Aitareyabrahmana 3.14

3.14

Agni was the hotṛ priest of the gods; Death sat upon him at the bahiṣpavamāna.
He began the ājya [śastra] with the anuṣṭubh; thus he stepped around Death.
[Death] sat upon him at the ājya [śastra]. He began with the praüga; thus he stepped around Death.
[Death] sat upon him at the midday pavamāna.
He began the marutvatīya [śastra] with the anuṣṭubh; thus he stepped around Death.
[Death] could not sit upon him in the bṛhatī verses at midday.
The bṛhatī verses are vital breaths; thus he could not step between his vital breaths.
Therefore at midday the hotṛ priest begins among the bṛhatī verses with the stotriya verse itself.
The bṛhatī verses are vital breaths; thus he begins towards the vital breaths.
[Death] sat upon him at the third pavamāna.
He began the vaiśvadeva [śastra] with the anuṣṭubh; thus he stepped around Death.
[Death] sat upon him at the yajñāyajñīya [stotra].
He began the agnimāruta [śastra] with the vaiśvānarīya verse; thus he stepped around Death.
The vaiśvānarīya [verse] is a thunderbolt, the yajñāyajñīya [stotra] is a foundation;
thus by the thunderbolt he drives Death away from the foundation.
Escaping all the fetters and all the posts of Death, he was safely delivered.
Safely indeed is the hotṛ priest delivered, possessing full lifespan, for the attainment of a full lifespan.
He attains a full lifespan, who knows thus.