As the Agnihotra is the foremost of all Vedic rites, as Gayatri is that of the metres, as the king is that of men as the ocean is that of all rivers, as the moon is the foremost of all constellations, as the sun is that of luminous bodies, as the Meru is that of all mountains, as Garuda is that of all birds.
अग्निहोत्रमुखा वेदा गायत्री छन्दसां मुखम्। राजा मुखं मनुष्याणां नदीनां सागरो मुखम्॥ नक्षत्राणां मुखं चन्द्र आदित्यस्तेजसां मुखम्। पर्वतानां मुखं मेरुर्गरुडः पततां मुखम्॥