Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 19.4.6

19.4.6

chandāṃsi vai devikāḥ / (soma: gavāmayana)

xix. 7. Following on the cake for the victim in the Anūbandhyā rite, they offer the oblations to the minor deities. The metres of him who offers the Soma sacrifice become exhausted; the minor deities are the metres; in that they offer oblations to the minor deities, thus (his metres) become unexhausted and fresh. The metres of him who offers the Soma sacrifice lose their sap; the minor deities are the metres; in that they offer oblations to the minor deities, verily (it serves) to confer sap on the metres. Now these are deities (_devī_) and Prajāpati is Ka; therefore are they minor deities (_devikā_). There are five oblations; the Paṅkti has five Padas; the sacrifice is fivefold; verily (it serves) to obtain the sacrifice. Here some offer oblations to the female deities, (thinking) ‘The fire piling is all; by all all let us obtain.’ There are ten oblations; the Virāj consists of sets of ten; the Virāj is prosperity and proper food; (verily it serves) to obtain the Virāj as prosperity and proper food. Here some perform the offerings to appease the quarters, (thinking) ‘The fire piling is all; by all all let us obtain.’ There are six oblations; the year has six seasons; verily (it serves) to obtain the year. When the concluding rite has been completed, he should sacrifice with a milk mess to Mitra and Varuṇa; the explanation of this has been given. ‘No piler of the fire should indulge in sexual union without having offered this sacrifice,’ (they say).