'Yagnavalkya,' he said, 'how many Rik verses will the Hotri priest employ to-day at this sacrifice?' 'Three,' replied Yagnavalkya. 'And what are these three?' 'Those which are called Puronuvakya, Yagya, and, thirdly, Sasya.' 'What does he gain by them?' 'All whatsoever has breath.'

In plain words: Asvala, a priest at King Janaka's court, keeps testing the sage Yagnavalkya. He asks how many verses from the Rig Veda the Hotri priest (the one who recites) will use. Yagnavalkya names three kinds and says that through them the priest wins everything that breathes.