The result of a sacrifice accrues to the sacrificer, and so he should
engage in it himself, - at least so far as its principal part is
concerned; and he may employ others to do the rest. All this is
described in the sacred books under different names. For instance the
ten Adhvaryu priests refer to the ten senses; and we have also the
idea of detachment or disinterestedness in action. There are also
other terms used in the text; and all the constituents of action are
called Ritvij priests. They are sixteen in number, and the "master of
the sacrifice" or the soul is the seventeenth; and all these perform
all kinds of actions referred to in the sacred books.

Similarly the function of Mitra and Varuna is to ordain action; but we
should come to this conclusion when certain words are also used in the
text. We can get the meaning of Adhvaryu and other words by means of
this method of interpretation. This is the method of interpretation
of the Vedas, and it should be applied to other sacred books as well.
This will enable us to understand the idea of Dharma. All this is
given explicitly in the Angas of the Vedas and in the remaining works
not so explicitly.

A further exposition on the subject maybe read at:

http://www.narachphilosophy.com/the_method_of_interpretation_nature_sacrifice_and_the_soul...

(You may click on the link above or type the complete URL address into
your browser)