Aitareyabrahmana 6.1

6.1

The gods once sat for a sacrificial session at Sarvacaru, but they did not ward off evil.
Arbuda Kādraveya, the serpent seer and mantra-maker, said to them:
‘One office of hotṛ is unperformed by you; let me perform it for you,
and then you will ward off evil.’
They said: ‘So be it.’
Creeping up at each midday, he praised the pressing stones.
Therefore, in imitation thereof, they praise the pressing stones at each midday.
The way by which he crept up
is even today a path called Arbudodāsarpaṇī [‘Arbuda’s Creeping’].
King [Soma] intoxicated them. They said:
‘A venomous serpent is looking at our king.
Come, let us bind his eyes with a turban.’ [They agreed:] ‘So be it.’
They bound his eyes with a turban.
Therefore, in imitation thereof, throwing a turban around [the head], they praise the pressing stones.
King [Soma] intoxicated them nevertheless. They said:
‘He praises the pressing stones with his own mantra;
come, let us blend his mantra with other verses.’ [They agreed:] ‘So be it.’
They blended his mantra with other verses; then [Soma] did not intoxicate them.
In that they blend his mantra with other verses, it is for pacification.
They warded off evil.
Following their warding off [of evil], the serpents warded off evil;
these, with evil warded off, leaving behind their old, worn-out skin, move forward with a new one.
He wards off evil who knows thus.