Aitareya-āRaṇyaka

First Adhyāya.

First Khaṇḍa.

1. Now follows the Mahāvrata ceremony.

2. After having killed Vṛtra, Indra became great. When he became great, then there was the Mahāvrata (the great work). This is why the Mahāvrata ceremony is called Mahāvrata.

3. Some people say: ‘Let the priest make two (recitations with the offering of the) ājya (ghee) on that day,’ but the right thing is one.

4. He who desires prosperity should use the hymn, pra vo devāyāgnaye (Rv. III, 13, 1).

5. He who desires increase should use the hymn, viśo viśo atithim (Rv. VIII, 74, 1).

6. The people (visaḥ) indeed are increase, and therefore he (the sacrificer) becomes increased.

7. But (some say), there is the word atithim (in that hymn, which means a guest or stranger, asking for food). Let him not therefore take that hymn. Verily, the atithi (stranger) is able to go begging.

8. ‘No,’ he said, ‘let him take that hymn.

9. ‘For he who follows the good road and obtains distinction, he is an atithi (guest).

10. ‘They do not consider him who is not so, worthy to be (called) an atithi (guest).

11. ‘Therefore let him by all means take that hymn.’

12. If he takes that hymn, let him place the (second) tristich, āganma vṛtrahantamam, ‘we came near to the victorious,’ first.

13. For people worship the whole year (performing the Gavāmayana sacrifice) wishing for this day (the last but one) — they do come near.

14. The (next following) three tristichs begin with an Anushṭubh. Now Brahman is Gāyatrī, speech is Anushṭubh. He thus joins speech with Brahman.

15. He who desires glory should use the hymn, abodhy agniḥ samidhā ganānām (Rv. V, 1, 1).

16. He who desires offspring and cattle should use the hymn, hotājanishta cetanaḥ (Rv. II, 5, 1).