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IX KÂNDA, I ADHYAYA, I BRAHMANA, 30. 163
26. These are seven formulas,-of seven layers the fire-altar consists, and the year consists of seven months, and Agni is the year: as great as Agni is, as great as is his measure, by so much food he thus gratifies him. These two kinds (of formulas) amount to twenty-one, the twelve months, the five seasons, these three worlds, and yonder sun as the twentyfirst (make up) this amount.
27. He then offers (the libations of the) 'unstringing'-formulas1. For at that time the gods, having gratified those (Rudras) by that food, unstrung their bows by means of these 'unstringing'-formulas; and in like manner this (Sacrificer), having gratified them by that food, now unstrings their bows by means of these 'unstringing'-formulas; for with an unstrung bow one injures no one.
28. Here now he says 'at a thousand leagues,' for a thousand leagues is the farthest distance; and he thus unstrings their bows at what is the farthest distance.
29. And, again, as to why he says 'at a thousand leagues, a thousand leagues means this Agni (firealtar), for neither this way nor that way is there any other thing greater than he; and it is when he makes offering in the fire that he unstrings their bows at a thousand leagues.
30. 'Countless thousands,-in this great sea,'-thus, wheresover they are, there he unstrings their bows.
1 Viz. Vâg. S. XVI, 54-63: What countless thousands of Rudras there are upon earth, their bows do we unstring at a thousand leagues.-The Bhavas that are in this great sea, in the air, their bow do we unstring at a thousand leagues.' Thus each formula ends with the unstringing' refrain.
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