Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 10.6

English (machine translation) 10.6

Regarding it, they say: 'It should be of two colours, white and black, according to the form of day and night.'

Or white and red, according to the form of Agni and Soma.

It has eleven fore-offerings, eleven after-offerings, eleven supplementary offerings.

They are thirty-three.

All the gods are indeed thirty-three,

verily for the gratification of all the gods.

The fore-offerings are the out-breathings, the after-offerings the in-breathings.

Therefore they are equal,

for these out-breathings and in-breathings are equal.

On this they say: 'Why does he sacrifice with a verse at the fore-offerings, [but] with opening phrases at the after-offerings?'

The fore-offerings are the emission of semen;

the after-offerings are the placement of semen.

Therefore he sacrifices with a verse at the fore-offerings, [and] with opening phrases at the after-offerings.

Now, as to his reciting the last verse in full,

he thereby places the sacrificer in the heavenly world.

He gladdens with the Āprī verses.

Whoever sacrifices gathers the sacrifice with his whole self, with his whole mind;

his self becomes, as it were, emptied.

He gladdens it with these Āprī verses.

Because he gladdens [āprīṇāti],

therefore are they called Āprī verses.

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