Shatapatha Brahmana 5.4.5

Now when Varuna was consecrated, his lustre departed from him,--lustre means vigour: that Vishnu, the Sacrifice, it was he that departed from him,--probably that collected essence of the waters wherewith he is anointed on that occasion, drove out his lustre.

He stole after it with those deities,--with Savitri, the impeller (prasavitri); with Sarasvatî, speech; with Tvashtri, the forms of being; with Pûshan, cattle; with Indra, on the part of him (the Sacrificer); with Brihaspati, holiness; with Varuna, might; with Agni, fiery spirit; with Soma, the King; --but only through Vishnu, the tenth deity, he found it.

And because he there stole after (anu-sam-srip) with those deities, hence the name Samsripah. And because he becomes consecrated on the tenth day, therefore (this ceremony is called) Dasapeya. And because each time ten (men) steal along after each cup, therefore also it is called Dasapeya.

Here now they say,--'Let him steal forth after enumerating ten Soma-drinking grandfathers: it is thus that he obtains for himself the Soma-draught of this (Dasapeya), for it is a "drinking of ten."' But that is an overburdening, for people (will be able to) obtain only two or three Soma-drinking grandfathers: hence let him steal forth after enumerating those same deities.

For, surely, it was by those same deities that Varuna obtained the Soma-draught of that (Consecration-ceremony); and in like manner does this one now obtain the Soma-draught of that (ceremony): let him therefore steal forth after enumerating those same deities. Now as soon as the completing oblation of that Consecration-ceremony comes to an end,--

He prepares those (samsrip) oblations,--a cake on twelve, or eight, potsherds for Savitri; for Savitri is the impeller of the gods: impelled by Savitri, Varuna on that occasion stole along; and in like manner does this one now steal along impelled by Savitri. At this (oblation) he presents one lotus-flower.

He then prepares a (rice) pap for Sarasvatî,--for Sarasvatî is speech, and it was with speech that Varuna on that occasion stole along; and in like manner does this one now steal along with speech. At this (oblation) he presents one lotus-flower.

He then prepares a cake on ten potsherds for Tvashtri,--for Tvashtri (the fashioner, creator) rules over living forms, and with Tvashtri, the living forms, Varuna on that occasion stole along; and in like manner does this one now steal along with Tvashtri, the living forms. At this (oblation) he presents one lotus-flower.

He then prepares a pap for Pûshan;--for Pûshan is cattle, and with cattle Varuna on that occasion stole along; and in like manner does this one now steal along with cattle. At this (oblation) he presents one lotus-flower.

He then prepares a cake on eleven potsherds for Indra;--for Indriya means energy, vigour, and with vigour Varuna on that occasion stole along; and in like manner does this one now steal along with energy, with vigour. At this (oblation) he presents one lotus-flower.

He then prepares a pap for Brihaspati;--for Brihaspati means holiness, and with holiness Varuna on that occasion stole along; and in likes manner does this one now steal along with holiness. At this (oblation) he presents one lotus-flower.

He then prepares a barley pap for Varuna;--with what vehemence Varuna seized the creatures, with that vehemence Varuna on that occasion stole along; and in like manner does this one now steal along with vehemence. At this (oblation) he presents one lotus-flower.

The deities of the Upasad are the (eighth, ninth, and) tenth. At these (oblations) he presents five lotus-flowers. That wreath of twelve lotus-flowers he puts on himself; that is the initiation: by that initiation he initiates himself.

And as to why there are twelve (flowers),--there being twelve months in the year, and the year being All, it is by the All that he thus initiates him: what flowers there are of the lotus, they are a form (an image) of the sky, they are a form of the stars; and what seed-stalks there are, they are a form of the air; and what suckers there are, they are a form of this (earth): thus he initiates him (to rule) over these worlds.

And having bought the King (Soma), and tied him up in two parts, they drive him around. Having then placed one-half on the throne-seat, he proceeds therewith. Having then placed on the throne-seat that portion which was deposited in the Brahman's house, he proceeds with the guest-meal. Whilst he is proceeding with the guest-meal, he performs the Upasads. Whilst he is performing the Upasads,--

He prepares those (three) oblations,--a cake on eight potsherds for Agni; a pap for Soma; and a cake on three potsherds, or a pap, for Vishnu. Thus he performs the sacrifice in this way, if it pleases him.

But let him not do it in this way; for he who departs from the path of the sacrifice stumbles, and he who departs from the path of the Upasads certainly departs from the path of the sacrifice: let him therefore not depart from the path of the Upasads.

Now when he offers to Agni, he steals along with Agni, with fiery spirit; and when he offers to Soma, he steals along with Soma, the King; and when he offers to Vishnu,--Vishnu being the sacrifice,--he visibly obtains the sacrifice, and having visibly obtained it, he makes it his own (or, takes it in).

This same (Dasapeya) is an Agnishtoma sacrifice (performed) with the seventeenfold (stoma) for Pragâpati is seventeenfold, and Pragâpati is the sacrifice: thus he visibly obtains the sacrifice, and having visibly obtained it, he makes it his own.

Twelve heifers with first calf are the sacrificial fee for this (sacrifice); for twelve months there are in the year, and the year is Pragâpati, and Pragâpati is the sacrifice: thus he visibly obtains the sacrifice, and having visibly obtained it, he makes it his own.

These (heifers) have twelve embryo calves,--that makes twenty-four; for twenty-four half-moons there are in the year, and the year is Pragâpati, and Pragâpati is the sacrifice: thus he visibly obtains the sacrifice, and having visibly obtained it, he makes it his own.

He gives them to the Brahman, for the Brahman guards the sacrifice from the south: therefore he gives them to the Brahman. To the Udgâtri (chanter) he gives the gold wreath, to the Hotri the gold plate, to the two Adhvaryus two golden mirrors, to the Prastotri (presenter) a horse, to the Maitrâvaruna a sterile cow, to the Brâhmanâkhamsin a bull, to the Neshtri and Potri two garments, to the Akhâvâka (a cart) laden with barley, and yoked (with an ox) on one side, to the Agnîdh an ox.

Now there are here either twelve or thirteen presents,--for either twelve or thirteen are there months in the year, and the year is Pragâpati, and Pragâpati is the sacrifice: thus he visibly obtains the sacrifice, and having visibly obtained it he makes it his own.