When a child is born, the father gives him a name, calling him “Veda.” This name is kept as a secret, sacred identity. Then, with a gentle touch, the father blesses his son, saying, “Be steadfast as a stone, sharp as an axe, pure as gold unmelted; you are truly the self, carrying your son’s name. May you live a hundred autumns.” Turning to the mother, he addresses her with respect: “O Maitrāvaruṇī, you have given birth to a hero from a hero. May you become a mother of heroes, for you have made us the possessors of a hero.” After entrusting the child to his mother, he offers her the breast, invoking the nourishing power of Sarasvatī: “May this breast of yours, full of milk, rich in ghee, abundant and well-offered, by which you nourish all treasures, O Sarasvatī, be given here for the child’s nourishment.” Those who witness this say, “Indeed, he has become a great father, a great grandfather. He has truly attained the highest state of prosperity, fame, and spiritual brilliance, for such a son is born to a Brāhmaṇa who knows thus.” Then, the lineage is remembered, tracing the sacred chain of teachers and sons: “We are descended from Bhāradvāja’s son, who came from Vātsī Māṇḍavī’s son, who came from Pārāśarī’s son, from Gārgī’s son, from Pārāśarī Kauṇḍinī’s son, from Gārgī’s son, from Bāḍeyī’s son, from Mauṣikī’s son, from Hārikarṇī’s son, from Bhāradvāja’s son, from Paiṅgī’s son, from Kāśyapī Bālākyāmāṭharī’s son, from Kautsi’s son, from Bhaudhī’s son, from Hālaṅkāyanī’s son, from Vārṣamaṇī’s son, from Gautamī’s son, from Atreyī’s son, from Gautamī’s son, from Vātsī’s son, from Bhāradvāja’s son, from Pārāśarī’s son, from Vārkāruṇī’s son, from Artabhāgī’s son, from Hauṅgī’s son, from Ṣāṃkṛti’s son, from Alambī’s son, from Alambāyanī’s son, from Jāyantī’s son, from Māṇḍūkāyanī’s son, from Māṇḍūkī’s son, from Hāṇḍilī’s son, from Ṛāthītarī’s son, from Krauñcikī’s sons, from Vaidabhṛtī’s son, from Bhālukī’s son, from Prācīnayogī’s son, from Ṣāṃjīvī’s son, from Kārśakeyī’s son, from Prāśnī’s son, from Asurivāsin, from Asurāyaṇa, from Asuri, from Yājñavalkya, from Uddālaka, from Aruṇa, from Opaveśi, from Kuśri, from Vājaśravas, from Jīhvāvān Bādhyoga, from Asita Vārṣagaṇa, from Harita Kāśyapa, from Hilpa Kāśyapa, from Kaśyapa Naidhruvi, from Vāca Āmbhiṇya, from Āditya. From Āditya, these white Yajus are declared by Vājasaneya Yājñavalkya.” The lineage continues: Pautimāṣī’s son from Kātyāyanī’s son, Kātyāyanī’s son from Gautamī’s son, Gautamī’s son from Bhāradvāja’s son, Bhāradvāja’s son from Pārāśarī’s son, Pārāśarī’s son from Aupasvastī’s son, Aupasvastī’s son from Pārāśarī’s son, Pārāśarī’s son from Kātyāyanī’s son, Kātyāyanī’s son from Kauśikī’s son, Kauśikī’s son from Alambī’s son and from Vaiyāghrapadī’s son, Vaiyāghrapadī’s son from Kāṇvī’s son and from Kāpī’s son, Kāpī’s son.