For, as was shown above, the Rig Veda already recognizes that prayer is power.

There the word for power, _brahma_, is used only as equivalent of prayer, and Brihaspati or Brahmanaspati is literally the 'god of power,' as he is interpreted by the priests.

The significance of the other great word of this period, namely _[=a]tm[=a]_, is not at all uncertain, but to translate it is difficult.

It is breath, spirit, self, soul.

Yet, since in its original sense it corresponds to spiritus (comparable to athmen), the word spirit, which also signifies the real person, perhaps represents it best.