Rig Veda · 67 of 1027
Mandala 1: HYMN LXVII. Agni.
1.VICTORIOUS in the wood, Friend among men, ever he claims obedience as a King. Gracious like peace, blessing like mental power, Priest was he, offering-bearer, full of thought.
2.He, bearing in his hand all manly might, crouched in the cavern, struck the Gods with fear. Men filled with understanding find him there, when they have sting prayers formed within their heart.
3.He, like the Unborn, holds the broad earth up; and with effective utterance fixed the sky. O Agni, guard the spots which cattle love: thou, life of all, hast gone from lair to lair.
4.Whoso hath known him dwelling in his lair, and hath approached the stream of holy Law,— They who release him, paying sacred rites,—truly to such doth he announce great wealth.
5.He who grows mightily in herbs, within each fruitful mother and each babe she bears, Wise, life of all men, in the waters’ home,—for him have sages built as ’twere a seat.
Asked of Guide
Why does this hymn call Agni both 'Priest' and 'life of all'?
The hymn describes Agni as the ritual priest who carries offerings and “claims obedience as a King,” serving as the human-facing mediator in sacrifice. At the same time it names him “life of all” because he is the vital, animating force in nature—present in earth, sky, waters, herbs, mothers, and babes—so the same figure grounds ritual authority and the cosmic breath of life.
Calling Agni priest and life ties the sacrificial act to the world’s vitality: Agni makes offerings effective and also dwells in creatures and elements, so rites release wealth and well‑being by engaging the deity who pervades life. This is the same move seen in later Vedic ideas about fire in the Brahmanas, where ritual fire both conveys gifts to gods and sustains cosmic order.
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