Jaiminīya (Talavakāra) Brāhmaṇa 2-8.346.p4

2-8.346.p4

sapta vai prāṇāḥ

By the breaths offspring and cattle, being held together, remain. [They do this with the intention]: 'By the breaths through which offspring and cattle, being held together, remain, by those breaths may offspring and cattle, being held together, remain for us.' By the breaths the gods went to the heavenly world; [they do this with the intention]: 'By the breaths through which the gods went to the heavenly world, by those breaths may we go to the heavenly world.' Seven are the chief breaths; these breaths are free from evil, namely the chief ones; [they do this with the intention]: 'In the measure of those breaths that are free from evil, may we extend the sacrifice.' The Agniṣṭomas are more numerous than the Ukthyas. The Agniṣṭoma is brahman; thus they prosper in spiritual luster; thus they become endowed with spiritual luster. The Agniṣṭomas are on that side, the Agniṣṭomas on this side, with the Ukthyas in the middle. The Agniṣṭoma is brahman, the Ukthyas are cattle; by means of brahman they thus encompass cattle on both sides, so that they do not slip away. Property does not scatter away from him who knows thus. The introductory Atirātra is addressed to Vaiśvānara, for sacrifices lasting more than one day have their beginning in Vaiśvānara.