Shloka 151
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
तस्मादग्निपरा: सर्वे देवता इति शुश्रुम । ब्रहद्मणो हि प्रभूतो5ग्निरग्नेरपि च काउ्चनम्,अतः सब देवताओंमें अग्नि ही श्रेष्ठ हैं। यह हमने सुना है। ब्रह्मासे अग्निकी उत्पत्ति भी है और अग्निसे सुवर्णकी
tasmād agniparāḥ sarve devatā iti śuśruma | brahmaṇo hi prabhūto 'gnir agner api ca kāñcanam |
Therefore, we have heard that all the gods depend upon Agni (Fire) and find their support in him. For Agni is born from Brahmā, and from Agni, in turn, comes gold. Hence, among all the deities, Agni is regarded as foremost—both as the carrier of offerings and as a source of sacred prosperity.
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
Agni is presented as foremost among the deities because he is central to sacrificial order (as the mediator of offerings) and is linked to cosmic and material auspiciousness—originating from Brahmā and giving rise to gold.
Vasiṣṭha states a received traditional teaching: all gods are said to be oriented toward or supported by Agni, and he supports this by citing a cosmological lineage—Agni arises from Brahmā, and gold arises from Agni—thereby justifying Agni’s preeminence.