The 4 Vedas

Vishva Dharma ki Jay! (Victory to Universal Dharma!)
behind and are brought forth in front. In accordance with the Çukra and Manthin are offspring born, the
eaters and the eaten. 'Engendering heroic off spring), come forth, Çukra, with pure radiance' [4],
'Engendering prolific offspring, come forth, Manthin, with mixed radiance', he says; 'the eaters are those
who are heroic, the eaten those that are prolific. The offspring of him who knows thus becomes an eater,
not eaten. The eye of Prajapati swelled; it fell away, it entered the Vikankata, it did not stay in the
Vikankata; it entered barley, it stayed in barley; that is why barley has its name [5]. In that the Manthin
vessel is of Vikankata and he mixes with groats, verily thus he gathers together the eye of Prajapati. The
theologians say, 'For what reason does the Manthin vessel not go to the Sadas?' 'It is the vessel of
misfortune', he should say; if it were to go there, the Adhvaryu would be blind, he would be ruined;
therefore it does not go there.
2.6.4.11 Mantra 11: The Agrayana Cup
Whatever the gods did at the sacrifice the Asuras did. The gods saw the cups with the Agrayana at their
head; they drew them; then indeed did they reach the top; he for whom knowing thus the cups are drawn
with the Agrayana at their head reaches the top of his equals. With a verse containing the word
'destructive' he should draw for him who has a rival; verily having destroyed his rival he reaches the top
of his equals. 'Ye gods that are eleven in the sky', he says [1]; so many are the deities; verily he draws it
for all of them. 'This is thy birthplace; to the All-gods thee!' he says, for it has the All-gods for its deity.
Speech departed from the gods, not being willing to remain for the sacrifice; when speech had departed
the gods silently drew the cups; speech reflected, 'They are excluding me'; it went into the Agrayana;
that is why the Agrayana has its name [2]. Therefore in the Agrayana speech is uttered. In that the
former cups are drawn in silence, that is as when the hunter lets go (his arrow), (thinking), 'So far off is
my mark at so far I shall not miss.' The Adhvaryu taking the Agrayana, commencing the sacrifice, utters
his speech; thrice he utters 'Him'; verily thus he chooses the Udgatrs; the Agrayana is Prajapati; in that
he utters 'Him' after taking the Agrayana, verily thus Prajapati sniffs offspring [3]; therefore the cow
sniffs the calf on birth. The Agrayana is the self of the sacrifice; at each pressing he draws it; verily he
continues the sacrifice in itself. He brings (it) up from above verily thus he impregnates seed; he takes
(it) from below verily he generates it. The theologians say, 'For what reason does the Gayatri, the least
of the metres, support the pressings?' 'The Agrayana is the calf of the Gayatri; verily turning back
towards it it supports all the pressings. Therefore a cow turns back towards the calf which is taken away.
2.6.5 Prapathaka 5: The Exposition of the Soma Sacrifice (continued)
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2.6.5.1 Mantra 1: The Ukthya Cup
Indra raised his bolt to hurl at Vrtra; Vrtra was afraid of the bolt when raised to be hurled; he said, 'Hurl
it not at me; there is this strength in me, that will I bestow on thee'; on him he bestowed the Ukthya. At
him he raised (the bolt) to hurl a second time; he said, 'Hurl it not at me; there is this strength in me, that
will I bestow on thee' [1]; on him he bestowed again the Ukthya. At him he raised (the bolt) to hurl a
third time; Visnu supported him (saying), 'Smite'; he said, 'Hurl it not at me; there is this strength in me,
that will I bestow on thee'; he bestowed on him again the Ukthya. Him when he had lost his magic
power he slew, for the sacrifice was his magic power. In that the Ukthya is drawn, verily the sacrificer
thus appropriates the power [2] and strength of his foe. 'To Indra thee, to him of the Brhat, the strong', he
says, for to Indra he gave it; 'to him thee! To Visnu thee!' he says; in that Visnu supported him (saying),
'Strike', he gives Visnu a share therein. Thrice he draws, for thrice he gave to him., This is thy
birthplace; thou art the renewed offering', he says, for repeatedly [3] he draws from it. The Ukthya is the
eye of the sacrifice; therefore the Somas follow the Ukthya when offered; therefore the body follows the
Ano Bhadraha Kritavayo Yantu Vishwataha (Let noble thoughts come from every side) – Rg Veda 803