Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 5.3.1.1

5.3.1.1

araṇyoragnī samārohya | senānyo gṛhānparetyāgnaye 'nīkavate 'ṣṭhākapālam puroḍāśaṃ nirvapatyagnirvai devatānāmanīkaṃ senāyā vai senānīranīkaṃ tasmādagnaye 'nīkavata etadvā asyaikaṃ ratnaṃ yatsenānīstasmā evaitena sūyate taṃ svamanapakramiṇaṃ kurute tasya hiraṇyaṃ dakṣiṇāgneyo vā eṣa yajño bhavatyagne reto hiraṇyaṃ tasmāddhiraṇyaṃ dakṣiṇā

Having taken up both (the Gârhapatya and Âhavanîya) fires on the two kindling-sticks, he goes to the house of the Commander of the army, and prepares a cake on eight potsherds for Agni Anîkavat; for Agni is the head (anîka) of the gods, and the commander is the head of the army: hence for Agni Anîkavat. And he, the commander, assuredly is one of his (the king's) jewels: it is for him that he is thereby consecrated (or quickened), and him he makes his own faithful (follower). The sacrificial fee for this (jewel-offering) consists in gold; for Agni's is that sacrifice, and gold is Agni's seed: therefore the sacrificial fee consists in gold.