Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 16.3.1

16.3.1

savitā vaiśvadevam pratipadyate /

xvi. 3. He begins the Vaiçvadeva with Savitṛ; on the instigation of Savitṛ the gods brought together the third pressing; therefore the strophe and antistrophe and hymn are all Savitṛ's. He begins the Vaiçvadeva with an Anuṣṭubh, 'That of Savitṛ we choose.' The Vaiçvadeva is the hymn of the Pavamāna; the metre of Soma is the Anuṣṭubh. The explanation of the division of the quarter verses has been given. He recites Gāyatrī verses; Gāyatrī verses are breath; verily thus he places breath in himself. He recites a hymn to Savitṛ, for a cup has been drawn for Savitṛ; verily therewith he accompanies it. He recites (a verse) for Vāyu; (the verse) for Vāyu is breath; verily thus he places breath in himself. In the recitation of this he releases (the cups) for two deities in Vāyu, the breaths in the breath. He recites (the hymn) to sky and earth; sky and earth are supports; verily (it serves) for support. In this the Adhvaryu responds with (a formula containing the word) *mad*, for the third pressing is connected with 'be drunk' (*mad*). He recites (the verse) 'Maker of fair forms'; that which has a fair form is food; verily thus he places food in himself. Moreover this is the Soma drinking of the forms; verily thus he places form in himself. He recites (a hymn) to the Ṛbhus, for then Prajāpati made preparation for them; therefore (the hymn) to the Ṛbhus is recited here. Then he recites (verses) to Vena, to the Ādityas, and to Bṛhaspati; with these he accompanies the Çukra and Manthin cups and the Āgrayaṇa cup; moreover this is the Vaiçvadeva Çastra, (so it serves) to secure that none of the deities are excluded. He recites the Vaiçvadeva, for the Vaiçvadeva cup has been drawn; verily therewith he accompanies it. The concluding verse he recites twice by quarter verses, the third time by half verses; it makes up a Virāj; the Virāj is prosperity and proper food; (verily it serves) to obtain the Virāj as prosperity and proper food. Four hymns he recites in the Vaiçvadeva; the Vaiçvadeva is cattle; cattle are fourfold, and also four-footed; verily (they serve) to obtain cattle. Therefore he should recite it abidingly; with him cattle abide.