Aitareyabrahmana 6.34

6.34

deyanīthaṃ śaṃsaty
Ādityāś ca ha vā Aṅgirasaś ca svarge loke 'spardhanta:
vayam pūrva eṣyāmo vayam iti.
te hāṅgirasaḥ pūrve śvaḥsutyāṃ svargasya lokasya dadṛśus,
te 'gnim prajighyur -- Aṅgirasāṃ vā eko 'gniḥ -- parehy,
Ādityebhyaḥ śvaḥsutyāṃ svargasya lokasya prabrūhīti.
te hādityā Agnim eva dṛṣṭvā sadyaḥsutyāṃ svargasya lokasya dadṛśus.
tān etyābravīc:
chvaḥsutyāṃ vaḥ svargasya lokasya prabrūma iti.
te hocur:
atha vayaṃ tubhyaṃ sadyaḥsutyāṃ svargasya lokasya prabrūmas,
tvayaiva vayaṃ hotrā svargaṃ lokam eṣyāma iti.
sa tathety uktvā pratyuktaḥ punar ājagāma
te hocuḥ:
prāvocā+ḥ iti \ prāvocam iti hovācātho me pratiprāvocann iti.
no hi na pratyajñāsthā+ḥ iti \ prati vā ajñāsam iti hovāca
yaśasā vā eṣo 'bhyaiti ya ārtvijyena,
taṃ yaḥ pratirundhed yaśaḥ sa pratirundhet, tasmān na pratyarautsīti
yadi tv asmād apojjigāṃsed, yajñenāsmād apodiyāt yadi \ yadi tv ayajyaḥ,
svayam apoditaṃ tasmāt

vi. 34 (xxx. 8). He recites the Devanītha; the Ādityas and Aṅgirases disputed as to the world of heaven. 'We shall go first, we'. The Aṅgirases first saw the Soma pressing on the next day for the world of heaven. They dispatched Agni—Agni is one of the Aṅgirases—(saying) 'Go, tell the Ādityas of our pressing to-morrow for the world of heaven'. The Ādityas having seen Agni saw the pressing on the same day for the world of heaven. To them he said on his arrival 'We announce to you the pressing to-morrow for the world of heaven'. They said 'But we announce to thee the pressing on this day for the world of heaven; with thee for Hotṛ we shall go to the world of heaven'. 'Be it so' he said and returned with his reply. They said 'Didst thou announce?' 'I announced' he replied; 'moreover they gave me a reply'. 'No: surely thou didst not respond?' (they said). 'I did respond' he replied; 'With fame he approaches who approaches with the priestly function; if one were to refuse him, he would

refuse fame; therefore I did not refuse’. If one desire to refuse (to officiate at a sacrifice) on account of (another) sacrifice should he refuse it. But if (the offerer) is one for whom it is not suitable to sacrifice, spontaneous refusal is appropriate.