History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.73.2

v6.c81.73.2

109 3, in all of which the words *vrataṁ* and *vratāni* occur. Agni is frequently called 'vratapāḥ' in the Ṛgveda (V. 2. 8, VI 8 2, VIII. 11 1, X. 32 6) and also Sūrya is so called (Ṛg I. 83 5 ) In the other Saṁhitās Agni is styled 'vratapā' as well as 'vratapati' (protector or lord of vratas) Atharva XX. 25. 5 (Sūryo vratapā) is the same as Ṛg I. 83. 5, Atharva XIX. 59 1 (tvam-Agne vratapā asi) is same as Ṛg VIII. 11. 1; Vāj S I. 5.³⁸ says 'O Agni, lord of vratas! I shall undertake a religious observance (or obligation). May I be able to carry it out, may that (undertaking) of mine succeed; here do I approach truth from untruth'. The T. S I. 3 4. 3 also styles Agni 'vratapati'. Here and there Vedic Saṁhitās other than the Ṛgveda do employ the word 'vrata' in the sense of 'ordinances of a god or of gods' as in T. S. IV. 3 11. 1, 2, 3 or Atharva VII. 40 (41) 1, VII. 68 (70). 1 ('Sarasvati vrateṣu te').