Aitareya-Aranyaka: First Aranyaka, First Adhyâya, Fourth Khanda

1. Rv. I, 2, 1-3. Vayav a yahi darsateme soma aram kritah, “Approach, 0 Vayu, conspicuous, these Somas have been made ready.” Because the word ready occurs in these verses, therefore is this day (of the sacrifice) ready (and auspicious) for the sacrificer and for the gods.

2. Yes, this day is ready (and auspicious) to him who knows this, or for whom a Hotri priest who knows this, recites.

3. Rv. I, 2, 4-6. Indravaya ime suta, a yatam upa nishkritam, “Indra and Viyu, these Somas are prepared, come hither towards what has been prepared.” By nishkrita, prepared, he means what has been well prepared (samskrita).

4. Indra and Vayu go to what has been prepared by him who knows this, or for whom a Hotri priest who knows this, recites.

5. Rv. I, 2, 7. Mitram huve putadaksham, dhiyam ghritakim sadhanta, “I call Mitra of holy strength; (he and Varuna) they fulfil the prayer accompanied with clarified butter.” Verily, speech is the prayer accompanied with clarified butter.

6. Speech is given to him who knows this, or for whom a Hotri priest who knows this, recites.

7. Rv. I, 3, 1. Asvina yagvarir ishah, “O Asvinau, (eat) the sacrificial offerings.” Verily, the sacrificial offerings are food, and this serves for the acquirement of food.

8. Rv. I, 3, 3. A yatam rudravartani, “Come hither, ye Rudravartani.”

9. The Asvinau go to the sacrifice of him who knows this, or for whom a Hotri priest who knows this, recites.

10. Rv. I, 3, 4-6. Indra yahi kitrabhano, indra yahi dhiyeshitah, indra yahi tutugana, “Come hither, Indra, of bright splendour, Come hither, Indra, called by prayer, Come hither, Indra, quickly!” Thus he recites, Come hither, come hither!

11. Indra comes to the sacrifice of him who knows this, or for whom a Hotri priest who knows this, recites.

12. Rv. I, 3, 7. Omasas karshanidhrito visve devasa a gata, “Visve Devas, protectors, supporters of men, come hither!”

13. Verily, the Visve Devas come to the call of him who knows this, or for whom a Hotri priest who knows this, recites.

14. Rv. I, 3, 7. Dasvamso dasushah sutam, “Come ye givers to the libation of the giver!” By dasushah he means dadushah, i.e. to the libation of every one that gives.

15. The gods fulfil his wish, with whatever wish he recites this verse,

16. (The wish of him) who knows this, or for whom a Hotri priest who knows this, recites.

17. Rv. I, 3, 10. Pavaka nah sarasvati yagnam vashtu dhiyavasuh, “May the holy Sarasvati accept our sacrifice, rich in prayer!” Speech is meant by rich in prayer.

18. Speech is given to him who knows this, or for whom a Hotri priest who knows this, recites.

19. And when he says, “May she accept our sacrifice!” what he means is, “May she carry off our sacrifice!”

20. If these verses are recited straight on, they are twenty-one. Man also consists of twenty-one. There are ten fingers on his hands, ten toes on his feet, and the trunk the twenty-first. He adorns that trunk, the twenty-first, by this hymn.

21. By repeating the first and the last verses thrice, they become twenty-five. The trunk is the twenty-fifth, and Pragâpati is the twenty-fifth. There are ten fingers on his hands, ten toes on his feet, two legs, two arms, and the trunk the twenty-fifth. He adorns that trunk, the twenty-fifth, by this hymn.

Now this day consists of twenty-five, and the Stoma hymn of that day consists of twenty-five: it becomes the same through the same. Therefore these two, the day and the hymn, are twenty-five, yea, twenty-five.