The hymn is a dialogue. Agni has slipped away from the sacrifice and lies wrapped up in the waters and plants. Yama sees him. Agni tells Varuna he fled in fear, because his elder brothers had taken that road. The gods offer him an unwasting life; he asks for the fore-offerings and after-offerings and long life, and gets them. In the next two hymns he is seated and honoured as priest.
Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 10.51-53
The gods need Agni to father the child who will kill Taraka and cannot find him. A frog reports him under the nether waters, an elephant in an ashvattha tree, a parrot in a sami tree. Agni curses each in its tongue and the gods soften each curse. He is found in the sami, whose wood is therefore used to kindle fire.
No fear of priestly work and no elder brothers; three animal informers; the hunt serves the birth of Skanda.
The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § anushasana.85
The Yajurveda says three elder brothers died carrying the offering; a fish betrays Agni and is cursed to be killed at will. The Shatapatha has the gods take him from the waters by force; he spits on the waters, and from that Trita, Dvita and Ekata are born.
Names the number and fate of the brothers; adds the fish; the Shatapatha has force and no bargain.
The Veda of the Black Yajus School (Taittiriya Sanhita), tr. A. B. Keith (1914) § 2.6.6; The Satapatha-Brahmana, tr. Julius Eggeling (Sacred Books of the East 12, 41) § 1.2.3.1
Sources: Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer; The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer; The Veda of the Black Yajus School (Taittiriya Sanhita), tr. A. B. Keith (1914); The Satapatha-Brahmana, tr. Julius Eggeling (Sacred Books of the East 12, 41)
Brahma kills the demon Vajranabha with his lotus-weapon.
The gods build Shiva a cosmic chariot with Brahma as charioteer and Vishnu as the arrow to destroy the three cities of Taraka's sons; the Shaiva prelude has Vishnu send a heretical teacher to strip the cities of merit, while the Bhagavata has Vishnu as a cow and Brahma as a calf drink the demons' reviving well dry.
Taraka can be killed only by a son of Shiva.
Taraka's three sons win from Brahma three flying cities of iron, silver and gold, built by Maya.
King Mathava holds Agni in his mouth and will not speak.
Agni comes to Krishna and Arjuna as a hungry brahmin.
A boy is born to Ushas and cries.
The gods rise to heaven by the sacrifice and leave the lord of cattle behind.