Mantra 3
Agni as the invited sacrificial guest who manifests among men with the gods and removes obstacles to the rite
अग्निं दूतं वृणीमहे होतारं विश्ववेदसम् अस्य यज्ञस्य सुक्रतुम्
अग्निं दूतं वृणीमहे होतारं विश्ववेदसम् । अस्य यज्ञस्य सुक्रतुम् ॥
agníṃ1 dūtáṃ2 vṛṇīmahe1 hotā́raṃ2 viśvávedasam1 | asyá1 yajñásya2 sukrátum1 ||
Agni erwählen wir zum Boten, den Hotṛ, den Allwissenden; den weise Wirkenden, den wohlgeordneten Vollzieher dieses Opfers.
अग्निम् । दूतम् । वृणीमहे । होतारम् । विश्व-वेदसम् । अस्य । यज्ञस्य । सु-क्रतुम् ।
Rathantara (standard Agneya setting; exact gāna-name varies by śākhā)
{ "prastava": "Stobha prelude establishing the Rathantara frame (exact stobha string tradition-dependent).", "udgitha": "agnim dūtam vṛṇīmahe (main appointment)", "pratihara": "hotāraṃ viśvavedasam (responsive identification)", "upadrava": "asya yajñasya sukratum (application to the present rite)", "nidhana": "Collective cadence sealing the appointment of Agni.", "structure_notes": "The three Gāyatrī pādas align naturally with udgītha/pratihāra/upadrava; prastāva and nidhana are supplied by gāna tradition.", "singer_assignments": "Prastotṛ begins; Udgātṛ leads the core; Pratihartṛ answers; all conclude in nidhana." }
{ "gloss_summary": "Agni is dūta because as havyavāhana he conveys oblations to the deities; he is hotā as the divine Hotṛ-principle presiding over invocation; viśvavedas as one who knows all (the rite, its deities, and fruits); sukratu as expertly and rightly performing the sacrifice.", "ritual_interpretation": "An opening appointment: establishing Agni’s office in the present yajña so offerings are properly transmitted.", "theological_insight": "The rite succeeds through correct mediation; Agni embodies the link between human speech/act and divine reception.", "etymology_highlights": "dūta (messenger); hotṛ from √hu (to invoke/sacrifice); kratu as resolve/ritual intelligence; su-kratu as well-ordered kratu." }