Aitareyabrahmana 5.3

5.3

āpyante vai stomā āpyante chandāṃsi tṛtīye 'hany,
etad eva tata ucchiṣyate vāg ity eva.
tad etad akṣaraṃ tryakṣaraṃ,
vāg ity ekam akṣaram, akṣaram iti tryakṣaraṃ
sa evaiṣa uttaras tryāho, vāg ekaṃ gaur ekaṃ dyaur ekaṃ
tato vai vāg eva caturtham ahar vahati
tad yac caturtham ahar nyūṅkhayanty:
etad eva tad akṣaram abhyāyachanty, etad vardhayanty,
etat prabibhāvayiṣanti caturthasyāhna udyatyā
annaṃ vai nyūṅkho.
yadelavā abhigeṣṇāś caranty, athānnādyam prajāyate.
tad yac catartham ahar nyūṅkhayanty,
annam eva tat prajanayanty annādyasya prajātyai.
tasmāc caturtham ahar jātavad bhavati
caturakṣareṇa nyūṅkhayed ity āhuś.
catuṣpādā vai paśavaḥ, paśūnām avaruddhyai
tryakṣareṇa nyūṅkhayed ity āhus.
trayo vā ime trivṛto lokā, eṣām eva lokānām abhijityā
ekākṣareṇa nyūṅkhayed, iti ha smāha Lāṅgalāyano Brahmā Maudgalya,
ekākṣarā vai vāg,
eṣa vāva samprati nyūṅkhaṃ nyūṅkhayati ya ekākṣareṇa nyūṅkhayatīti
dvyakṣareṇaiva nyūṅkhayet pratiṣṭhāyā eva.
dvipratiṣṭho vai puruṣaś catuṣpādāḥ paśavo,
yajamānam eva tad dvipratiṣṭhaṃ catuṣpātsu paśuṣu pratiṣṭhāpayati.
tasmād dvyakṣareṇaiva nyūṅkhayen
mukhataḥ prātaranuvāke nyūṅkhayati.
mukhato vai prajā annam adanti,
mukhata eva tad annādyasya yajamānaṃ dadhāti
madhyata ājye nyūṅkhayati.
madhyato vai prajā annaṃ dhinoti,
madhyata eva tad annādyasya yajamānaṃ dadhāti
mukhato madhyaṃdine nyūṅkhayati.
mukhato vai prajā annam adanti,
mukhata eva tad annādyasya yajamānaṃ dadhāti
tad ubhayato nyūṅkham parigṛhṇāti savanābhyām,
annādyasya parigṛhītyai

v. 3 (xxi. 3). The Stomas are fully obtained, the metres obtained on the third day; verily this only is left over, namely speech alone. This one element is three syllables; speech is one element, element is three syllables; this is the third set of three days, speech one, Go one, Dyo one. Therefore indeed

speech supports the fourth day. In that on the fourth day they utter the sound *o*, they extend this syllable, they make it to grow, they magnify it, to support the fourth day. The sound *o* is food; when the farmers run about shouting, thus does food come into existence; in that on the fourth day they say the sound *o*, verily thus they produce food; (it serves) for the production of food. Therefore the four days contain (the word) 'born'. 'With the first four syllables should he say *o*' they say; cattle are four-footed; (verily it serves) to win cattle. 'With three syllables should he say *o*' they say; there are three threefold worlds; (verily it serves) to conquer these worlds. 'With one syllable should he say *o*' used Lāṅgalāyana Brahman Maudgalya to say; 'Speech has one syllable; he says *o* in truth now who says *o* with one syllable'. With two syllables should he say *o*, for a support; man has two supports, cattle four feet; verily thus he makes the sacrificer with two supports to find support in fourfooted cattle. Therefore should he say *o* with two syllables. At the beginning in the morning litany he says *o*; by the mouth offspring eat food; at the beginning of proper food he places the sacrificer. In the middle in the Ājya Çastra he says *o*; in the middle food quickens offspring; verily thus in the middle of proper food he places the sacrificer. At the beginning in the midday he says *o*; by the mouth offspring eat food; verily thus at the beginning of proper food he places the sacrificer. Thus on both sides he grasps the saying of *o* with the pressings, to grasp proper food.