Aitareyabrahmana 5.3

5.3

The stomās are indeed reached, the metres are reached on the third day; this alone is left over from it, namely speech (vāc). That is this syllable (akṣara) comprising three syllables: vāc is one syllable, and 'akṣaram' comprises three syllables. That is indeed this upper three-day period: vāc is one, the earth (gauḥ) is one, the sky (dyauḥ) is one. From that, vāc alone bears the fourth day. When they perform the nyūṅkha on the fourth day, they stretch out this very syllable, they expand it, they desire to make it copious for the elevation of the fourth day. The nyūṅkha is indeed food. When people go about making joyful sounds, then food is produced. So, when they perform the nyūṅkha on the fourth day, they produce food for the procreation of food. Therefore the fourth day contains the word 'born' (jātavat). 'One should perform the nyūṅkha with four syllables,' they say; 'cattle are four-footed, for the sake of securing cattle.' 'One should perform the nyūṅkha with three syllables,' they say; 'these are the three threefold worlds, for the conquest of these worlds.' 'One should perform the nyūṅkha with one syllable,' said Lāṅgalāyana, the Maudgalya Brahman; 'speech consists of one syllable; he alone properly performs the nyūṅkha who performs the nyūṅkha with one syllable.' One should perform the nyūṅkha with two syllables only, for firm foundation (pratiṣṭhā). Man has two supports, cattle are four-footed; thus one firmly establishes the sacrificer who has two supports upon four-footed cattle. Therefore one should perform the nyūṅkha with two syllables only. He performs the nyūṅkha at the mouth (beginning) in the morning recitation (prātaranuvāka). From the mouth beings eat food; thus he places the sacrificer at the mouth of food. He performs the nyūṅkha in the middle in the ājya [śastra]. From the middle beings digest food; thus he places the sacrificer in the middle of food. He performs the nyūṅkha at the mouth (beginning) at the midday [service]. From the mouth beings eat food; thus he places the sacrificer at the mouth of food. Thus he encompasses the nyūṅkha on both sides by means of the pressings, for the encompassing of food.