Eight brilliant gods were born at the end of creation. They are known by the name Vasu, which means Beneficent. They are said to have come from Brahma's navel. The name of the eldest of them is Ahan, Day, the second - Dhruva - he became the lord of the Northern Star, the third was Soma, who became the god of the moon, the fourth of Vasu - Dhara, the Support of the Earth, the fifth - the beautiful Anila, also called Vayu, the Wind, the sixth - Anala, aka Agni, Fire, the seventh - Pratyusha, Dawn, the eighth - Dyaus, Sky, aka Prabhasa, Shine. Agni was the most powerful of them, and he became their leader; but they are all reputed to be the retinue of Indra, the king of the gods, who is therefore often called Vasava, Lord Vasu.
When Agni was born, the gods planned to institute a sacrifice. And they wanted Agni to become their priest, they wanted him to become the Bringer of sacrifice. But he was afraid: “When I offer a sacrifice and the sacrificial fire burns out, my life will end.” And he fled from the gods and hid in the waters.
But when Agni disappeared, the demons perked up, for there were no lights on the earth to disperse the darkness of the night, and the night was given to the demons as their undivided possession. “We must find Agni,” said the gods and, led by Varuna, the lord of the night and the lord of the waters, they set off in search. The fish revealed the location of Agni to the gods - she was worried about the heat spreading in the water.
In anger, Agni cursed her - and by the power of his curse, fish became the lawful prey of people who eat fish from that time on.
Varuna called to Agni: “Come back! Manu, who escaped the flood, must perform a sacrifice in order to continue the human race on earth. Who, besides you, will offer his sacrifice to the gods? Come back, O Agni! Agni objected: “The sacrificial fires on earth have already died. Out of fear of death, I fled like a buffalo from a hunter's arrow. I will return if you give me immortality."
The gods said: “You will be our immortal priest, O Agni, such is the mercy of Brahma. There will never be any harm to you during the ritual, and the victim will belong to you. And the universe will forever honor you." And Agni returned; Together with his brother Soma, he became the lord of sacrifices.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru