Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.898

c8.898

MITRA.
1) General information. One of the twelve Sūryas. The twelve Sūryas born to Aditi of Kaśyapaprajāpati are Viṣṇu, Śakra, Aryamā, Dhātā, Tvaṣṭā, Pūṣā, Vivasvān, Savitā, Mitra, Varuṇa, Bhaga and Amśa. (Chapter 15, Amśa 1, Viṣṇu Purāṇa). Mitrāvaruṇas are two devatās of great intimacy. They are always found together. If you pray to Mitrāvaruṇas you will get plenty of rains. (Sūkta 2, Anuvāka 1, Maṇḍala 1, Ṛgveda). See para 2 under Agastya to understand the story of how Mitrāvaruṇas became the father of Agastya.
2) Other details.
(i) Mitra came and stood in the sky at the time of the birth of Arjuna. (Śloka 66, Chapter 122, Ādi Parva).
(ii) Mitra was one among those sent by Indra to fight against Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna at the time of the burning of the forest Khāṇḍava. (Śloka 36, Chapter 226 Ādi Parva).
(iii) Mitra was a member of the Indra sabhā. (Śloka 21, Chapter 7, Sabhā Parva).
(iv) He presented two Pārṣadas named Suvrata and Satyasandha to Subrahmaṇya. (Śloka 41, Chapter 45, Śalya Parva).