Aitareyabrahmana 3.4

3.4

As to this they say: 'As the chant is, so is the recitation.' The Sāman singers chant on verses addressed to Agni; the hotṛ priest begins with a verse addressed to Vāyu: how then are the verses addressed to Agni recited after for him? Verily, all these deities are the forms of Agni. When Agni burns as if blowing, that is his form relating to Vāyu. By that he recites after it for him. Then, when he burns making as if divided in two—and Indra and Vāyu are two—that is his form relating to Indra and Vāyu. By that he recites after it for him. Then, when he bristles up and bristles down, that is his form relating to Mitra and Varuṇa. By that he recites after it for him. When Agni is terrible to touch, that is his form relating to Varuṇa; when, although being terrible to touch, they serve him as if making a friend, that is his form relating to Mitra. By that he recites after it for him. Then, when they churn him with two arms, with two churning sticks—and the Aśvins are two—that is his form relating to the Aśvins. By that he recites after it for him. Then, when with a loud noise, thundering, making as if crackling noises, he burns, from which beings tremble, that is his form relating to Indra. By that he recites after it for him. Then, when, being one, they distribute him manifoldly, that is his form relating to the All-gods. By that he recites after it for him. Then, when crackling he burns as if uttering speech, that is his form relating to Sarasvatī. By that he recites after it for him. And so for him, even as he begins with the verse addressed to Vāyu, triplet by triplet with these deities the verse of the chant is recited after. Having recited the praise to the All-gods, he sacrifices with a verse addressed to the All-gods: / 'With all, Agni, with Indra, with Vāyu, / drink the sweet soma juice according to the domains of Mitra.' / Thus according to their portion he pleases the deities.