Aitareyabrahmana 6.27: adhyāya 30, khaṇḍaḥ 1-10

6.27

śilpāni śaṃsanti
devaśilpāny, eteṣām vai śilpānām anukṛtīha śilpam adhigamyate.
hastī kaṃso vāso hiraṇyam aśvatarīrathaḥ śilpaṃ
śilpaṃ hāsminn adhigamyate ya evaṃ veda
yad eva śilpānī+n \
ātmasaṃskṛtir vāva śilpāni,
chandomayaṃ vā etair yajamāna ātmānaṃ saṃskurute
nābhānediṣṭhaṃ śaṃsati
reto vai Nābhānediṣṭho, retas tat siñcati
tam aniruktaṃ śaṃsaty.
aniruktaṃ vai reto guhā yonyāṃ sicyate
sa retomiśro bhavati:
kṣmayā retaḥ saṃjagmāno ni ṣiñcad iti, retaḥsamṛddhyā eva
taṃ sanārāśaṃsaṃ śaṃsati.
prajā vai naro vāk śaṃsaḥ, prajāsv eva tad vācaṃ dadhāti.
tasmād imāḥ prajā vadantyo jāyante
taṃ haike purastāc chaṃsanti:
purastādāyatanā vāg iti vadanta
upariṣṭād eka:
upariṣṭādāyatanā vāg iti vadanto
madhya eva śaṃsen.
madhyāyatanā vā iyaṃ vāg
upariṣṭānnedīyasīvopariṣṭān nedīyasīva vā iyaṃ vāk
taṃ hotā retobhūtaṃ siktvā maitrāvaruṇāya samprayachaty:
etasya tvam prāṇān kalpayeti

vi. 27 (xxx. 1). They recite the Çilpas. These are the works of art of the gods; in imitation of these works of art here is a work of art accomplished; an elephant, a goblet, a garment, a gold object, a mule chariot are

works of art; a work of art is accomplished in him who knows thus. As to these ‘works of art’ (Çastras), the Çilpas are a perfection of the self; verily by them the sacrificer perfects himself as composed of the metres. He recites the Nābhānediṣṭha (hymn); the Nābhānediṣṭha (hymn) is seed; thus he pours seed; he recites it without mention (of the deity); without mention is seed secretly poured in the womb. He becomes mingled with seed: ‘United with earth he sprinkled seed’ (he says); verily (it serves) to perfect seed. He recites it with the Nārāçaṅsa (hymn); man is offspring, praise speech; verily thus he places speech in offspring, therefore offspring are born speaking. Some recite it before saying ‘Speech has its place in front’; others after saying ‘Speech has its place behind’; in the middle should he recite it; speech has its place in the middle; in a place nearer the end; speech is nearer the back as it were. It the Hotṛ having poured in seed form hands over to the Maitrāvaruṇa, (saying) ‘Do thou provide the breaths for it’.