Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 6.8.2.3

6.8.2.3

āpo devīḥ | pratigṛbhṇīta bhasmaitatsyone kṛṇudhvaṃ surabhā u loka iti jagdhaṃ vā etadyātayāma bhavati tadetadāha srabhiṣṭha enalloke kurudhvamiti tasmai namantāṃ janaya ityāpo vai janayo 'dbhyo hīdaṃ sarvaṃ jāyate supatnīrityagninā vā āpaḥ supatnyo māteva putram bibhṛtāpsvenadini yathā mātā putramapasthe bibhṛyādevamenadbibhṛtenyetat

[Vâg. S. XII, 35] 'O divine waters, receive ye these ashes, and put them in a soft and fragrant place!'--that, being consumed (matter), has run its course (is useless): regarding that he says, 'Put it in, the most fragrant place!'--'May the wives, wedded to a good lord, bow down to him,'--the wives, doubtless, are the waters, for from the waters this universe is produced; and in Agni the waters have indeed a good lord;--'bear it on the waters, even as a mother (bears) her son!'--that is, 'as a mother would bear her son on her lap, so bear ye this!'