Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 7.4.1.27

7.4.1.27

yadveva sarpanāmairupatiṣṭhata | ime vai lokāḥ sarpā yaddhi kiṃ ca sarpatyeṣveva tallokeṣu sarpati tadyatsarpanāmairupatiṣṭhate yaivaiṣu lokeṣu nāṣṭrā yo vyadvaro yā śimidā tadevaitatsarvaṃ śamayati

And, again, why he stands by worshipping with the Sarpanâma formulas;--the serpents are these worlds, for whatever creeps (sarp), creeps in these worlds. Now when he worships with the Sarpanâma formulas--whatever fiend there is in these worlds, whatever devourer, whatever ogress,--all that he thereby appeases.