Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 3.4.3.14

3.4.3.14

madhu sāraghamiti vā āhuḥ | yajño ha vai madhu sāraghamathaita eva saragho madhukṛto yadṛtvijastadyathā madhu madhukṛta āpyāyayeyurevamevaitadyajñamāpyāyayanti

'It is bees’ honey,' they say; for bees’ honey means the sacrifice, and the bees that make the honey are no other than the officiating priests; and in like manner as the working-bees make the honey increase, so do they (the priests) thereby strengthen the sacrifice.