Aitareyabrahmana 3.4.p3

3.4.p3

'Do thou come too; thou art one of us.' He replied 'I shall not follow you if I am not sung to; sing now to me.' They, having risen, and having returned, praised him; them praised he followed. Becoming in three rows, he went to battle for conquest with the Asuras in three columns; 'in three rows' (he says); verily he made the metres rows; 'in three columns' (he says); the pressings (he made) the columns. Them he defeated invincibly; then indeed the gods prospered, the Asuras were defeated. He prospers himself, the evil rival who hates him is defeated, who knows thus. The Agniṣṭoma is the Gāyatrī; the Gāyatrī has twenty-four syllables; there are twenty-four Stotras and Çastras in the Agniṣṭoma. This is why they say 'A horse well loaded gives (its rider) comfort. This is the Gāyatrī; the Gāyatrī is not content with the earth; taking with it the sacrificer it goes aloft to the sky.' This is the Agniṣṭoma; the Agniṣṭoma is not content with the earth; taking with it the sacrificer it goes aloft to the sky. The Agniṣṭoma is the year; the year has twenty-four half-months; there are twenty-four Stotras and Çastras in the Agniṣṭoma. As in the ocean all streams, so in it all the sacrificial rites are resolved.