^159:2 This hymn is prescribed in the Visvagit sacrifice, and taken over to the Mahavrata, according to rule. It is used, however, both as obligatory and as optional at the same time, i. e. it is an essential part of the sacrifice, and at the same time to be used by those who wish for proper food.

^160:1 Cf. Ait. Ar. I, 1, 4, 21; II, 3, 4, 2.

^160:2 The plural after the dual is explained by the fact that the hymn means the twenty-five verses.

^160:3 Cf. I, 3, 7, 5.

^160:4 The hymn consists of eighteen Virag and seven Trishtubh verses. Therefore the eighteen Virag verses remain what they are, only that the first is repeated three times, so that we have twenty Virag verses. The seven Trishtubhs, by repeating the last three times, become nine. We then take eight syllables away from each verse, thus changing them into nine Brihati verses. The nine times eight syllables, which were taken off, give us seventy-two syllables, and as each Brihati consists of thirty-six syllables, two Brihatis.

^161:1 The change of the first verse, which is a Virag of thirty-three syllables, into an Anushtubh is produced by a still easier process. The first Virag consists here of thirty-three syllables, the Anushtubh should have thirty-two. But one or two syllables more or less does not destroy a metre, according to the views of native metricians. The Virag itself, for instance, should have thirty syllables, and here has thirty-three. Therefore if changed into an Anushtubh, it simply has one syllable over, which is of no consequence. Comm.

^161:2 Cf. Ait. Ar. I, 1, 1, 4.