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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 357 of 1027

Mandala 5: HYMN III. Agni.

1.THOU at thy birth art Varuṇa, O Agni; when thou art kindled thou becomest Mitra. In thee, O Son of Strength, all Gods are centred. Indra art thou to man who brings oblation.

2.Aryaman art thou as regardeth maidens mysterious, is thy name, O Self-sustainer. As a kind friend with streams of milk they balm thee what time thou makest wife and lord one-minded.

3.The Maruts deck their beauty for thy glory, yea, Rudra! for thy birth fair, brightly-coloured. That which was fixed as Viṣṇu’s loftiest station—therewith the secret of the Cows thou guardest.

4.Gods through thy glory, God who art so lovely! granting abundant gifts gained life immortal. As their own Priest have men established Agni; and serve him fain for praise from him who liveth.

5.There is no priest more skilled than thou in worship; none Self-sustainer pass thee in wisdom. The man within whose house as guest thou dwellest, O God, by sacrifice shall conquer mortals.

6.Aided by thee, O Agni may we conquer through our oblation, fain for wealth, awakened: May we in battle, in the days’ assemblies, O Son of Strength, by riches conquer mortals.

7.He shall bring evil on the evil-plotter whoever turns against us sin and outrage. Destroy this calumny of him, O Agni, whoever injures us with double-dealing.

8.At this dawn’s flushing, God! our ancient fathers served thee with offerings, making thee their envoy, When, Agni, to the store of wealth thou goest, a God enkindled with good things by mortals.

9.Save, thou who knowest, draw thy father near thee, who counts as thine own son, O Child of Power. O sapient Agni, when wilt thou regard us? When, skilled in holy Law, wilt thou direct us?

10.Adoring thee he gives thee many a title, when thou, Good Lord! acceptest this as Father. And doth not Agni, glad in strength of Godhead, gain splendid bliss when he hath waxen mighty?

11.Most Youthful Agni, verily thou bearest thy praiser safely over all his troubles. Thieves have been seen by us and open foemen: unknown have been the plottings of the wicked.

12.To thee these eulogies have been directed: or to the Vasu hath this sin been spoken. But this our Agni, flaming high, shall never yield us to calumny, to him who wrongs us.

Asked of Guide

Why does the hymn call Agni by so many gods' names (Varuṇa, Mitra, Indra, Viṣṇu)?

The hymn shows Agni as the living presence in sacrifice and domestic life, so he is named Varuṇa, Mitra, Indra, Viṣṇu, Aryaman and Rudra because each divine power is present in his function: at birth he is Varuṇa, when kindled he becomes Mitra, and he bears Indra’s might and Viṣṇu’s station. The poets treat Agni as the centre in whom “all Gods are centred,” making him simultaneously messenger, priest, protector and sharer of others’ attributes.

This identification explains why worship of Agni secures blessings and justice—he is described as the priest who will “conquer mortals” for his host and as guardian against plots and calumny. If you want a close parallel, see the Upanishads’ treatment of fire as the inner self and vehicle of other gods, where a single reality bears multiple names because of its many roles.

Guide is the guide inside the Gnosis app, where every book on these shelves is free to read. Guide is the part you pay for — your guide has read all of them, and answers about the passage you’re actually on. Ask your guide your own question.