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Manu desired what of earth was sacrificial. He found the poured out ghee. He
said, 'Who is able to produce this also at the sacrifice?' Mitra and Varuna
said, 'We are able to produce the cow.' Then they set the cow in motion.
Wherever she stepped, there ghee was pressed out; therefore she is called
ghee-footed; that is her origin. 'The Rathantara is invoked with the earth', he
says [1]. The Rathantara is this (earth); verily he invokes her with food. 'The
Vamadevya is invoked with the atmosphere', he says. The Vamadevya, is cattle;
verily he invokes cattle with the atmosphere. 'The Brhat is invoked with the
sky', he says. The Brhat is connected with food; verily he invokes food with
the sky. ' The seven Hotras are invoked', he says; verily he invokes the
Hotras. 'The cow is invoked with the bull', he says [2]; verily he invokes a
pair. 'The friend food is invoked', he says; verily he invokes the Soma drink.
'It is invoked; ho!' he says; verily he invokes the self, for the self is the
best of those invoked. He invokes food, food is cattle; verily he invokes
cattle. He invokes four, for cattle are four-footed. 'Offspring of Manu', he
says, for Manu first saw her [3]. 'Ghee-footed', he says. Because ghee was
pressed out of her foot, therefore be says thus. 'Of Mitra and Varuna', he
says, for Mitra and Varuna set her in motion. 'The Brahman, god made, is
invoked', he says; verily he invokes the Brahman. 'The divine Adhvaryus are
invoked, the human are invoked', he says; verily he invokes the gods and men.
'Who shall help this sacrifice and make the lord of the sacrifice prosper', he
says [4]; verily he invokes a blessing for the sacrifice and the sacrificer.
'Sky and earth are invoked', he says; verily he invokes sky and earth. 'Born of
yore, the righteous', he says, for they were born of yore and are righteous.
'Divine, with gods for children', he says, for they are divine and have gods
for children. 'Invoked is this sacrificer', he says; verily he invokes the sacrificer.
'Invoked in the highest sacrifice, invoked in the greater offering, invoked in
the divine abode' [5], he says. The highest sacrifice is offspring, the greater
offering is cattle, the divine abode is the world of heaven. (With the words),
'Thou art this; thou art this', he invokes the dear abode of the sacrifice.
'All that is dear to it is invoked', he says; verily not vainly does he invoke.
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