Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 8.6.2.1

8.6.2.1

candasyā upadadhāti | atraiṣa sarvo 'gniḥ saṃskṛtaḥ sa eṣo 'tra śriyamaicanno haiṣo 'taḥ purā tasmā alamāsa yacriyamadhārayiṣyattasmādidamapyetarhyāhurna vā eṣo 'laṃ śriyai dhāraṇāya rājyāya vā grāmaṇīthyāya veti tasmai devā etāṃ śriyam prāyacannetāścandasyāḥ paśavo candāṃsyannam paśavo 'nnamu śrīḥ

He lays down Khandasyâs (bricks pertaining to the metres). Completed now was the entire Agni (fire-altar). He now wished for distinction; for, indeed, heretofore he was not equal thereto, that he should sustain distinction; whence people here say even to this day, 'This one is not equal to sustain distinction, either in regard to kingship or to headmanship.' The gods bestowed on him this distinction, these Khandasyâs; for the metres (Khandas) are cattle, and cattle are food, and (a position of) distinction is food.