Sama Veda — Pūrvārcika, Mantra 3
Aindra Soma-invocation: Indra praised as the foremost protector and drinker of the pressed Soma, whose expansive might secures the rite and its gifts.
आ तू न इन्द्र क्षुमन्तं चित्रं ग्राभं सं गृभाय महाहस्ती दक्षिणेन
ā tū na indra kṣumantaṃ citraṃ grābhaṃ saṃ gṛbhāya mahāhastī dakṣiṇena
ā1 tū na indra kṣumantaṃ citraṃ grābhaṃ saṃ2 gṛbhāya mahāhastī dakṣiṇe3na
تَعَالَ إِلَيْنَا يَا إِندْرَا؛ وَاقْبِضْ لَنَا بِيَمِينِكَ—يَا ذَا اليَدِ العَظِيمَةِ—قَبْضَةً بَهِيَّةً مُوَفَّرَةً (مِنَ الثَّرَاءِ).
ā | tu | naḥ | indra | kṣumantam | citram | grābham | sam | gṛbhāya | mahā-hastī | dakṣiṇena
Aindra (generic)
{ "prastava": "o / hā (Aindra prelude, as per gāna tradition).", "udgitha": "ā tū na indra kṣumantaṃ citraṃ grābhaṃ saṃ gṛbhāya", "pratihara": "mahāhastī", "upadrava": "dakṣiṇena", "nidhana": "oṃ / hā / ho (cadential stobha per the specific gāna).", "structure_notes": "Semantic ‘taking’ words (grābha, gṛbhāya) are often given rhythmic emphasis; ‘dakṣiṇena’ may be lengthened to convey auspicious completion.", "singer_assignments": "Standard five-part sāman distribution among prastotṛ/udgātṛ/pratihartṛ/chorus." }
{ "gloss_summary": "Indra is called to come; he is asked to seize/secure for the worshippers a splendid, wealth-bearing ‘grābha’.", "ritual_interpretation": "‘Grābha’ is glossed as something to be taken/secured; in Soma setting it can be aligned with graha-taking (Soma-cup) or generally with securing oblation/wealth for the rite.", "theological_insight": "Divine aid is invoked as both arrival and effective action—help that concretely ‘takes hold’ for the sacrificer.", "etymology_highlights": "gṛbh-/grah: to seize, grasp; dakṣiṇa: right/skillful/auspicious (and resonant with ritual ‘dakṣiṇā’)." }