Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 27.10.5

27.10.5

uttamo asāni iti /

'Let me be the highest'; the highest does he become. In silence, with closed eyes, they sit until the Nakṣatras appear; speech do they make to grow strong in that they sit in silence, (thinking) 'Speech grown strong and poured upon may we obtain at the end.' Near the Mārjālīya, when the Nakṣatras (appear), they open their eyes; the Nakṣatras are light; verily thus they place light in themselves. They enter the two oblation holders by the western door; then the Adhvaryu approaching the pole of the northern oblation holder says 'Do thou sing the Prosperity of the Sacrificial Session'; he sings the 'Prosperity of the Sacrificial Session'; thus they obtain the prosperity of the sacrificial session. All perform the finale of the Sāman; the finale is a support; verily (it serves) for support. They creep beneath the axle of the northern oblation holder, muttering an Atichandas verse to Indra ; verily thus by the Atichandas verse the sacrificers smite away evil under the axle. 'We go round (them) to the north', Kauṣītaki used to say, 'following the path of the sacrifice, not being concealed from the Seven Ṛṣis.' Having taken up their places in front of the oblation holders they think of what they desire; whatever they desire 'Let this desire be fulfilled for us,' this desire for them is fulfilled; those who have many desires should mutter the three exclamations, _bhūḥ, bhuvaḥ, svar._ Having gone out to the east and to the north they vie in invoking speech, (thinking) 'Let not speech be averted.' They release the speech of the Subrahmaṇyā ; the Subrahmaṇyā is the holy power; verily thus with the holy power do they utter speech. They go to the Āgnīdhriya along with the king; this is as if men should conduct the king, or his vicegerent, when wearied to an abode; Soma the king they day by day, having taken down from the oblation holders, conduct to the Agnīdh's altar; at the Āgnīdhriya they settle down with the king.