Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 1.8.2.14

1.8.2.14

devānyajetyevādhvaryurāha | devaṃ-devamiti sarveṣu hotā devānāṃ vai devāḥ santi candāṃsyeva paśavo hyeṣāṃ gṛhā hi paśavaḥ pratiṣṭho hi gṛhāścandāṃsi vā anuyājāstasmāddevānyajetyevādhvaryurāha devaṃ-devamiti sarveṣu hotā

The Adhvaryu says (to the Hotri), 'Pronounce the offering-prayer (yâgyâ) to the gods!' and the Hotri (begins his prayer) at all (the three offerings) with 'The divine....' For the metres assuredly are the gods of the gods, since they are their cattle, and cattle means a home, and a home is a safe resting-place. The after-offerings, doubtless, are the metres: therefore the Adhvaryu says, 'Pronounce the offering-prayer to the gods!' and at all of them the Hotri begins with 'The divine....'