Shatapatha Brahmana 11.1.2.4

11.1.2.4

atho api nava syuḥ tannyūnāṃ virājaṃ karoti prajananāya nyūnādvā imāḥ prajāḥ prajāyante saiṣā sampatsa yajñaḥ

There may, however, be nine (oblations);--he thus forms a defective (lesser, lower) Virâg with a view to production; for from the lesser, indeed, creatures are produced here: this is that perfection, the sacrifice.