Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 1.3.3.13

1.3.3.13

atha paridhīnparidadhāti | tadyatparidhīnparidadhāti yatra vai devā agre 'gniṃ hotrāya prāvṛṇata taddhovāca na vā ahamidamutsahe yadvo hotā syāṃ yadvo havyaṃ vaheyaṃ trīnpūrvānprāvṛḍhvaṃ te prādhanviṣustānnu me 'vakalpayatātha vāahametadutsākṣye yadvo hotā syāṃ yadvo havyaṃ vaheyamiti tatheti tānasmā etānavākalpayaṃsta ete paridhayaḥ

He then lays the (three) enclosing-sticks (paridhi) around (the fire). The reason why he lays the enclosing-sticks around (is this). When at first the gods chose Agni for the office of Hotri, he said: 'Verily, I am not equal to this, that I should be your Hotri, and that I should carry your oblation. Already you have chosen three before, and they have passed away. Restore them to me: then I shall be equal to this, that I should be your Hotri and that I should carry your oblation!' They said, 'So be it!' and they restored to him those (three former Agnis): they are these enclosing-sticks.