Aitareyabrahmana 1.23

1.23

devāsurā vā eṣu lokeṣu samayatanta.
te vā asurā imān eva lokān puro 'kurvata, yathaujīyāṃso baliyāṃsa evaṃ.
te vā ayasmayīm evemām akurvata rajatām antarikṣaṃ hariṇīṃ divaṃ,
te tathemām̐l lokān puro 'kurvata.
te devā abruvan:
puro vā ime 'surā imām̐l lokān akrata,
pura imām̐l lokān pratikaravāmahā iti. tatheti.
te sada evāsyāḥ pratyakurvatāgnīdhram antarikṣād dhavirdhāne divas.
te tathemām̐l lokān puraḥ pratyakurvata
te devā abruvann:
upasada upāyāmopasadā vai mahāpuraṃ jayantīti. tatheti.
te yām eva prathamām upasadam upāyaṃs tayaivainān asmāl lokād anudanta,
yāṃ dvitīyāṃ tayāntarikṣād, yāṃ tṛtīyāṃ tayā divas.
tāṃs tathaibhyo lokebhyo 'nudanta
te vā ebhyo lokebhyo nuttā asurā ṛtūn aśrayanta.
te deva abruvann:
upasada evopāyāmeti. tatheti.
ta imās tisraḥ satīr upasado dvir-dvir ekaikām upāyaṃs,
taḥ ṣaṭ samapadyanta. ṣaḍ vā ṛtavas. tān vā ṛtubhyo 'nudanta
te vā ṛtubhyo nuttā asurā māsān aśrayanta.
te devā abruvann:
upasada evopāyāmeti. tatheti.
ta imāḥ ṣaṭ satīr upasado dvir-dvir ekaikām upāyaṃs,
tā dvādaśa samapadyanta. dvādaśa vai māsas. tān vai māsebhyo 'nudanta
te vai māsebhyo nuttā asurā ardhamāsān aśrayanta.
te devā abruvann:
upasada evopāyāmeti. tatheti.
ta imā dvādaśa satīr upasado dvir-dvir ekaikām upāyaṃs,
tāś caturviṃśatiḥ samapadyanta. caturviṃśatir vā ardhamāsās.
tān vā ardhamāsebhyo 'nudanta
te 'vā ardhamāsebhyo nuttā asurā ahorātre aśrayanta.
te devā abruvann:
upasadāv evopāyāmeti. tatheti.
te yām eva pūrvāhṇa upasadam upāyaṃs tayaivainān ahno 'nudanta,
yām aparāhṇe tayā rātres, tāṃs tathobhābhyām antarāyaṃs
tasmāt supūrvāhṇa eva pūrvayopasadā pracaritavyaṃ svaparāhṇe 'parayā;
tāvantam eva tad dviṣate lokam pariśinaṣṭi

i. 23 (iv. 6). The gods and the Asuras strove for these worlds; the Asuras made these worlds as citadels, just as those who are more mighty and forceful. They made this (earth) an iron (citadel), the atmosphere one of silver, and the sky one of gold; thus they made these worlds as citadels. The gods said, ‘The Asuras have made these worlds as citadels, let us make these worlds as citadels in opposition.’ ‘Be it so’ (they replied). They made out of this (earth) as a counterpoise the Sadas, the Agnīdh’s altar from the atmosphere, the two oblation holders from the sky. Thus they made these worlds as citadels in opposition. The gods said, ‘Let us have recourse to the Upasads; by siege (Upasad) they conquer a great citadel.’ ‘Be it so’ (they replied). With the first Upasad which they performed they repelled them from this world; with the second from the atmosphere, with the third from the sky. Thus from these worlds they repelled them. The Asuras, repelled from these worlds, had recourse to the seasons. The gods said, ‘Let us have recourse to the Upasads.’ ‘Be it so’ (they replied). These three Upasads they performed one by one twice each; they made up six; the seasons are six; them they repelled from the seasons; they, repelled from the seasons, the Asuras, had recourse to the months. The gods said, ‘Let us have recourse to the Upasads.’ ‘Be it so’ (they replied). These Upasads being six they performed one by one twice each; they made up twelve; the months are twelve; them they repelled from the months. The Asuras, repelled from the months, had recourse to the half-months. The gods said, ‘Let us have recourse to the half-months.’ ‘Be it so’ (they replied). These Upasads being twelve they performed one by one twice each; they made up twenty-four; the half-months are twenty-four them they repelled from the half-months. The Asuras, repelled from the half-months, had recourse to day and night. The gods said, ‘Let us have recourse to the two Upasads.’ ‘Be it so’ (they replied). With the Upasad which they performed on the forenoon they repelled them from the day, by that on the afternoon, from the night; thus from both they excluded them. Therefore one should proceed with the first Upasad early

in the forenoon, with the second early in the afternoon. So much only of space does he leave to his enemy.