Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 26.6.30

26.6.30

ayam vai lokaḥ prathamaś chandomaḥ / (soma: chandomāh)

xxvi. 11. The first Chandoma is this world, the second the world of the atmosphere, the last yonder world; therefore on the middle day are recited hymns containing (the word) ‘great’, for the atmosphere is great. ‘Moreover, they should contain (the word) “begun”; verily thus he refers to the next day, verily thus they keep taking hold of the next day’, Kauṣītaki used to say. ‘Agni for you the god, in unison with the flames’ is the Ājya; in ‘When he hath stood out from the great enclosure’ it contains (the word) ‘great’ and also contains (the idea) ‘begun’. ‘Were not they who were made great with homage?’ is (the triplet) to Vāyu, containing (the word) ‘great’; that which contains (the words) ‘made great’ contains (the word) ‘great’, for this day contains (the word) ‘great’. The following triplet is addressed to Indra and Vāyu, ‘So far as the power of the body, so far as the might’, containing (the idea) ‘begun’ in ‘So far as men can discern with the eye.’ ‘To you two at the rising of the sun with hymns’ is (the triplet) to Mitra and Varuṇa, containing (the word) ‘great’ in ‘I invoke Mitra, Varuṇa of pure strength’, and also (the idea) ‘begun’. ‘From her sister dawn night doth retreat’ is (the triplet) to the Açvins, containing (the word) ‘great’ in ‘With great guerdon in horses, in cows, let us invoke you’, and also (the idea) ‘begun’. ‘This Soma hath been pressed for you, O Indra’ is (the triplet) to Indra, containing (the idea) ‘begun’ in ‘O Brahman, O hero, rejoicing in the making of prayer.’ ‘Let the Brahmans, the Aṅgirases, come forward’ is (the triplet) to the All-gods, containing the idea) ‘begun’ in ‘Let the noise of the cloudy one have knowledge.’ ‘May Sarasvatī for us rejoicing’ is (the triplet) to Sarasvatī containing (the word) ‘great’ in ‘make great’ in ‘Make great, O beauteous one, to thy praiser accord strength’, for this day contains (the word) ‘great’. The Pṛṣṭha is connected with the Rathantara, the Çastra with the Bṛhat; this is a pairing, a symbol of generation.