 Epithets such as "born of "Ṛta"" and "protector of "Ṛta"" are frequently applied to numerous divinities, as well as to the sacrificial fire and the sacrifice itself.Despite the abundance of such references, the gods are never portrayed as having command over "Ṛta".Instead, the gods, like all created beings, remain subject to "Ṛta", and their divinity largely resides in their serving it in the role of executors, agents or instruments of its manifestation.