Aitareyabrahmana 3.22

3.22

Those gods said: 'This beloved, favourite wife of Indra named Prāsahā—let us seek [a favour] through her.' 'So be it.' They sought [help] through her. She said to them: 'I will answer you in the morning.' Therefore women seek [desires] from their husband; therefore also a woman seeks [desires] from her husband during the night. They went to her in the morning. She set forth this: / 'Because, hero conquering ancient foes, you have fulfilled most of all / the names, O Indra, slayer of Vṛtra, / the mighty husband of Prāsahā has been made known'—Indra is indeed the mighty husband of Prāsahā— / 'Whatever we wish to do, may he do that.' / What she said to them was simply: 'Whatever we have spoken, that he will do.' Those gods said: 'Let there be a share here for her too, who found for us what was truly agreeable in this.' 'So be it.' They made a share for her here too. Therefore this verse is also recited here: 'Because, hero conquering ancient foes, you have fulfilled most of all.' The army is indeed the beloved, favourite wife of Indra named Prāsahā; Prajāpati named Ka is the father-in-law. Therefore, whose army one wishes to conquer, standing on its side, cutting off a blade of grass at both ends, he should throw it towards the other army, saying: 'O Prāsahā, Ka sees you!' Just as a daughter-in-law goes hiding in shame from her father-in-law, even so that army goes breaking and hiding, where one knowing thus cuts off a blade of grass at both ends and throws it towards the other army, saying: 'O Prāsahā, Ka sees you!' Indra said to them: 'Let there be a share for you here too.' Those gods said: 'Let the offering verse of the niṣkevalya cup be a virāj, which consists of thirty-three syllables.' Thirty-three indeed are the gods: eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, twelve Ādityas, and Prajāpati and the Vaṣaṭ call. He makes the deities share in the syllables; syllable by syllable the deities drink successively; with the vessel of the gods the deities are satisfied. For whomever he might wish that he be without support, he should sacrifice for him with a non-virāj, with a gāyatrī or a triṣṭubh or another metre, and utter the vaṣaṭ: he thereby makes him without support. For whomever he might wish that he have a support, he should sacrifice for him with a virāj: with 'Drink the soma, Indra, let it exhilarate you,' he thereby makes him have a support.