Aitareyabrahmana 2.2.p13

2.2.p13

ii. 16 (vii. 6). When Prajāpati himself as Hotṛ was about to recite the morning litany, all the deities expected 'With me will he begin; with me.' Prajāpati pondered, 'If I shall begin with one specified deity, then by what means shall I obtain the other deities?' He saw this verse, 'O waters, the rich ones'; the waters are all the deities; the rich ones are all the deities. With this verse he began the morning litany. All these deities were delighted, 'With me has he begun; with me!' All the deities delight in him beginning the morning litany. By him who knows thus the morning litany is provided with all the deities. The gods were afraid, 'The Asuras will take from us this morning sacrifice, just as those that have more force and might.' To them said Indra 'Fear not; against them in the morning shall I hurl my thunderbolt thrice made perfect.' This verse did he speak; it is a thunderbolt, in that it is addressed to the son of the waters; it is a thunderbolt, in that it is a Triṣṭubh; it is a thunderbolt in that it is speech. It he hurled against them; with it he slew them; thus indeed the gods prospered, the Asuras were defeated. He prospers himself, the evil rival who hates him is defeated, who knows this. They say 'He indeed would be a Hotṛ who in this verse could produce all the metres'; this thrice repeated supports all the metres; this is the generating of the metres.