ii. 3. 11.

To Agni his body goes, to Soma his sap, - Varuna grasps him with Varuna's noose - to Sarasvati the speech, to Agni and Visnu the body Of him who long is ill. For him who is long ill or who desires, 'May I live all my days', he should offer this sacrifice, to Agni on eight potsherds, to Soma an oblation, to Varuna on ten potsherds, to Sarasvati an oblation, to Agni and Visnu on eleven potsherds; verily he ransoms his body from Agni, his sap from Soma [1]; by the offering to Varuna he frees him from Varuna's noose; by the offering to Sarasvati he bestows speech; all the gods are Agni, the sacrifice is Visnu; verily by the gods and the sacrifice he heals him; even if his life is gone, he yet lives. 'What went new, that became fresh butter', (with these words) he looks upon the butter; verily he describes its form and greatness. 'Thou art the breath of the Açvins', he says; the Açvins are the physicians of the gods [2]; verily by them he makes healing for him. 'Thou art the breath of Indra', he says; verily thereby he bestows power upon him. 'Thou art the breath of Mitra and Varuna', he says; verily thereby he bestows expiration and inspiration upon him. 'Thou art the breath of the All-gods', be says; verily thereby he bestows strength on him. 'Stream of ghee, path of ambrosia' [3], he says; that is according to the text. 'With the Pavamana Stoma thee', he says; verily thereby he bestows breath upon him. 'By the Brhat and Rathantara's Stoma thee', he says; verily thereby he bestows force upon him. 'With the measure of Agni thee', he says; verily thereby he bestows body upon him. The priests speak (these words) around; as many as are the priests, they heal him. Grasping the hand of the Brahman (priest) they speak around (him); separately they bestow life on the sacrificer; what was his that (is his again). From the gold [4] he drinks away the ghee; ghee is life, gold is ambrosia; verily from the ambrosia he drinks away life; it is a hundred (Krsnalas) in weight; man has a hundred (years) of life, a hundred powers; verily he finds support in life, in power. Or as many seasons as he deems that he will live, so many be the number, for prosperity. 'Him quicken, O Agni, for life, for radiance', he says; verily he bestows life and radiance upon him. 'O ye All-gods, that he may win old age', he says; verily he makes him win old age. 'Agni is full of life', (with these words) he takes his hand; these gods are full of life, they bestow life upon him, he lives all his life.