Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 3.8.3.10

3.8.3.10

taṃ jaghanena cātvālamantareṇa yūpaṃ cāgniṃ ca haranti | tadyatsamayā na haranti yenānyāni havīṃṣi haranti śṛtaṃ santaṃ nedaṅgaśo vikṛttena krūrīkṛtena samayā yajñam prasajāmeti yadu bāhyena na harantyagreṇa yūpam bahirdhā ha yajñātkuryustasmādantareṇa yūpaṃ cāgniṃ ca haranti dakṣiṇato nidhāya pratiprasthātāvadyati plakṣaśākhā uttarabarhirbhavanti tā adhyavadyati tadyatplakṣaśākhā uttarabarhirbhavanti

'They take it along the back of the pit, and between the sacrificial stake and the (Âhavanîya) fire. The reason why, though it is cooked, they do not take it across the middle (of the altar), as they take other sacrificial dishes, is 'lest they should bring the sacrifice in the middle in connection with that which is cut up by limbs and mangled.' And why they do not take it outside (the altar) in front of the stake, is that they would thereby put it outside the sacrifice: therefore they take (the flesh) along between the stake and the fire. When they have put it down south (of the fire), the Pratiprasthâtri cuts off (the portions). There are Plaksha branches (Ficus Infectoria) by way of an upper barhis (covering of altar); thereon he cuts. The reason why there are Plaksha branches by way of an upper barhis is this.