Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 3.2.1.8

3.2.1.8

atha dakṣiṇena jānunārohati | śarmāsi śarma me yaceti carma vā etatkṛṣṇasya tadasya tanmānuṣaṃ śarma devatrā tasmādāha śarmāsi śarma me yaceti namaste astu mā mā hiṃsīriti śreyāṃsaṃ vā eṣa upādhirohati yo yajñaṃ yajño hi kṛṣṇājinaṃ tasmā evaitadyajñāya nihnute tatho hainameṣa yajño na hinasti tasmādāha namaste astu mā mā hiṃsīriti

He then kneels down with his right knee (on the skin), with the text, 'Thou art a refuge: afford me refuge!' for the skin (karma) of the black deer it is indeed among men, but among the gods it is a refuge (sarma): therefore he says, 'Thou art a refuge: afford me refuge.' 'Homage be to thee: injure me not!' Now he who raises himself upon the sacrifice doubtless raises himself to one that is his better; for the black deer skin is a (means of) sacrifice. Hereby, now, he propitiates that sacrifice, and thus that sacrifice does not injure him: for this reason he says, 'Homage be to thee: injure me not!'