"One thousand to the Guru (Bṛihaspati), one thousand to the Supreme Soul,
"And one thousand to the soul: thus I make over the performed muttering."
So at the time of the passing of the air through the arteries, the elements, earth, &c., must be understood, according to their different colours, by those who wish to obtain the highest good. This has been thus explained by the wise—
"Let each artery convey the air two ghaṭís and a half from sunrise.
"There is a continual resemblance of the two arteries[444] to the buckets on a revolving waterwheel.
"Nine hundred inspirations and expirations of the air take place [in the hour],
"And all combined produce the total of twenty-one thousand six hundred in a day and night.
"The time that is spent in uttering thirty-six guṇa letters,[445]
"That time elapses while the air passes along in the interval between two arteries.
"There are five elements in each of the two conducting arteries,—