From the learned disciples and their disciples, the sacred Saṃhitā was studied with great devotion. The revered sage composed five Saṃhitās and entrusted them to his chosen disciples. Listen, O Maitreya, to the names of these five noble disciples: Mudugala, Gomukha, Vātsya, Śālīya, and the fifth, Śiśira—the great sage among them. Śākapūrṇi, another illustrious sage, then composed three Saṃhitās, and the noble Ujvatu created the Nirukta. Among the creators of the Nirukta—those deeply learned in the Veda and its branches—were Krauñca, Vaitālika, and the wise Balāka. Thus, O best of the twice-born, from these main branches arose further sub-branches, and the sage Bāskali composed three other Saṃhitās. His disciples were Kālāyani, Gārgya, and the third, Kathājava. In this way, the many Saṃhitās have been described, along with those who set them forth. Now, Parāśara continued, the wise Vaiśampāyana, a devoted disciple of Vyāsa, composed twenty-seven branches of the Yajur Veda. He imparted these branches to his disciples, who in turn transmitted them in succession. Among these disciples was Yājñavalkya, the son of Brahmarāta, O twice-born one. Yājñavalkya was a disciple learned in righteousness, ever devoted to serving his teacher. Yet, know that this sage will not be present in the assembly on Mahāmeru today. For Yājñavalkya, after seven nights, there would be the taint of Brahmin-slaying—a rule established earlier by the assembly of sages, O twice-born. At that time, only Vaiśampāyana transgressed this rule; in a moment of anger, he struck his own young nephew, his sister’s son, with his foot. Burdened by the sin, Vaiśampāyana said to his disciples, “O disciples! For my sake, all of you must undertake the vow that removes the sin of Brahmin-slaying; do not question this.” Then Yājñavalkya spoke up, “Revered one, what need have I of these twice-born, who are troubled and of little energy? I alone shall undertake this vow.” Hearing this, the teacher, greatly angered, said to the wise Yājñavalkya, “Give up what you have received from me, O one who has shown disrespect to the Brāhmaṇas. Since you speak thus of these Brāhmaṇas as lacking energy, I have no purpose with a disciple who disobeys my command.” Yājñavalkya replied, “O Bhattayā, what you have asked has been explained by me. You have learned all I know, O twice-born.” Thus addressed, Yājñavalkya vomited the Yajur Veda formulas, stained with blood and in their original form, and gave them back to his teacher. Then the sage departed as he wished. The Yajur Veda formulas released by Yājñavalkya were then taken up by those who became partridges, and from them, these formulas became known as the Taittirīyas. Those disciples who, prompted by their teacher, performed the vow for expiation of Brahminicide became known as the Caraka Adhvaryus, O best of sages. Yājñavalkya, devoted to supreme purity, then worshipped the Sun with concentrated mind, desiring to obtain the Yajur Veda formulas anew. With deep reverence, he offered salutations: “Salutations to Savitṛ, the supporter, the liberator, of pure radiance; to the one who is the essence of Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma, the embodiment of the threefold Veda—salutations. Salutations to the one who is Agni and Soma, the very cause of the universe; to Bhāskara, who bears the supreme brilliance and the great rays of Sūṣumna. Salutations to the one whose essence is the knowledge of time—of kalās, kāṣṭhās, and nimeṣas; to the one to be meditated upon, who is of Viṣṇu's form, the embodiment of the supreme imperishable. He who nourishes the hosts of gods with his fierce rays, and the ancestors with nectar—salutations to him, whose self is satisfaction. He who is the lord who creates and destroys snow, water, heat, and rain—salutations to Sūrya, the creator, who is the form of the three times. He alone dispels darkness, he is the awakener of this world; the god who upholds the abode of existence—salutations to that Vivasvat. No one is fit for righteous acts, nor is water a cause of purity, when he has not risen; to that god, the creator, salutations. When the world is touched by his rays, it becomes fit for action; to him, the pure self, who is the cause of purity, salutations. Salutations to Savitṛ, to Sūrya, to Bhāskara, to Vivasvat; to Āditya, the primal being, to the foremost of the gods—salutations, salutations. I bow to him whose golden chariot is borne by rays that carry nectar, who is the eye that illuminates the worlds.” Thus praised with such hymns and others, the Sun, taking the form of a horse, appeared before Yājñavalkya and said, “Choose whatever you desire.” Yājñavalkya bowed and said, “Grant me those Yajur Veda formulas which are not with my teacher.” The blessed Sun then bestowed upon him those Yajur Veda formulas, called the Ayātayāma, which his teacher did not know. O best of the twice-born, the Yajur Veda mantras studied by the Brahmins were taught by Vājina, from whom the Sun-horsed tradition arose. O most fortunate one, there are fifteen branches of the Vājinas; the Kāṇva and others, initiated by Yājñavalkya, are well known. Now, O Maitreya, Jaimini, the disciple of Vyāsa, divided the tree of the Sāma Veda in succession. Listen to this from me. Sumantu was his son, and Sukarmā was also his son; both these great sages each studied one Saṃhitā. Sukarmā, the son of Sumantu, created a thousand divisions of the Saṃhitā, and two wise disciples received them. O best of the twice-born, Hiraṇyanābha of the Kauśalya lineage and Pauṣpiñji were these disciples; from them, the northern singers of Sāma are remembered as fifteen in number. Thus, the branches of the Vedas, their teachers, and the noble traditions they established have been recounted, O Maitreya, for the benefit of all seekers of wisdom.