Chapter IX · Śloka 16
अहं क्रतुरहं यज्ञः स्वधाहमहमौषधम् ।
मन्त्रोऽहमहमेवाज्यमहमग्निरहं हुतम् ॥
मन्त्रोऽहमहमेवाज्यमहमग्निरहं हुतम् ॥
ahaṃ kratur ahaṃ yajñaḥ svadhāham aham auṣadham |
mantro 'ham aham evājyam aham agnir ahaṃ hutam ||
mantro 'ham aham evājyam aham agnir ahaṃ hutam ||
I am the ritual, I am the sacrifice, I am the offering to ancestors, I am the healing herb, I am the mantra, I am the clarified butter, I am the fire, and I am the oblation.
Every element of Vedic sacrifice — the rite, the fire, the offering, the formula — is identified as the Lord Himself. Worship is not directed toward Him; it is constituted by Him.