Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 5.3.3

He performs the initiation ceremony. On the day of preparation he seizes the victim for Agni and Soma. Having performed the offering of the omentum thereof; he prepares a cake on eleven potsherds for Agni and Soma. Thereupon the offerings of the Divine Quickeners (Devasû) are prepared.

For Savitri Satyaprasava (of true impulse) he prepares a cake from fast-grown (plâsuka) rice, on either twelve, or eight, potsherds; for Savitri is the impeller (prasavitri) of the gods: 'May I be quickened, impelled by Savitri!' thus (he thinks). And as to (its being) of fast-grown rice: 'May they quickly impel me!' he thinks.

For Agni Grihapati (the house-lord) he then prepares a cake on eight potsherds from quick-grown (âsu) rice; for the house-lord's position means prosperity: as much as he (the king) rules over, over that Agni, the house-lord, leads him to hold the position of a master of the house. And as to its being of quick-grown rice: 'May they quickly lead me!' so he thinks.

For Soma Vanaspati (the wood-lord or tree) he then prepares a pap of syâmâka millet: thereby Soma, the wood-lord, quickens him for the plants. And as to its being prepared of syâmâka,--they, the syâmâkas among plants doubtless are most manifestly Soma's own: therefore it is prepared of syâmâka grain.

For Brihaspati Vâk (speech) he then prepares a pap of wild rice: thereby Brihaspati quickens him for speech. And as to its being prepared of wild rice,--Brihaspati is the Brahman, and they, the wild rice-plants, are ripened by the Brahman: hence it is prepared of wild rice.

For Indra Gyeshtha (the most excellent) he then prepares a pap of red rice-grains (hâyana): thereby Indra, the most excellent, leads him to excellence (or, lordship). And as to its being prepared of red rice: outstanding doubtless are those plants, the red rice, and outstanding is Indra: therefore it is prepared of red rice.

For Rudra Pasupati (lord of beasts) he then prepares a Raudra pap of gavedhukâ seeds (coix barbata): thereby Rudra, the lord of beasts, quickens him for cattle. And as to its being prepared of gavedhukâ seed;--that God is (the recipient of) refuse (remains of offering), and gavedhukâ seeds are refuse: therefore it is (prepared) of gavedhukâ seed.

For Mitra Satya (the True) he then prepares a pap of Nâmba seed: thereby Mitra the True quickens him for the Brahman. And as to its being prepared of Nâmba seed,--to Varuna, no doubt, belong those plants which grow in ploughed ground; but those, the Nâmba plants, belong to Mitra: therefore it is (prepared) of Nâmba seed.

For Varuna Dharmapati (the lord of the law) he then prepares a Varuna pap of barley: thereby Varuna, the lord of the law, makes him lord of the law; and that truly is the supreme state, when one is lord of the law; for whosoever attains to the supreme state, to him they come in (matters of) law: therefore to Varuna Dharmapati.

He then proceeds with the cake for Agni-Soma. The Svishtakrit of that (oblation) remains yet unoffered, when he proceeds with those (other) oblations.

Thereupon, taking hold of him (the Sacrificer) by the right arm, he mutters (Vâg. S. IX, 39, 40), 'May Savitri quicken thee for (powers of) quickening (ruling), Agni for householders, Soma for trees, Brihaspati for speech, Indra for lordship, Rudra for cattle, Mitra for truth, Varuna for the lord of the law.'

'Quicken him, O gods, to be unrivalled!' --he thereby says, 'Quicken him, O gods, so as to be without an enemy; for great chiefdom, for great lordship!' in this there is nothing obscure;--'for man-rule!' 'for the ruling of men,' he thereby says;--'for Indra's energy!' 'for vigour' he means to say when he says, 'for Indra's energy;'--'him, the son of such and such (a man), the son of such and such (a woman),'--whatever be his parentage, with reference to that he says this;--'of such and such a people,' that is to say, of the people whose king he is;--'this man, O ye (people), is your king, Soma is the king of us Brahmans!' He thereby causes everything here to be food for him (the king); the Brâhman alone he excepts: therefore the Brâhman is not to be fed upon, for he has Soma for his king.

Now those gods have the power of quickening, whence their name 'devasû' (Divine Quickeners). It is those gods who now quicken him thus, and quickened (consecrated) by them he will be consecrated on the morrow.

They are double-named, for a coupling means strength: 'May the strong quicken (him),' thus he thinks, and therefore they are double-named.

He now says, 'Pronounce the invitatory prayer to Agni Svishtakrit.' And as to why that ceremony is performed here between two offerings,--verily Pragâpati is that sacrifice which is here performed, and from which all these creatures were produced,-- and so they are even now produced after this one. Thus he places him (the Sacrificer) in the very middle of that Pragâpati, and quickens him in the middle: this is why that ceremony is performed between two offerings. Having called for the Sraushat. he says, 'Urge for Agni Svishtakrit!' and offers as the Vashat is pronounced.