Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 2.5.2.24

2.5.2.24

purā yajñātpurāhutibhyo juhoti | ahutādo vai viśo viśo vai maruto yatra vai prajāpateḥ prajā varuṇagṛhītāḥ paridīrṇā anatyaśca prāṇatyaśca śiśyire ca niṣeduśca taddhāsām marutaḥ pāpmānaṃ vimethire tatho evaitasya prajānām marutaḥ pāpmānaṃ vimathnate tasmātpurā yajñātpurāhutibhyo juhoti

She offers previously to the sacrifice, previously to the oblations, since the people do not eat offerings, and the Maruts are the people. Now when Pragâpati's creatures, being seized by Varuna, became rent all over, and sat and lay them down, breathing in and breathing out, then the Maruts destroyed their sin; and so do the Maruts now destroy the sin of his (the sacrificer's) offspring. This is why she offers previously to the sacrifice, previously to the oblations.