Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 2.1.4.28

2.1.4.28

atha purastātparītya | pūrvārdhamulmukānāmabhipadyajapati dyauriva bhūmnā pṛthivīva varimṇeti yathāsau dyaurbahvī nakṣatrairevam bahurbhūyāsamityevaitadāha yadāha dyauriva bhūmneti pṛthivīva varimṇeti yatheyam pṛthivyurvyevamururbhūyāsamityevaitadāha tasyāste pṛthivi devayajani pṛṣṭha ityasyai hyenam pṛṣṭha ādhatte 'gnimannādamannādyāyādadha ityannādo 'gnirannādo bhūyāsamityevaitadāha saiṣāśīreva sa yadi kāmayeta japedetadyadyu kāmayetāpi nādriyeta

He (the sacrificer) then goes round to the east side (of the fire), and taking hold of the top part of the burning sticks he mutters (Vâg. S. III, 5): 'Like unto the sky in plenty, like unto the earth in greatness!' When he says, 'Like unto the sky in plenty,' he means to say, 'Like as yonder sky is plenteous with stars, so may I become plenteous!' and when he says, 'Like unto the earth in greatness,' he means to say, 'As great as this earth is so great may I become!'--'On that back of thine, O Earth, that art meet for the worship of the gods'--for on her back he lays down that (fire)--'I lay down Agni, the eater of food, for the obtainment of food.' Agni is an eater of food: 'May I become an eater of food,' this is what he thereby says. This is a prayer for blessing,--he may mutter it, if he choose; or, if he choose, he may omit it.