Aitareyabrahmana 3.3.p4

3.3.p4

iii. 26 (xiii. 2). The gods said to the Gāyatrī ‘Do thou fetch the Soma, the king, for us.’ ‘Be it so,’ she replied, ‘do ye accompany me with the recitation of the whole (formula for a) safe passage.’ ‘Be it so’ (they said). She flew up; her the gods accompanied with the recitation of the whole (formula for a) safe passage, containing the words ‘forward’ and ‘hither’. (The words) ‘forward’ and ‘hither’ are the whole (formula for a) safe passage; therefore him who is dear to him he should accompany with this (recitation) containing ‘forward’ and ‘hither’; verily safely he goes, safely he returns. She, having flown and having terrified the guardians of the Soma, grasped with foot and mouth Soma the king, and also grasped the syllables which the other two metres had dropped. Having shot at her, Kṛçānu, a Soma guardian, cut off the nail of her left foot; that became a porcupine; therefore is it like a nail. The fat that flowed became the barren cow; therefore is it the oblation as it were. The socket and the point became a serpent, not biting; from its swiftness (came) the viper; the feathers became flying foxes, the sinews earthworms, the shaft the blind snake. Thus became the arrow.