Aitareyabrahmana 3.19

3.19

He recites the Marutvatīya pragātha. Cattle are the Maruts, / cattle are the pragātha, for the securing of cattle. / He recites the hymn: 'Born fierce for swift power' [RV 3.49]. / That is verily the hymn of the birth of the sacrificer; / by this he brings forth the sacrificer from the sacrifice into divine womb. / It is victorious: he completely conquers and wins in various ways. / This is Gaurivīta. / Gaurivīti Śāktya indeed went closest to the heavenly world; / he saw this hymn; by it he won the heavenly world. / Just so the sacrificer wins the heavenly world by this hymn. / Having recited half of it and leaving half remaining, he places the nivid in the middle. / An ascent to the heavenly world is the nivid; / an ascending step to the heavenly world is the nivid. / As if stepping upon it, he should recite it; / he should draw the sacrificer close to him, whoever would be dear to him. / So much for one who desires heaven; now for one who performs an incantation. / He who should desire: / 'May I strike down the people with the royal power', he should then recite the hymn alternating thrice with the nivid. / Royal power is the nivid, the people are the hymn; thereby he strikes down the people with royal power. / He who should desire: / 'May I strike down the royal power with the people', he should then recite the nivid alternating thrice with the hymn. / Royal power is the nivid, the people are the hymn; thereby he strikes down royal power with the people. / And he who should desire: 'May I cut him off from the people on both sides', / he should then insert the nivid on both sides; / thereby he cuts him off from the people on both sides. / So much for one who performs an incantation; otherwise, however, it is for one who desires heaven. / He concludes with the last [verse]: 'The birds with fair wings have approached Indra, / the Priyamedhas, the seers, imploring: / "Dispel the darkness"' [RV 10.73.11]. / Whatever darkness he should think he is covered with, he should go to it with his mind; that is wiped away from him. / 'Fill the eyes', [at this] he should repeatedly rub both eyes; / possessing sight until old age is he who knows thus. / 'Deliver us as if bound by a snare'; / a snare is *nidhā*; 'Deliver us as if bound by a fetter,' is what he thereby says.