Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 13.3.14

13.3.14

tad ātmanā eva ātmānam niṣkrīya anṛṇo bhūtvā atha yajate / (soma: haviṣ paṅkti yāga)

xiii. 3. ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he says at each pressing as the offering verse of the Sviṣṭakṛt offering of the cake. Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa was the Hotṛ of the gods. To him in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ he was set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ, who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation, is set free. Through these intermediate spaces the gods went to the world of heaven; to them in that glory death attached itself; death is Agni; they having delighted Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ were set free. Verily thus also a Hotṛ who knowing thus delights Agni by the oblation (saying) ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ is set free. (The words), ‘O Agni, enjoy the oblation,’ have six syllables; this body has six members and is sixfold; thus ransoming the self by the self, having become free of debt, he sacrifices. This is the Mantra of Avatsāra Prāsravaṇa; he should not think ‘By which now, by which shall I sacrifice?’; he should know ‘Let me sacrifice by the Mantra made by a Ṛṣi, the Ṛc.’