Aitareyabrahmana 2.29

2.29

The season-offerings are the vital breaths. When they proceed with the season-offerings, they place the vital breaths in the sacrificer. Six times they sacrifice with 'by the season'; they place the out-breath in the sacrificer. Four times they sacrifice with 'by the seasons'; they place the in-breath in the sacrificer. Twice with 'by the season' at the end; they place the diffused breath in the sacrificer. This breath is threefold: out-breath, in-breath, and diffused breath. That they sacrifice with 'by the season', 'by the seasons', and 'by the season' is for the continuity of the vital breaths, for the non-interruption of the vital breaths. The season-offerings are the vital breaths. One should not pronounce the second vaṣaṭ for the season-offerings. The seasons are uncompleted, one by one. If he were to pronounce the second vaṣaṭ for the season-offerings, he would bring the uncompleted seasons to completion. The second vaṣaṭ is completion. Whoever should say of him then: 'He has brought the uncompleted seasons to completion; bad years will occur,' it would surely be so. Therefore, he should not pronounce the second vaṣaṭ for the season-offerings.