'Yagnavalkya,' he said, 'how many Stotriya hymns will the Udgatri priest employ to-day at this sacrifice?' 'Three,' replied Yagnavalkya. 'And what are these three?' 'Those which are called Puronuvakya, Yagya, and, thirdly, Sasya.' 'And what are these with regard to the body (adhyatmam)?' 'The Puronuvakya is Prana (up-breathing), the Yagya the Apana (down-breathing), the Sasya the Vyana (back-breathing).' 'What does he gain by them?' 'He gains the earth by the Puronuvakya, the sky by the Yagya, heaven by the Sasya.' After that Asvala held his peace.

In plain words: Asvala asks about the three hymns the Udgatri priest (the one who chants) will sing. Yagnavalkya links the three hymns to three kinds of breath in the body. He says they win the earth, the sky and heaven. After this Asvala falls silent, defeated.