Shatapatha Brahmana 10.5.3.11

10.5.3.11

so'yamagniḥ sṛṣṭa āvirabubhūṣat niruktataro mūrtataraḥ sa ātmānamanvaicatsa tapo'tapyata sa prāmūrcatsa ṣaṭtriṃśataṃ sahasrāṇyapaśyadātmano'gnīnarkānagnimayānagnicitaste'gninaivādhīyantāgninācīyan tāgninaiṣu grahā agṛhyantāgnināstuvatāgnināśaṃsanyatkiṃ ca yajñe karma kriyate yatkiṃ ca yajñiyaṃ karmāgninaiva teṣu tadagnimayeṣvagnicitsvagnimayamakriyata tadyatkiṃ cemāni bhūtānyagnimindhate teṣāmeva sā kṛtistānevādadhati tāṃścinvanti teṣu grahāngṛhṇanti teṣu stuvate teṣu śaṃsantyetāvatī vā agnervibhūtiretāvatī visṛṣṭiretāvānagniḥ ṣaṭtriṃśatsahasrāṇyagnayo=rkāsteṣāmekaika eva tāvānyāvānasau pūrvaḥ

This Fire, when created, wished to become manifest,--more defined, more substantial: it sought after a self. It practised austerity: it acquired consistency. It beheld thirty-six thousand Arka-fires of its own self, composed of fire, built up of fire: with fire they were established, and with fire built up; with fire the cups were drawn thereat; with fire they chanted and recited hymns on them;--whatever rite is performed at the sacrifice, whatever sacrificial rite there is, that was performed with fire alone, as a fire-performance, on those (fires) composed of fire, and built up of fire. And whatever fire beings here kindle that was done regarding those (fires):--they establish them and build them up; they draw the cups for them; they chant on them and recite hymns on them,--of that extent was the development of Fire, of that extent its creation,--so great is Fire: thirty-six thousand Arka-fires; and each of these as great as that former (fire-altar) was.