Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 2.3.4.1

2.3.4.1

agnau ha vai devāḥ | sarvānpaśūnnidadhire ye ca grāmyā ye cāraṇyā vijayaṃ vopapraiṣyantaḥ kāmacārasya vā kāmāyāyaṃ no gopiṣṭho gopāyaditi vā

Once on a time the gods deposited with Agni all their beasts, both domestic and wild; either because they were about to engage in battle or from a desire of free scope, or because they thought that he (Agni) would protect them as the best protector.