Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 2.3.1.6

2.3.1.6

sa yathāhistvaco nirmucyeta | evaṃ rātreḥ pāpmanā nirmucyate yathā ha vā ahistvaco nirmucyetaivaṃ sarvasmātpāpmano nirmucyate ya yevaṃ vidvānagnihotraṃ juhoti tadetasyaivānu prajātimimāḥ sarvāḥ prajā anu prajāyante vi hi sṛjyante yathārtham

Even as a snake frees itself from its skin, so does it (the sun-child) free itself from the night, from evil: and, verily, whosoever, knowing this, offers the Agnihotra, he frees himself from all evil, even as a snake frees itself from its skin; and after his birth all these creatures are born; for they are set free according to their inclination.