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course of the sacrifice. Now if he were to make the Yajya verses of the opening libation the Yajya
verses of the concluding libation, he would mount to the other world away from this, and would be
liable to die. The Puronuvakya verses of the opening libation should be made the Yajya verses of
the concluding libation; verily he finds support in this world.
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Kadru and Suparni had a dispute (for the stake of) each other's form. Kadru defeated Suparni. She
said, 'In the third heaven from here is the Soma; fetch it, and by it buy your release.' Kadru is this
(earth), Suparni yonder (heaven), the descendants of Suparni the metres. She said, 'For this do
parents rear children; "in the third heaven from here is the Soma; fetch it, and by it buy your
release" [1], so has Kadru said to me.' The Jagati flew up, of fourteen syllables, but returned without
obtaining it; it lost two syllables, but returned with the (sacrificial) animals and consecration.
Therefore the Jagati is the richest in cattle of the metres, and consecration waits upon a man who is
rich in cattle. The Tristubh flew up, of thirteen syllables, but returned without obtaining it; it lost
two syllables, but returned with the (sacrificial) gifts [2] and penance. Therefore in the world of the
Tristubh, the midday oblation, the gifts are brought. 'That in truth is penance', they say, 'if a man
gives his wealth.' The Gayatri flew up, of four syllables, together with a female goat with light.
Then the goat won (Soma) for her, and so the goat has the name. The Gayatri brought back the
Soma and the four syllables, and so became of eight syllables. The theologians say [3], 'For what
reason is it that the Gayatri, the smallest of the metres, holds the forefront of the sacrifice?' Because
it brought down the Soma, it held the forefront of the sacrifice; therefore it is the most glorious (of
the metres). By the feet it grasped two of the oblations, and by the mouth one. The one it grasped by
the mouth it sucked; therefore two oblations are made of the pure Soma, the morning and midday
oblations; therefore at the third oblation they pour out the dregs of the Soma; for they regard it as
sucked as it were [4]. He removes any admixture so that it may be pure; verily also he makes ready
it (the rjisa). When the Soma was being borne away, the Gandharva Viçvavasu stole it. It was for
three nights stolen; therefore after purchase the Soma is kept for three nights. The gods said, 'The
Gandharvas love women; let us redeem it with a woman.' They made speech unto a woman of one
year old, and with her redeemed it. She adopted the form of a deer and ran away from the
Gandharvas [5] that was the origin of the deer. The gods said, 'She has run from you; she comes not
to us; let us both summon her.' The Gandharvas uttered a spell, the gods sang, she went to the gods
as they sang. Therefore women love one who sings; enamoured are women of him who thus knows.
So if there is in a family one person who knows thus, men give their daughters in wedlock to that
family, even if there be other (wooers) in plenty [6]. He buys Soma with a (cow) one year old;
verily he buys it with the whole of speech. Therefore men utter speech when one year old. He buys
with a cow which has no horns, small ears, is not one-eyed or lame, and has not seven hooves;
verily he buys it with all. If he were to buy it with a white cow, the sacrificer would become
leprous. If he were to buy with a black one, it would be a funeral cow, and the sacrificer would be
likely to die. If with one of both colours, it would be one sacred to Vrtrahan, and he would either
overcome his foe or his foe him. He buys with a ruddy, yellow-eyed one. This is the form of Soma;
verily he buys it with its own deity.
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That became gold. Therefore they purify gold forth from the waters. The theologians say, 'How is it
that offspring are produced through that which is boneless, and yet are born with bones?' Because
he offers the gold, placing it in the ghee, therefore are offspring produced, through that which is
boneless, and yet are born with bones. The ghee is Agni's loved abode, the gold, is radiance. 'This is
thy body, O pure one. This is thy splendour', he says; verily he unites Agni with his radiance and his
body [1]; verily also he makes him ready. If he were to deposit (the gold) without fastening it on,
then the foetuses of offspring would be liable to miscarriage. He deposits it fastening it on, to secure
the foetuses. He fastens it so that it cannot be untied, for the production of offspring. The cow with
which the Soma is bought is speech. 'Thou art the strong', he says; for what he strengthens in his
mind, that he expresses in speech. 'Grasped by mind', he says; for by mind is speech grasped.
Keith: Taittiriya-Samhita, Translation - Page 269 of 341