Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 30.9.27

30.9.27

atha hāriyojanena caranti tasya uktam brāhmaṇam / (soma: hotraka śastrāṇi(tṛtīya savanam))

xxx. 11. Five metres they recite at night, Anuṣṭubh, Gāyatrī, Uṣṇih, Triṣṭubh and Jagatī; these are the metres of night. The night has five calls, and so the additional litany of the Vājapeya. ‘The night goes beyond the Uktha; verily thus from metre to metre they call’ Kauṣītaki used to say, to prevent sameness. In that he uses a Triṣṭubh containing the word ‘over the night’ as invitatory verse for the Açvin litany cup, (it is because) the Praiṣa contains (the word) ‘over the night’, for the Somas are left over the night. Moreover, the Triṣṭubh is might and strength; verily thus might and strength he places in the sacrificer. The additional litanies of the Āptoryāma have four calls; the litanies are cattle; cattle are fourfold, and also fourfooted; verily (they serve) to obtain cattle. They use as concluding verses (verses) to the lord of the field, (thinking) ‘The field is this earth; in it undepressed shall we find support at the end’; verily thus in it undepressed do they find support at the end. In that the offering verses are Triṣṭubhs containing (the word) ‘over the night’, (it is) because the Somas are left over the night. Moreover, the Triṣṭubh is might and strength; verily thus might and strength he places in the sacrificer. They say the second vaṣaṭ, for the healing of the libations, for the support of the libations. They then proceed with (the cup) for the yoker of the bays; the