Aitareyabrahmana 2.32

2.32

The silent praise constitutes the two eyes of the pressings. 'Bhūḥ, Agni is light, light is Agni' are the two eyes of the morning pressing. 'Indra is light, Bhuvaḥ, light is Indra' are the two eyes of the midday pressing. 'Sūrya is light, light, Svaḥ, Sūrya' are the two eyes of the third pressing. He succeeds through the pressings possessing eyes; he goes to the heavenly world through the pressings possessing eyes who knows thus. The silent praise is the eye of the sacrifice. Though being one, the mystical utterance is spoken twofold; therefore, being one, the eye is twofold. The silent praise is the root of the sacrifice. If he should wish of anyone, 'May he be without a foundation,' he should not recite the silent praise at his sacrifice. He perishes along with that sacrifice which, uprooted, perishes. But they say: 'He should certainly recite it, for it is harmful to the sacrificial priest if the hotṛ does not recite the silent praise.' For the whole sacrifice is founded on the sacrificial priest, and the sacrificer on the sacrifice. Therefore, it must be recited, it must be recited.