Aitareyabrahmana 1.7: adhyāya 2, khaṇḍaḥ 1-5

1.7

svargaṃ vā etena lokam upa prayanti yat prāyaṇīyas,
tat prāyaṇīyasya prāyaṇīyatvam
prāṇo vai prāyaṇīya, udāna udayanīyaḥ, samāno hotā bhavati,
samānau hi prāṇodānau, prāṇānāṃ kḷptyai prāṇānām pratiprajñātyai
yajño vai devebhya udakrāmat,
te devā na kiṃ canāśaknuvan kartuṃ na prājānaṃs.
te 'bruvann Aditiṃ:
tvayemaṃ yajñam prajānāmeti.
sā tathety abravīt, sā vai vo varaṃ vṛṇā iti.
vṛṇīṣveti. saitam eva varam avṛṇīta:
matprāyaṇā yajñāḥ santu madudayanā iti. tatheti.
tasmād ādityaś caruḥ prāyaṇīyo bhavaty āditya udayanīyo, varavṛto hy asyā
atho etaṃ varam avṛṇīta:
mayaiva prācīṃ diśam prajānāthāgninā dakṣiṇāṃ,
Somena pratīcīṃ, Savitrodīcīm iti
Pathyāṃ yajati
yat Pathyāṃ yajati, tasmād asau pura udeti, paścāstam eti;
Pathyāṃ hy eṣo 'nusaṃcaraty
Agniṃ yajati
yad Agniṃ yajati, tasmād dakṣiṇato 'gra oṣadhayaḥ
pacyamānā āyanty, āgneyyo hy oṣadhayaḥ
Somaṃ yajati
yat Somaṃ yajati, tasmāt pratīcyo 'py āpo bahvyaḥ
syandante, saumyā hy āpaḥ 11 Savitāram yajati
yat Savitāraṃ yajati, tasmād uttarataḥ paścād ayam bhūyiṣṭham
pavamānaḥ pavate, savitṛprasūto hy eṣa etat pavata
uttamām Aditiṃ yajati
yad uttamām Aditiṃ yajati,
tasmād asāv imāṃ vṛṣṭyābhyunatty abhijighrati
pañca devatā yajati, pāṅkto yajñaḥ.
sarvā diśaḥ kalpante, kalpate yajño 'pi
tasyai janatāyai kalpate yatraivaṃ vidvān hotā bhavati

i. 7 (ii. 1). In that there is the introductory (sacrifice), thereby they advance to the world of heaven; that is why the introductory (sacrifice: Prāyaṇīya) has its name (advancing). The introductory (sacrifice) is expiration, the concluding (sacrifice) is out-breathing, the Hotṛ is common, for expiration and out-breathing are common, for the arrangement of the breaths, for the discrimination of the breaths. The sacrifice went away from the gods; the gods could do nothing, they could not discern it. They said to Aditi, 'Through thee let us discern the sacrifice.' She said, 'So be it, but let me choose a boon from you.' 'Choose' (they replied). This boon she choose, 'Let the sacrifices begin from me and end with me.' 'So be it' (they replied). Therefore there is a pap to Aditi as introductory (offering), (a pap) to Aditi as concluding (offering), for as a boon by her was this chosen. Moreover she chose this boon, 'Through me shall ye know the eastern quarter, through Agni the southern, through Soma the western, through Savitṛ the northern.' He says the offering verse for Pathyā; in that he says the offering verse for Pathyā, therefore does yonder (sun) arise in the east and set in the west, for it follows Pathyā. He says the offering verse for Agni; in that he says the offering verse for Agni, therefore from the south the plants come first ripe, for the plants are connected with Agni. He says the offering verse for Soma; in that he says the

offering verse for Soma therefore westward flow many rivers, for the waters are connected with Soma. He says the offering verse for Savitṛ; in that he says the offering verse for Savitṛ, therefore on the north-west he that blows blows most, for he blows instigated by Savitṛ. For Aditi last he says the offering verse; in that he says the offering verse for Aditi last, therefore yonder (sky) wets this (earth) with rain and snuffs it up. For five deities does he say the offering verses; the sacrifice is fivefold; all the regions are in order, the sacrifice also is in order, for that people is (all) in order, where there is a Hotṛ knowing thus.