Aitareyabrahmana 3.48

3.48

Now as to the goddesses (devī): a sacrificial cake on one potsherd for Sūrya. Sūrya is Dhātṛ, and he is the vaṣaṭ-call. A sacrificial porridge for Dyu (Heaven); Dyu is Anumati, and that is the gāyatrī. A sacrificial porridge for Uṣas (Dawn); Uṣas is Rākā, and that is the triṣṭubh. A sacrificial porridge for the Cow; the Cow is Sinīvālī, and that is the jagatī. A sacrificial porridge for Pṛthivī (Earth); Pṛthivī is Kuhū, and that is the anuṣṭubh. These indeed are all the metres: gāyatra, traiṣṭubha, jāgata, ānuṣṭubha; the others follow [these], for these are performed as the foremost in the sacrifice. By means of these metres, the sacrifice is offered with all the metres for him who knows thus. As to that which they say: 'In comfort indeed the well-satisfied steed places [his rider]'; the metres indeed are that. In comfort indeed the metres place him; he wins a world free from longing who knows thus. As to that, some say: 'One should sacrifice around Sūrya first before each of them with melted butter; thereby he places a copulative pair in all of them.' And regarding that they also say: 'It is done redundantly in the sacrifice when he sacrifices with identical verses on the same day.' Even if there are many wives, the husband alone is their copulative partner. In that he sacrifices to Sūrya before them, he thereby places a copulative pair in all of them. Those which are these [latter] are those [former], and those which are those [former] are these [latter]; through either of the two one attains that desire which is in both of these. He should offer both together for one who has attained prosperity and desires propagation, but not for one who is still seeking [prosperity]. If he were to offer both together for one who is still seeking, the gods would be capable of withholding his property, [thinking,] 'Has this one considered himself sufficient?' Śucivṛkṣa Gaupalāyana offered both together at the sacrifice of Vṛddhadyumna Ābhipratāriṇa. Seeing his warrior plunging [into battle], he said: 'Thus have I gratified both the Devikās and the Devīs at this nobleman's sacrifice, so that his warrior plunges [into battle] thus!' Sixty-four mail-clad sons and grandsons were born to him uninterruptedly.