāti . parṇamayīrbhavanti . brahmavarcasaṃ vai parṇo . brahmavarcasameva brahmacāriṇi nidadhāti . śamīmayīrbhavanti . tejo vai śamī . teja eva brahmacāriṇi nidadhāti 198 agne vratapate pṛthivī samiditi prathamām̐ sami-dhamādadhāti . agnirvai devānāmpṛthivyāyāṃ vratapatis . tasmā eva procya vratañcarati . vratyo bhavati 198-1 vāyo vratapate antarikṣassamiditi dvitīyāṃ samidhamādadhāti . vāyurvai devānāmantarikṣe vratapatis . tasmā eva procya vratañcarati . vratyo bhavati 198-2 sūrya vratapate dyaussamiditi tṛtīyāṃ samidhamādadhāti . sūryo vai devānāmamuṣmiṃ lloke vratapatis . tasmā eva procya vratañcarati . vratyo bhavati . nābhivyāharati nābhiprekṣate . teja evātmandhatte . parvaṇi tiṣṭheddivā āsīta naktam̐ satejastvāyāgninādityena ca śrītamaśnāti . havirvai dīkṣito . havirevātti . samāpte'nvāha . pra vā itarebhyo lokebhyaścyavate yo brahmacārī . yadita ūrdhvaṃ samidha ādadhātya-muṣmiṃstena loke pratitiṣṭhati . yadamuto'rvāṅ pratyādadhātyasmiṃstena loke pratitiṣṭhati . yadā garmuto virohati tadānubrūyād . dhariṇo yadā yavamatti tadānubrūyāt . sūkaro yadā bisamatti tadānubrūyād .

The Virāj consists of ten syllables; the Virāj is food. Verily he is established in the Virāj, in proper food. They say: 'What does he save through the consecration? What through the intermediate consecration?' Verily he saves himself through the consecration, and offspring through the intermediate consecration. For twelve years indeed is he consecrated who is a Vedic student. This intermediate consecration is indeed his consecration. He fastens the girdle. He takes up the staff. He fetches kindling sticks. He brings [them] over again. They are of udumbara wood. Nourishment, indeed, is the udumbara. Verily he places nourishment in the Vedic student. They are of palāśa wood. Priestly splendor, indeed, is the palāśa. Verily he places priestly splendor in the Vedic student. They are of śamī wood. Fiery energy, indeed, is the śamī. Verily he places fiery energy in the Vedic student. 'O Agni, lord of vows, the earth is the kindling stick,' saying this he puts on the first kindling stick. Agni indeed among the gods is the lord of vows on the earth. Having declared it to him, he performs the vow; he becomes fit for vows. 'O Vāyu, lord of vows, the atmosphere is the kindling stick,' saying this he puts on the second kindling stick. Vāyu indeed among the gods is the lord of vows in the atmosphere. Having declared it to him, he performs the vow; he becomes fit for vows. 'O Sūrya, lord of vows, heaven is the kindling stick,' saying this he puts on the third kindling stick. Sūrya indeed among the gods is the lord of vows in yonder world. Having declared it to him, he performs the vow; he becomes fit for vows. He does not converse, nor does he look at [anyone]; he places fiery energy in himself. He should stand at the joint of the day; he should sit at night for fiery energy; he eats what is cooked by Agni and the sun. Verily the consecrated is the oblation; he eats only the oblation. When it is completed, he recites. Verily he who is a Vedic student falls away from the other worlds. When he puts on the kindling sticks upwards from here, he is thereby established in yonder world. When he puts them on backwards hither from there, he is thereby established in this world. When the garmut grass sprouts, then he should recite. When the deer eats barley, then he should recite. When the boar eats the lotus root, then he should recite.