Śāṅkhāyana (Kauṣītaki) Āraṇyaka 7.21

7.21

ŚĀ 7,21
gatiḥ pūrvvarūpaṃ nivṛttir uttararūpaṃ sthitiḥ saṃhiteti jāratkārava ārtabhāgaḥ | tasyām etasyāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dhvaṃsayo nimeṣāḥ kāṣṭhāḥ kalāḥ kṣaṇā muhūrtā ahorātrā ardhamāsā māsā ṛtavaḥ saṃvatsarāś ca saṃdhīyante | saiṣā saṃhitainān kālān saṃdadhāti | kālo gatinivṛttisthitīḥ saṃdadhāti | gatinivṛttisthitibhir idaṃ sarvaṃ saṃdhīyate | ityadhidaivatam | athādhyātmam - bhūtaṃ pūrvarūpaṃ bhaviṣyad uttararūpaṃ bhavat saṃhiteti kālasaṃdhiḥ | tad etad ṛcābhyuditam - mahat tan nāma guhyaṃ puruspṛg yena bhutaṃ janayo yena bhavyam | pratnaṃ jātaṃ jyotir yad asya priyaṃ priyāḥ samaviśanta pañca || iti | sa ya evam etāṃ saṃhitāṃ veda saṃdhīyate prajayā paśubhir yaśasā brahmavarcasena svargeṇa lokena sarvam āyur eti ||

"Motion is the first member, cessation the second member, rest the continuous text (saṃhitā)," says Jāratkārava Ārtabhāga. In this continuous text (saṃhitā), sparks, winks, kāṣṭhās, kalās, moments, muhūrtas, days and nights, fortnights, months, seasons, and years are joined together. This continuous text (saṃhitā) joins these divisions of time. Time joins motion, cessation, and rest. By motion, cessation, and rest, this all is joined together. Thus with respect to the deities. Now with respect to the self: "The past is the first member, the future the second member, the present the continuous text (saṃhitā)"—such is the junction of time. This has been declared by the Ṛgvedic verse: / 'Great is that secret name, much-desired, / by which thou didst generate the past, by which the future. / An ancient light was born which was dear to him; / the five dear [peoples] entered into it.' / He who knows this continuous text (saṃhitā) thus is joined with offspring, cattle, fame, brahminical splendour, and the heavenly world; he attains a full lifespan.