Aitareyabrahmana 3.3.p7

3.3.p7

iii. 28 (xiii. 4). The other two metres said to the Gāyatrī ‘Our property, the syllables have come round with (you).’ ‘No,’ replied the Gāyatrī; ‘ours are they as they were found (by us).’ They disputed before the gods; the gods said ‘They are yours as they were found (by you).’ Therefore even now in a question of property they say ‘It is ours by right of finding.’ Then the Gāyatrī was of eight syllables, the Triṣṭubh of three, the Jagatī of one. The eight-syllable Gāyatrī supported the morning pressing; the Triṣṭubh with three syllables could not support the midday pressing; to her the Gāyatrī said ‘Let me come; let there be a portion for me here also.’ ‘Be it so,’ replied the Triṣṭubh, ‘Do thou unite me with these eight syllables.’ ‘Be it so’ (she said); her she united; thus to the Gāyatrī at the midday belong the last two (verses) of the strophe of the Marutvatīya and the antistrophe. She, having become of eleven syllables, supported the midday pressing. The Jagatī having one syllable could not support the third pressing; to her the Gāyatrī said ‘Let me come; let there be a portion for me here also. ‘Be it so,’ replied the Jagatī, ‘Do thou unite me with these eleven syllables.’ ‘Be it so’ (she said); her she united; thus to the Gāyatrī at the third pressing belong the last two verses of the strophe of the Vaiçvadeva and the antistrophe. Having become of twelve syllables she supported the third pressing. Then indeed the Gāyatrī became of eight syllables, the Triṣṭubh of eleven syllables, and the Jagatī of twelve syllables. With all the metres of equal strength and of similar quality he prospers who knows thus. That which was one became three; therefore they say ‘It should be given to one who knows thus’; for being one it became three.