I would like to know any evidence or mentions of Hydrogen & Oxygen in Vedas and Itihasas?
मित्रं हुवे पूतदक्षं वरुणां च रिषाद्सम्
धियं घृताचीं साधन्ता || ऋ०|१|२|७||
Let one who is desirous to form water by the combination of two substances take pure hydrogen gas highly heated, and, oxygen gas possessed of the property rusting, and let him combine them to form water.(rigved 1.2.7)
Etymology of translation
रिषाद्सम्:-property of rishada (rusting)
वरुणां:-oxygen
Varuna is the substance that is acceptanble to all. It is the element that every living being needs to live. This verse say that varuna has property ofrishadha, i.e., it eats away or rusts all the base metals, it burns all the bones, etc; and physiologically purifies the blood by oxidizing it, and thereby keeping the frame alive it is by these properties that varuna is in general distinguished; but it is especially characterized here as rishadha.Undoubtedly, It is oxygen.
मित्रम:- hydrogen
Now it is well known that hydrogen is the lightest gas and and it has strongest affinity with oxygen. Here, Mitra is associated with varuna(oxygen). Mitra, for instance, occurs as synonymous with udana, in many parts of Vedas, udana is well characterized by its lightness or by its power to lift up.
पूतदक्षं:- pure energy
Puta is pure, free impurities. Daksha means energy. Puta-daksham is a substance, pure, possessed of kinetic energy. Who that is acquainted with the kinetic theory of gases, cannot see in puta-daksha the properties of a gas highly heated?