Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 23.p9

23.p9

xxiii. 4. The fifth day is cattle; the sixth day is man; Prajāpati is man, being before all this (universe). Prajāpati is beyond the normal metres; this is a symbol of Prajāpati. An Asura woman approached Indra making *muṣkas* at every joint; Indra, desirous of subduing her, at every joint made *çepas*; Indra indeed is Parucchepa (‘having in joints *çepas*’); all does Indra seek to conquer. With her he had union; with him was she angry with the cunning of the Asuras; he saw these (verses) with repeated Padas; with them from every limb, from every joint, from all evil was he set free. In that the Parucchepa (text) is recited, in the middle and in the recitations of the Hotrakas, the sacrificers are set free from every limb, from every joint, from all evil. Placing first the normal offering verses, they use the (verses) of Parucchepa as offering verses; in that on this day they do not say *vaṣaṭ* with them, thereby are they left out; in that they do not omit them, (it is because they think) ‘Let us not omit the unfailing part of the sacrifice, what is dear to the gods.’ Having performed first the normal seasonal offering (verses), they use (verses) of Gṛtsamada as offering verses; in that on this day they do not say *vaṣaṭ* with them, thereby are they left out; in that they do not omit them, (it is because they think) ‘Let us not omit the unfailing part of the sacrifice, what is dear to the gods.’ Thereby they become above the normal metre; thus with (verses) of seven Padas they perform the *vaṣaṭ* call. Now as to this Kauṣītaki used to say, ‘The metres with the