Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

instructed men in praying and sacrificing (4: 1, 1, and many other passages), initiated
them in the art of poetry and gave them inspiration (3: 10, 5; 10: 11, 6). 26
This is related of Agni when he came to the earth and dwelt among men. As to his
divine nature, he is the pure, white god (4: 1, 7; 27 , 3: 7, 1*) young, strong, and shining
with golden teeth (5: 2, 3), 28 and searching eyes (4: 2, 12)* which can see far (7: 1, 1), 29
penetrate the darkness of night (1: 94, 7), 30 and watch the acts of demons (10: 87, 12). 31
He, the guard of order (1: 11, 8)*, is always attentive (1: 31, 12), 32 and protects the world
by day and by night from dangers (1: 98, 2) 33 . On a circular path he observes all beings
(7: 13, 3), 34 and sees and knows them all (10: 187, 4). 35 He perceives everything, being
able to penetrate the herbs, and diffuse himself into plants and animals (7: 9, 3 ; 8: 43, 9;
10: 1, 2). 36 He hears all who pray to him, and can make himself heard as if he had the
voice of thunder, so that both the halves of the world re-echo his voice (10: 8, 1). 37 His
horses are like himself white (4: 6, 5). 38 His symbol among the animals is the bull (1: 31,
5; 1: 146, 2). 39
In regard to Agni's birth, it is characteristic of him that he is said to have several
mothers, although their number varies according to the point from which the process of
birth is regarded. When it is only to be a figurative expression for the origin of the
friction-fire, the singer of the hymn can say that Agni had ten mothers or two mothers. In
the case of the former, it is the ten fingers of the person producing the friction-fire that
are meant. Sometimes this is stated outright (Rigveda, 3: 23, 3); 40 then again the fingers
are paraphrased by "the twice five sisters dwelling together" (4: 6, 8), 41 "the workmaster's
ten untiring maids" (1: 95, 2). 42 In the case of the latter - that is, when two
26
3: 10, 5 "To Agni, the invoking priest, offer your best, your lofty speech; to him ordainer-like who
brings the light of songs." etc.
27
4: 1, 7 "He came invested in the boundless region, pure, radiant, friendly, mightily resplendent" and
elsewhere.
28 5: 2, 3 "I saw him from afar gold-toothed, bright-colored, hurling his weapons from his habitation."
29 7: 1, 1 "Far-seen, with pointed flame, Lord of the household."
30 1: 94, 7 "O God, thou seest though even the dark of night."
31
10: 87, 12 "Lend thou the worshipper that eye, O Agni, wherewith thou lookest upon the hoof-armed
demon."
32 1: 31, 12 "incessantly protecting in thy holy way."
33 1: 98, 2 "May Agni …with vigor, present, preserve us both day and night from enemies."
34 This is not clear from the context. Griffith renders 7: 13, 3 "Agni, when born, though looked on all
creatures, like a brisk herdsman moving round his cattle."
35 10: 187, 4 "Who looks on all existing things and comprehends them from his view so may he bear us past
our foes."
36 7: 9, 3 "…the young plants hath he entered, Child of Waters."; 8: 43, 9 "…into the plants thou forcest
way…"; 10: 1, 2 "…parted among the plants in beauty."
37 10:8, 1 "Agni advances with his lofty banner; The bull is bellowing to the earth and heavens."
38 6: 6, 5 "Thy pure white horses from thy bonds are loosened." In regard to the above, 6: 6, 2 "White-hued
and thundering, he dwells in splendor. Most Youthful, with the loud-voiced and eternal"
39 1: 31, 5; "Thou Agni art a bull…"; 1: 146, 2 "As a great steer, he grew to these his Parents…"
40 3: 23, 3 "Him nobly born of old the fingers ten produced, him whom his mothers counted dear."
41 4:6,8 "Hey, Agni, whom the twice-five sisters, dwelling together, in the homes of men engendered."
42 1, 95,2: "Tvastar's ten daughters (the fingers) vigilant and youthful produced this infant borne to sundry
quarters." Here and elsewhere Rydberg represents Tvastar with the "work-master".