Yajur Sama Atharvan Vedas

THE YAJUR VEDA
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once pressed, for once he prospered thereby. He draws with the mind, for Prajapati is mind as it were;
(verily it serves) to obtain Prajapati. He draws with (a vessel) of Udumbara; the Udumbara is
strength; verily he wins strength; it has four corners; verily he finds support in the quarters [1]. He
who knows the foundation of the Ançu becomes possessed of a foundation. The Saman is that called
the Vamadevya; singing in his mind that foundation he draws; verily he becomes possessed of a
foundation. If the Adhvaryu were not to make a success of drawing the Ançu, for both the Adhvaryu
and the sacrificer would it go ill; if he were to make a success, for both would it go well; he draws
without breathing; this is its success. He breathes over gold; gold is immortality, breath is life; verily
with life he quickens immortality; it is of a hundred (Krsnalas) in weight, man has a hundred (years
of) life, a hundred powers; verily in life, in power he finds support.
vi. 6. 11.
Prajapati assigned the sacrifices to the gods; he thought himself emptied; he pressed over himself the
power and strength of the sacrifice in sixteen ways; that became the Sodaçin; there is no sacrifice
called Sodaçin; in that there is a sixteenth Stotra and a sixteenth Çastra, therefore is it the Sodaçin,
and that is why the Sodaçin has its name. In that the Sodaçin is drawn, so the sacrificer bestows
power and strength upon himself. To the gods the world of heaven [1] did not become manifest; they
saw this Sodaçin, and drew it; then did the world of heaven become manifest to them; in that the
Sodaçin is drawn, (it serves) for the conquest of the world of heaven. Indra was the youngest of the
gods, he had recourse to Prajapati, he bestowed on him the Sodaçin, he drew it; then indeed did he
attain the summit of the gods; he for whom knowing thus the Sodaçin [2] is drawn attains the summit
of his equals. He draws at the morning pressing; the Sodaçin is the thunderbolt, the morning pressing
is the thunderbolt; verily he draws it from its own birthplace. At each pressing he draws; verily from
each pressing he produces it. At the third pressing he should draw (it) for one who desires cattle; the
Sodaçin is the thunderbolt, the third pressing is cattle; verily by means of the thunderbolt he wins for
him cattle from the third pressing. He should not draw (it) in the Ukthya; the Ukthas are offspring and
cattle; if he were to draw (it) in the Ukthya [3], he would consume his offspring and cattle. He should
draw (it) for one who desires cattle in the Atiratra; the Sodaçin is the thunderbolt; verily having won
cattle for him by the thunderbolt, he calms them later with (the Çastras of) the night. He should also
draw (it) in the Agnistoma for a Rajanya, for a Rajanya sacrifices desiring distinction; verily in the
day rite he grasps a bolt for him, and the bolt kindles him to prosperity, or it burns him; the twentyonefold
is the Stotra used, for support; what is recited has the word 'bay' in it; he obtains the dear
abode of Indra [4]. The smaller metres were among the gods, the larger among the Asuras; the gods
recited the larger metre with the smaller on either side; then indeed did they appropriate the world of
the Asuras. In that he recites the larger metre with a smaller metre on either side, verily thus he
appropriates the world of his foe. They make six syllables redundant; the seasons are six; verily he
delights the seasons. They place four in front [5]; verily he wins four-footed cattle; two last; verily he
wins two-footed (cattle); they make up an Anustubh; the Anustubh is speech, therefore speech is the
highest of the breaths. When the sun is half-set, he sets about the Stotra of the Sodaçin; in this world
Indra slew Vrtra; verily straightway be hurls the bolt against his foe. The sacrificial fee is a reddishbrown
horse; that is the form of the bolt; (verily it serves) for success.
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