Aitareyabrahmana 6.4: adhyāya 27, khaṇḍaḥ 1-5

6.4

devā vai yajñam atanvata, tāṃs tanvānān asurā abhyāyan:
yajñaveśasam eṣāṃ kariṣyāma iti.
tān dakṣiṇata upāyan, yata eṣāṃ yajñasya taniṣṭham amanyanta.
te devāḥ pratibudhya Mitrāvaruṇau dakṣiṇataḥ paryauhaṃs,
te Mitrāvaruṇābhyām eva dakṣiṇataḥ prātaḥsavane 'surarakṣāṃsy apāghnata.
tathaivaitad yajamānā
Mitrāvaruṇābhyām eva dakṣiṇataḥ prātaḥsavane 'surarakṣaṃsy apaghnate.
tasmān maitrāvaruṇam maitrāvaruṇaḥ prātaḥsavane śaṃsati,
Mitrāvaruṇābhyāṃ hi devā dakṣiṇataḥ prātaḥsavane 'surarakṣāṃsy apāghnata
te vai dakṣiṇato 'pahatā asurā madhyato yajñam prāviśaṃs.
te devāḥ pratibudhyendram madhyato 'dadhus,
ta Indreṇaiva madhyataḥ prātaḥsavane 'surarakṣāṃsy apāghnata.
tathaivaitad yajamānā
Indreṇaiva madhyataḥ prātaḥsavane 'surarakṣāṃsy apaghnate.
tasmād aindram brāhmaṇācchaṃsī prātaḥsavane śaṃsatīndreṇa
hi devā madhyataḥ prātaḥsavane 'surarakṣāṃsy apāghnata
te vai madhyato 'pahatā asurā uttarato yajñam prāviśaṃs.
te devāḥ pratibudhyendrāgnī uttarataḥ paryauhaṃs,
ta Indrāgnibhyāṃ evottarataḥ prātaḥsavane 'surarākṣāṃsy apāghnata.
tathaivaitad yajamānā
Indrāgnibhyām evottarataḥ prātaḥsavane 'surarakṣāṃsy apaghnate.
tasmād aindrāgnam achāvākaḥ prātaḥsavane śaṃsatīndrāgnibhyāṃ
hi devā uttarataḥ prātaḥsavane 'surarakṣāṃsy apāghnata
te vā uttarato 'pahatā asurāḥ purastāt paryadravan samanīkatas.
te devāḥ pratibudhyāgnim purastāt prātaḥsavane paryauhaṃs,
te 'gninaiva purastāt prātaḥsavane 'surarakṣāṃsy apāghnata.
tathaivaitad yajamānā
Agninaiva purastāt prātaḥsavane 'surarakṣāṃsy apaghnate.
tasmād āgneyam prātaḥsavanam
apa pāpmānaṃ hate ya evaṃ veda
te vai purastād apahatā asurāḥ paścāt parītya prāviśaṃs.
te devāḥ pratibudhya Viśvān devān ātmānaṃ paścāt tṛtīyasavane paryauhaṃs,
te Viśvair eva devair ātmabhiḥ paścāt tṛtīyasavane 'surarakṣāṃsy apāghnata.
tathaivaitad yajamānā
Viśvair eva devair ātmabhiḥ paścāt tṛtīyasavane 'surarakṣāṃsy apaghnate.
tasmād vaiśvadevaṃ tṛtīyasavanam
apa pāpmānaṃ hate ya evaṃ veda
te vai devā asurān evam apāghnata sarvasmād eva yajñāt.
tato vai devā abhavan, parāsurā
bhavaty ātmanā, parāsya dviṣan pāpmā bhrātṛvyo bhavati,
ya evaṃ veda
te devā evaṃ kḷptena yajñenāpāsurān pāpmānam aghnatājayan svargaṃ lokam
apa ha vai dviṣantam pāpmānam bhrātṛvyaṃ hate,
jayati svargaṃ lokaṃ ya evaṃ veda yaś caivaṃ vidvān savanāni kalpayati

vi. 4 (xxvii. 1). The gods performed a sacrifice; as they were performing it the Asuras came up to them (saying) 'We will make a confusion of their sacrifice.' From the south they approached them, where they thought was the thinnest part of the sacrifice. The gods perceiving this put Mitra and Varuṇa around on the south; by means of Mitra and Varuṇa on the south at the morning pressing they smote away the Asuras and the Rakṣases. Verily thus also the sacrificers by means of Mitra and Varuṇa on the south at the morning pressing smite away the Asuras and the Rakṣases. Therefore the Maitrāvaruṇa recites (the litany) to Mitra and Varuṇa at the morning pressing, for by means of Mitra and Varuṇa the gods smote away the Asuras and the Rakṣases on the south at the morning pressing. Smitten off at the south the Asuras entered

the sacrifice in the middle. The gods perceiving this placed Indra in the middle; they with Indra in the middle smote away the Asuras and Rakṣases at the morning pressing. Verily thus also the sacrificers with Indra in the middle smite away the Asuras and the Rakṣases at the morning pressing. Therefore the Brāhmaṇācchaṅsin at the morning pressing recites (a litany) to Indra, for with Indra in the middle the gods at the morning pressing smote away the Asuras and the Rakṣases. The Asuras, smitten off in the middle, entered the sacrifice from the north. The gods, perceiving this, put Indra and Agni around on the north; with Indra and Agni on the north at the morning pressing they smote away the Asuras and the Rakṣases. Verily thus also the sacrificers with Indra and Agni on the north at the morning pressing smite away the Asuras and the Rakṣases. Therefore the Achāvāka at the morning pressing recites (a litany) to Indra and Agni, for with Indra and Agni on the north at the morning pressing the gods smote away the Asuras and the Rakṣases. The Asuras smitten off on the north ran round to the front in battle array. The gods perceiving this placed Agni around in front at the morning pressing; with Agni in front at the morning pressing they smote away the Asuras and the Rakṣases. Verily thus also the sacrificers with Agni in front at the morning pressing smite away the Asuras and the Rakṣases. Therefore the morning pressing is connected with Agni. He smites away evil who knows thus. The Asuras, smitten off in front, having gone round to the back entered. The gods, perceiving this, put the All-gods, as their self, around behind at the third pressing; they with the All-gods, as themselves, behind at the third pressing smote away the Asuras and the Rakṣases. Verily thus also the sacrificers with the All-gods, as themselves, behind at the third pressing smite away the Asuras and the Rakṣases. Therefore the third pressing is connected with the All-gods. He smites away evil who knows thus. So the gods smote away the Asuras from the whole of the sacrifice. Then the gods prospered, the Asuras were defeated. He prospers himself, the evil rival who hates him is defeated, who knows thus. The gods with the sacrifice so ordered smote away the Asuras, the evil, and conquered the world of heaven. He smites away the evil rival who hates him and conquers the world of heaven who knows thus and who knowing thus orders the pressings.