Why did Ṛṣi Vasiṣṭha say in Rig Veda 7.66.11 that Adityas gave year, month, Yagna, day and night?

The outer meanings of the words śaradam, māsam, yajñam ahar and aktuṃ as appear in the Rik Rig Veda 7.66.11, composed by Ṛṣi Vasiṣṭha, do indicate year, month, Yagna, day and night respectively.

However, a question may arise as to why Ṛṣi Vasiṣṭha said in this Rik that Varuṇa, Mitra, and Aryaman gave year, month, Yagna, day and night.

How are these words connected to the spiritual practices?

We can understand the issue, if we understand the meanings of the above words in an esoteric manner.

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Rig Veda 7.66.11

वि ये दधुः शरदं मासमादहर्यज्ञमक्तुं चादृचम् । अनाप्यं वरुणो मित्रो अर्यमा क्षत्रं राजान आशत ॥
vi ye dadhuḥ śaradam māsam ād ahar yajñam aktuṃ cād ṛcam | anāpyaṃ varuṇo mitro aryamā kṣatraṃ rājāna āśata ||

English translation:

They who divided the year, the month, then the day; the practice (yajñam) and the night, then ṛca (the verse)— as kings, Varuṇa, Mitra, and Aryaman have attained an unobtainable rule.

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I am giving the general as well as esoteric meanings of the words in question.

śarad (शरद्)

General meaning:

śarad (शरद्) indicates the Autumn Season: Indicates the completion of the harvest cycle in autumn marked the transition into a new agricultural cycle, the word evolved into a poetic synonym for an entire "year" (as seen in the famous Vedic prayer "Paśyema śaradaḥ śatam"—"May we see a hundred autumns/years").

Esoteric meaning:

śarad emanates from śrā or śṝ. The root meaning "to wither," "to ripen," or "to produce,"

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māsa (मास)

General meaning:

The word māsa (मास) comes from the root mā (मा), which means "to measure." Because the moon was the primary cosmic body used to measure intervals of time in antiquity, the moon itself was called māsa (the "measurer"),i.e, the month.

Esoteric meaning:

As the Waxing and Waning phases of the Moon (15 days each) are the basis for forming a month or māsa, Waxing and Waning phases can be understood as the ups and downs in the growth of a spiritual practioner.

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yajña indicates a physical Yagna or any action. Esoterically, it can be understood as a spiritual practice.

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ahar:

The general meaning is light. If understood esoterically, it gives the meaning of experiencing the DIVINE BLISS at the end of spiritual journey.

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aktuṃ:

Primarily translates to "night," it frequently refers to darkness or the dim/gloomy aspect of time. If understood esoterically, it gives the meaning of ignorance during a spiritual journey.

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If understood esoterically, the Rik indicates that Varuṇa/Mitra/Aryaman or the BRAHMAN, will be observing/assisting the progress of a spiritual practitioner, which has the following pattern.

aktuṃ ==> yajñam ==> māsam ==> śaradam ==> ahar

which means

ignorance -> spiritual practice ->ups and downs in practice -> ripening of spiritual practice -> BLISS

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• Aktu (Night / Darkness): Ignorance
  The starting point. It represents Ajnana (spiritual blindness), the unawakened state of the human ego, and the subconscious mind.
• Yajña (Sacrifice / Ritual): Spiritual Practice
  The awakening. It represents Sadhana (devoted effort).
• Māsa (Month / Moon Cycles): Ups and Downs
  The psychological struggle. Because the moon waxes and wanes, it symbolizes the alternating periods of progress and stagnation in the seeker's mind.
• Śarad (Autumn / Harvest): Ripening
  The maturity of practice. Autumn is the season of harvest. It represents Sadhana-Siddhi—the ripening of wisdom, and the readiness of the soul to receive the ultimate truth.
• Ahar (Day / Dawn / Light): Bliss & Illumination
  The ultimate realization. Ahar is the experiencing BLISS/Jnana (enlightenment), the permanent entry into the Solar World (Swar), and the realization of Ananda (Bliss).