Vedic Mythology c5.s3.t2.7

c5.s3.t2.7

Agni's brightness is naturally much dwelt upon. He is of brilliant lustre (2, 10² &c.), brilliant-flamed (6, 10³), bright-flamed (7, 15¹⁰ &c.), clear-flamed (8, 43³¹), and bright-coloured (1, 140¹; 5, 2³). He has a golden form (4, 3¹ 10, 20⁹). He shines like the sun (1, 149³; 7, 3⁶). His lustre is like the rays of the dawn and the sun and like the lightnings of the rain-cloud (10, 91⁴⁻⁵). He shines even at night (5, 7⁴). Like the sun he dispels the darkness with his rays (8, 43³²). He is a destroyer of darkness and sees through the gloom of the night (1, 94⁵; 7, 9²). Kindled he opens the gates of darkness (3, 5¹). The earth enveloped in darkness and the sky become visible when Agni is born (10, 88²). For he is kindled at dawn and is the only individual god who is described as 'waking at dawn', *uṣarbudh* (though the gods collectively sometimes receive this epithet).