Jaiminīya (Talavakāra) Brāhmaṇa 2-8.311

2-8.311

Cattle have eight hooves; cattle are the Gāyatrī; this sacrifice has conformed to the Gāyatrī. Therefore indeed one who desires cattle should sacrifice with this. Prajāpati desired: 'May I go from this world to yonder world.' He saw this eight-night sacrifice. He brought it; he sacrificed with it. Then indeed he attained (āṣṭa) yonder world from this world. In that he attained yonder world from this world, that is the nature of the eight-night rite (aṣṭarātratva) of the eight-night rites. He reaches yonder world from this world, who knows thus. As to that, they say: 'In accordance with what is the eight-night rite?' He should say: 'The quarters.' In accordance with the quarters indeed is the eight-night rite. There are four quarters and four intermediate regions; the upward direction is the ninth. There are these eight days; the night is the ninth. By this he prospers in the quarters; having established himself in the quarters, he goes to the heavenly world.