Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 1.2.3.1

1.2.3.1

caturdhāvihito ha vā agre 'gnirāsa | sa yamagre 'gniṃ hotrāya prāvṛṇata sa prādhanvadyaṃ dvitīyam prāvṛṇata sa praivādhanvadyaṃ tṛtīyam prāvṛṇata sa praivādhanvadatha yo 'yametarhyagniṃ sa bhīṣā nililye so 'paḥ praviveśa taṃ devā anuvidya sahasaivādbhya āninyuḥ so 'po 'bhitiṣṭhevāvaṣṭhyūtā stha yā aprapadanaṃ stha yābhyo vo māmakāmaṃ nayantīti tata āptyāḥ sambabhūvustrito dvita ekataḥ 1.2.3[[.]]2 ta indreṇa saha ceruḥ | yathedam brāhmaṇo rājānamanucarati sa yatra triśīrṣāṇaṃ tvāṣṭraṃ viśvarūpaṃ jaghāna tasya haite 'pi badhyasya vidāñcakruḥ śaśvaddhainaṃ trita evajaghānātyaha tadindro 'mucyata devo hi saḥ

Fourfold, namely, was Agni (fire) at first. Now that Agni whom they at first chose for the office of Hotri priest passed away. He also whom they chose the second time passed away. He also whom they chose the third time passed away. Thereupon the one who still constitutes the fire in our own time, concealed himself from fear. He entered into the waters. Him the gods discovered and brought forcibly away from the waters. He spat upon the waters, saying, 'Bespitten are ye who are an unsafe place of refuge, from whom they take me away against my will!' Thence sprung the Âptya deities, Trita, Dvita, and Ekata.