Rig Veda · 528 of 1027
Mandala 7: HYMN XII. Agni.
1.WE with great reverence have approached The Youngest who hath shone forth well-kindled in his dwelling, With wondrous light between wide earth and heaven, well-worshipped, looking forth in all directions.
2.Through his great might o’ercoming all misfortunes, praised in the house is Agni Jātavedas. May he protect us from disgrace and trouble, both us who laud him and our noble patrons.
3.O Agni, thou art Varuṇa and Mitra: Vasisthas with their holy hymns exalt thee. With thee be most abundant gain of treasure. Ye Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.
Asked of Guide
Why does the hymn call Agni both Varuṇa and Mitra?
The hymn names Agni as Varuṇa and Mitra to present Agni as embodying the moral and contractual powers those gods represent; Agni is the sacrificial presence that binds oaths and maintains order. The line “O Agni, thou art Varuṇa and Mitra” treats him as the living axis through which cosmic law and social friendship are enacted in the household fire.
This merging echoes Vedic practice where gods overlap in function and presence rather than stay separate: flames perform sacrifice, witness vows, and distribute rewards. Compare the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and other hymns in the Rig Veda where one deity is invoked with another’s name to signal shared authority and mutual activity.
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