Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 13.2.9

But, indeed, that glory, royal power, passes away from him who performs the Asvamedha.

[The Udgâtri says concerning the king's favourite wife, Vâg. S. XXIII, 26,] 'Raise her upwards,'--the Asvamedha, doubtless, is that glory, royal power: that glory, royal power, he thus raises for him (the Sacrificer) upward.

'Even as one taking a burden up a mountain,'--glory (pomp), doubtless, is the burden of royal power: that glory, royal power, he thus fastens on him (as a burden); but he also endows him with that glory, royal power.

'And may the centre of her body prosper,'--the centre of royal power, doubtless, is glory: glory (prosperity), food, he thus lays into the very centre of royal power (or, the kingdom).

'As one winnowing in the cool breeze,'--the cool of royal power, doubtless, is security of possession: security of possession he procures for him.

[The Adhvaryu addresses one of the attendant maids, Vâg. S. XXIII, 22,] 'That little bird,'--the little bird, doubtless, is the people (or clan),--'which bustles with (the sound) "ahalak,"'--for the people, indeed, bustle for (the behoof of) royal power,--'thrusts the "pasas" into the cleft, and the "dhârakâ" devours it,'--the cleft, doubtless, is the people, and the 'pasas' is royal power; and royal power, indeed, presses hard on the people; whence the wielder of royal power is apt to strike down people.

[The Brahman addresses the queen consort, Vâg. S. XXIII, 24,] 'Thy mother and father,'--the mother, doubtless, is this (earth), and the father yonder (sky): by means of these two he causes him to go to heaven;--'mount to the top of the tree,'--the top of royal power, doubtless, is glory: the top of royal power, glory, he thus causes him to attain;--'saying, "I pass along," thy father passed his fist to and fro in the cleft,'--the cleft, doubtless, is the people; and the fist is royal power; and royal power, indeed, presses hard on the people; whence he who wields royal power is apt to strike down people.

[The chamberlain addresses the king's fourth wife, Vâg. S. XXIII, 30,] 'When the deer eats the corn,'--the grain (growing in the field), doubtless, is the people, and the deer is royal power: he thus makes the people to be food for the royal power, whence the wielder of royal power feeds on the people;--'it thinks not of the fat cattle,'--whence the king does not rear cattle;--'when the Sûdra woman is the Arya's mistress, he seeks not riches that he may thrive,'--hence he does not anoint the son of a Vaisya woman.

But, indeed, the vital airs pass from those who speak impure speech at the sacrifice. [The queen consort having been made to rise by her attendants, the priests and chamberlain say, Vâg. S. XXIII, 32, Rig-v. S. IV, 39, 6,] 'The praises of Dadhikrâvan have I sung, (the victorious, powerful horse: may he make fragrant our mouths, and prolong our lives!),'--thus they finally utter a verse containing the word 'fragrant': it is (their own) speech they purify, and the vital airs do not pass from them.