History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c71.s1.8

v5.c71.s1.8

Many of the principal gods of the Vedic pantheon are described as the guardians, promoters or charioteers of ṛta. Mitra and Varuṇa rule over all the world by ṛta (Ṛg V. 63 7, ṛtena viśvaṁ bhuvanam vi rājathaḥ); Mitra and Varuṇa, the protectors of ṛta, occupy a chariot (Ṛg V. 63 1), Mitra, Varuṇa, and Aryaman are said to be charioteers of ṛta (yūyamṛtasya rathyaḥ, VII 66 12); they and Aditi and Bhaga are protectors of ṛta (Ṛg. VI 51 3) Agni is called 'the charioteer of ṛta' (rathī ṛtasya, Ṛg. III. 2 8), the protector of ṛta, in Ṛg. I. 1 8, III 10.2, X. 8.5, X 118.7 and ṛtāvān (in Ṛg IV. 2.1). Soma is styled the protector of ṛta (in Ṛg. IX. 48 4, IX 73 8) and is said to support ṛta (IX. 97.24 ṛtam bharat subhṛtam cārvinduḥ) In Ṛg. VII. 66.13 the Ādityas⁴ are said to be *ṛtāvan* (acting according to the fixed order of nature), *ṛtajāta* (sprung from ṛta) and *ṛtāvṛdh* (augmenting or rejoicing in ṛta) and further they are said to be fierce haters of *anṛta* (what is opposed to ṛta).'