Aitareyabrahmana 8.2

8.2

'Born mighty for swift strength' is the hymn, having [the words] 'mighty' and 'strength'; that is the characteristic of the kṣatra. 'Delighting, most powerful' has [the word] 'power'; that is the characteristic of the kṣatra. 'Of great pride' has [the prefix] 'abhi' [overcoming]; it is the characteristic for conquest. It has eleven verses; the triṣṭubh has eleven syllables; the noble is indeed of the nature of the triṣṭubh. The triṣṭubh is vital power, faculties, and virility; the noble is vital power, the kṣatra, and virility; he thus endows him with vital power, the kṣatra, and virility. It is the Gaurivīta hymn. This Marutvatīya hymn is indeed perfect which is the Gaurivīta; its explanation has been stated. 'Thee indeed we call upon' is the Bṛhat-pṛṣṭha. The Bṛhat is the kṣatra; he thus endows the kṣatra with the kṣatra. Moreover, the Bṛhat is the kṣatra, [and] the Niṣkevalya [śastra] is the self of the sacrificer. That the Bṛhat is the pṛṣṭha-stotra, the Bṛhat being the kṣatra, he thus endows him with the kṣatra. Moreover, the Bṛhat is seniority; he thus endows him with seniority. Moreover, the Bṛhat is supremacy; he thus endows him with supremacy. 'Toward thee, O hero, do we shout'—they make the Rathantara the corresponding hymn. This world is the Rathantara; that world is the Bṛhat. That world corresponds to this world; this world corresponds to that world. In that they make the Rathantara the corresponding hymn, they make both worlds enjoyable for the sacrificer. Moreover, the Rathantara is brahman, the Bṛhat is the kṣatra; the kṣatra is indeed founded on brahman, [and] brahman on the kṣatra, and also for having the same origin of the sāman. 'Whatever he has won' is the inserted verse; its explanation has been stated. 'May he hear both [calls] of ours' is the pragmatic pragātha, the characteristic of both sāmans, for both sāmans are performed.