The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 5.15.31

5.15.31

agniruvāca |
nāpaḥ praveṣṭuṃ śakṣyāmi kṣayo me'tra bhaviṣyati |
śaraṇaṃ tvāṃ prapanno'smi svasti te'stu mahādyute || 31 ||

"Agni said, 'I cannot enter the water. Therein it is extinction that awaits me. I place myself in thy hand, O thou of great effulgence. Mayst thou fare well! Fire rose from water, the military caste rose from the priestly caste; and iron had its origin in stone. The power of these which can penetrate all other things, hath no operation upon the sources from which they spring.'"