Aitareyabrahmana 2.18

2.18

On this they say: 'How is the morning litany to be recited?' The morning litany is to be recited metre by metre. The metres are the limbs of Prajāpati, and he who sacrifices is Prajāpati himself. That is beneficial for the sacrificer. The morning litany is to be recited verse-foot by verse-foot. Cattle are four-footed; [it is] for securing cattle. It should be recited only half-verse by half-verse, as he recites it now; [it is] for a firm foundation. Man has a twofold foundation, cattle are four-footed; he thus establishes the sacrificer having a twofold foundation upon four-footed cattle. Therefore it should be recited only half-verse by half-verse. On this they say: 'When the morning litany is transposed, how does it become untransposed?' In that its bṛhatī does not depart from the middle, by that [it becomes untransposed], one should say. Some deities have oblations as their portion, others have stomas as their portion, [others] metres as their portion. With those oblations which are offered into the fire, he pleases those having oblations as their portion; and in that they chant praises and recite, thereby [he pleases] those having stomas and metres as their portion. Both these [groups of] deities become pleased and propitiated for him, who knows this. Thirty-three gods are soma-drinkers, thirty-three non-soma-drinkers. Eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, twelve Ādityas, and Prajāpati and the Vaṣaṭ-call: these gods are soma-drinkers. Eleven fore-offerings, eleven after-offerings, eleven supplementary offerings: these are the non-soma-drinkers, whose portion is the animal victim. With soma he pleases the soma-drinkers, with the animal victim the non-soma-drinkers. Both these [groups of] deities become pleased and propitiated for him, who knows this. 'The Dawn has appeared with shining herds'—with this final [verse] he concludes. Regarding this they say: 'Since he recites three ceremonies—the one belonging to Agni, the one belonging to the Dawn, and the one belonging to the Aśvins—how, when he concludes with a single verse, are all three ceremonies concluded?' 'The Dawn has appeared with shining herds' is the form of the Dawn; 'Agni has been placed, suitable for the season' is of Agni; 'Your chariot, yielding wealth, has been yoked, O wondrous, immortal ones; listen to my call, O sweet ones' is of the Aśvins. Thus, when he concludes with a single verse, all three ceremonies are indeed concluded.