Maitrāyaṇīya Āraṇyaka 6.13

Now it has also been said elsewhere: Verily, this food is the all-supporting body of the blessed Viṣṇu. The vital breath is the essence of food, the mind of the vital breath, knowledge of the mind, bliss of knowledge. Possessed of food, possessed of vital breath, possessed of mind, possessed of knowledge, and possessed of bliss does he become who knows thus. As many creatures as eat food here, among so many does he, residing within, eat food who knows thus. Food indeed is ageless; food is recorded as love; food is the vital breath of animals; food is the eldest; food is recorded as the physician.

Now it has also been said elsewhere: Food is indeed the source of this whole universe, and time is the source of food; the sun is the source of time.

The form of that [time] is the year, consisting of twelve [months], gathered together from units of time beginning with the twinkling of an eye. Half of it belongs to Agni, half belongs to Varuṇa.

Beginning with Maghā and ending with half of Śraviṣṭhā is the half belonging to Agni in forward order; in reverse order, beginning with Sārpā (Āśleṣā) and ending with half of Śraviṣṭhā is the half belonging to Soma.

There, each [month] of the Self is a ninefold division,

Because of its subtlety, this is the measure of movement: for by this alone is time measured. There is no

apprehension of the object of knowledge without a means of knowledge; and even the object of knowledge arrives at the nature of a means of knowledge

through distinction, for the purpose of self-awakening. For thus it is said: As many as