Janaka, [king] of Videha, sacrificed with a sacrifice at which many presents were distributed. Brahmans of the Kurupaiicalas were gathered together there, In this Janaka of Videha there arose a desire to know which of these Brahmans was the most learned in scripture. He enclosed a thousand cows. To the horns of each ten padas [of gold] were bound.

He said to them: < Venerable Brahmans, let him of you who is the best Brahman drive away these cows/ Those Brahmans durst not. Then Yajnavalkya said to his pupil: ' Samasravas, my dear, drive them away.' He drove them away. The Brahmans were angry. ' How can he declare himself to be the best Brahman among us? ' Now there was Asvala, the Hotri-priest of Janaka, [king] of Videha. He asked him: < Yajfiavalkya, are you now the best Brahman among us? * He replied, < We give honor to the best Brahman. But we are really desirous of having those cows/ Thereupon Asvala, the Hotri-priest, began to question him.

' Yajnavalkya/ said he, ' since everything here is overtaken by death, since everything is overcome by death, whereby is - a sacrificer liberated beyond the reach of death? ' 'By the Hotri-priest, by fire, by speech. Verily, speech is the Hotri of sacrifice. That which is this speech is this fire, is the Hotri. This is release (mukti), this is complete release/ 4- ' Yajnavalkya, said he, c since everything here is overtaken by day and night, since everything is overcome by day and night, whereby is a sacrificer liberated beyond day and night? ' By the Adhvaryu-priest, by the eye, by the sun. Verily, the eye is the Adhvaryu of sacrifice. That which is this eye is yonder sun, is the Adhvaryu. This is release, this is complete release/

* Yajnavalkya/ said he, £ since everything here is over- taken by the waxing and waning moon, by what means does a sacrificer obtain release from the waxing and waning moon? ' ' By the Udgatri-priest, by the wind, by breath. Verily breath is the Udgatri of the sacrifice. That which is this breath is wind, is the Udgatri. This is release, this is com- plete release.

( Yajfiavalkya,' said he, ' since this atmosphere does not afford a [foot]hold, as it were, by what means of ascent does a sacrificer ascend to the heavenly world? ' the mind. is the Brahman of the sacrifice. That which is this mind is yonder moon, is the Brahman. This is release, this is complete release,' — Thus [concerning] liberation. Now the acquirements. —

* Yajnavalkya/ said he, ' how many Rig verses will the Hotri make use of today in this sacrifice? ' ' Three/ e Which are those three? ' 'The introductory verse, the accompanying verse, and the benediction as the third.' ' What does one win by these? '

' Yajfiavalkya, ' said he, 'how many oblations will the Adhvaryu pour out today in this sacrifice? J ' Three,' £ Which are those three? ' ' Those which when offered flame up, those which when offered flow over, those which when offered sink down.' ' What does one win by these? ' ( By those which when offered flame up, one wins the world of the gods, for the world of the gods gleams, as it were. By those which when offered flow over (ati-nedante), one wins the world of the fathers, for the world of the fathers is over (ati), as it were. By those which when offered sink down (adhiserate)^ one wins the world of men, for the world of men is below (adhas)^ as it were,

'Yajfiavalkya/ said he, 'with how many divinities does the Brahman protect the sacrifice on the right today?; ' With one,' ' Which is that one? ' 'The mind. Verily, endless is the mind. Endless are the All-gods. An endless world he wins thereby.'

'Yajnavalkya/ said he, c how many hymns of praise will the Udgatri chant today in this sacrifice? ' 'Three.' ' The introductory hymn, the accompanying hymn, and the benediction hymn as the third.' < Which are those three with reference to the self? ' 'The introductory hymn is the in-breath (prana). The accompanying hymn is the out-breath (apand). The bene- diction hymn is the diffused breath (yyana).' ' What does one win by these? ' ' One wins the earth-world by the introductory hymn, the atmosphere-world by the accompanying hymn, the sky-world by the benediction hymn.' Thereupon the Hotri-priest Asvala held his peace,