Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 6.p43

6.p43

vii. 10. The Asuras in this quarter obstructed the gods. Being in the north-east quarter they anointed Soma in the kingship, they with Soma as king pushed away the Asuras from these worlds. Verily thus also the sacrificer with Soma the king pushes away his rivals who hate him from these worlds. Him he buys with four things, a cow, gold, a garment, a female goat; up to four (degrees) are pairing, union, propagation; (they serve) for generation. The moon yonder is Soma the king, the discerning; it enters into him when bought; in that he buys Soma the king, (it is because he thinks) ‘The moon yonder as Soma, the king, the discerning, be it pressed out.’ Nine verses he recites for him when bought; these vital airs are nine; verily thus he confers vital airs on the sacrificer, for completeness of life in this world and for immortality in yonder world. ‘From good to better do thou advance forward,’ (this verse ) containing the word ‘forward’ he recites for him being brought forward, ‘Let Bṛhaspati be thy harbinger’; Bṛhaspati is the holy power; (thus it serves) for the winning of the glory of holiness. He recites two Triṣṭubh verses to Varuṇa, ‘This prayer of the seeker, O god,’ ‘Within the woods he hath extended the atmosphere’; the Triṣṭubh is the lordly power; Varuṇa is the Triṣṭubh; (thus it serves) for the winning of the glory of lordliness. He recites four Gāyatrī verses to Soma, ‘O Soma, thy wondrous’; the Gāyatrī is the holy power; Soma is the lordly power; (thus it serves) for the winning of the glory of holiness and the glory of lordliness. He pauses after uttering the half of the last verse; the verse is immortality; thus he enters immortality. Moreover the verse is the holy power; verily thus he makes a defence on both sides in the holy power and the half verses. Wherever he stops at a half verse or a quarter verse, this is the explanation. He recites the verse, ‘Thine abodes which they worship with oblation,’ containing (the word) ‘forward’, for him as he starts forward. He concludes with (the verse ), ‘He hath come, the god, with the seasons, let him prosper the house,’ containing the words ‘come’ and ‘season’; ‘Soma, the king, is the year,’ used to say Kauṣītaki, ‘He, coming, with the seasons approaches.’ He repeats (verses) which are appropriate; what in the sacrifice is appropriate, that is perfect; verily (it serves) for the