Jaiminīya (Talavakāra) Brāhmaṇa 2-8.348

Prajāpati is the sixth abode of the deities. Now, the seventh day is the world of self-rule. And self-rule is thirty-four-fold. In that the Bahiṣpavamāna of the seventh day is thirty-four-fold, [they think:] 'As great as the world of self-rule is, to that extent let us attain the world of self-rule,' and [it is] for the non-successiveness of the three thirty-three-fold [stomas]. Indeed, these nights are the form of a bench. The six-day period from here upward is upright, crosswise in the middle, and facing downward from above. Indeed, these nights are the form of sitting on top. He who attains prosperity attains sitting on top. 'May we attain sitting on top, seniority, pre-eminence, prosperity'—therefore they undertake these nights. Regarding this they say: 'Indeed, those who undertake these nights climb onto what is superior.' In that the stomas of the pṛṣṭha-bearing six-day period are turned backward beyond, it is for appeasement, for avoiding misfortune, for benevolence, for peace. They conclude from the Jyotis day, in accordance with the stated Brāhmaṇa. The concluding Atirātra belongs to Vaiśvānara; for ahīna soma sacrifices conclude with Vaiśvānara.

Now, for him whose entire day is thirty-four-fold, [they think:] 'With the entire day let us attain the world of self-rule,'

'let us attain the world [of self-rule],'

and [it is] for the non-successiveness of the three thirty-three-fold [stomas].

Now Bhāllabeya used to say: 'One should not undertake the Mahāvrata before a year.

If they should undertake it, they should undertake it in [a session of] twenty-four nights.'

A year, indeed, are these nights that are twenty-four.

The year has twenty-four half-months.