Aitareyabrahmana 3.2

3.2

Verily, by this praüga [sastra] he secures food. Different deities are recited in the praüga; different praises are performed in the praüga; different foods of his are held in the cups, for one who knows thus. Verily, this praüga is the hymn that most closely pertains to the self of the sacrificer. Therefore they say: 'This should be observed most carefully by him, for by this the hotṛ priest perfects him.' He recites [the triplet] addressed to Vāyu. Therefore they say: 'Vāyu is breath; breath is semen; semen comes into being first when man comes into being.' When he recites the one addressed to Vāyu, he thus perfects his breath. He recites the one addressed to Indra and Vāyu. Where indeed breath is, there is out-breath. When he recites the one addressed to Indra and Vāyu, he thus perfects his in-breath and out-breath. He recites the one addressed to Mitra and Varuṇa. Therefore they say: 'Sight comes into being first when man comes into being.' When he recites the one addressed to Mitra and Varuṇa, he thus perfects his sight. He recites the one addressed to the Aśvins. Therefore they say concerning a newborn child: 'He listens, he looks.' When he recites the one addressed to the Aśvins, he thus perfects his hearing. He recites the one addressed to Indra. Therefore they say concerning a newborn child: 'He holds up his neck and then his head.' When he recites the one addressed to Indra, he thus perfects his virility. He recites the one addressed to the All-gods. Therefore a newborn child moves about only afterwards, for the limbs belong to the All-gods. When he recites the one addressed to the All-gods, he thus perfects his limbs. He recites the one addressed to Sarasvatī. Therefore speech enters a newborn child last, for speech is Sarasvatī. When he recites the one addressed to Sarasvatī, he thus perfects his speech. Truly, born he is born from all these deities, from all hymns, from all metres, from all praüga [śastras], from all pressings—who knows thus, and for whom, knowing thus, they recite this.