11. Thou art a Vrâtya[1], O Prâna, the only Rishi[2], the consumer of everything, the good lord. We are the givers of what thou hast to consume, thou, O Mâtarisva[3], art our father.
12. Make propitious that body of thine which dwells in speech, in the ear, in the eye, and which pervades the mind; do not go away!
13. All this is in the power of Prâna, whatever exists in the three heavens. Protect us like a mother her sons, and give us happiness and wisdom."
THIRD QUESTION
1. Then Kausalya Âsvalâyana asked: "Sir, whence is that Prâna (spirit) born? How does it come into this body? And how does it abide, after it has divided itself? How does it go out? How does it support what is without[4], and how what is within?"
2. He replied: "You ask questions more difficult, but you are very fond of Brahman, therefore I shall tell it you.
3. This Prâna (spirit) is born of the Self. Like the shadow thrown on a man, this (the prâna) is
- ↑ A person for whom the samskâras, the sacramental and initiatory rites, have not been performed. Sankara says that, as he was the first born, there was no one to perform them for him, and that he is called Vrâtya, because he was pure by nature. This is all very doubtful.
- ↑ Agni is said to be the Rishi of the Âtharvanas.
- ↑ Instead of the irregular vocative Mâtarisva, there is another reading, Mâtarisvanah, i.e. thou art the father of Mâtarisvan, the wind, and therefore of the whole world.
- ↑ All creatures and the gods.
