Mantra 9
Agni as Jātavedas—ritual guide and luminous power who secures faultless sacrifice and protection in the sadas
प्र केतुना बृहता यात्यग्निरा रोदसी वृषभो रोरवीति दिवश्चिदन्तादुपमामुदानडपामुपस्थे महिषो ववर्ध
pra ketunā bṛhatā yātyagnirā rodasī vṛṣabho roravīti divaścidantādupamāmudānaḍapāmupasthe mahiṣo vavardha
pra ketunā bṛhatā yāti agniḥ ā rodasī | vṛṣabho roravīti | divaś cit antāt upamām udānaṭ1 | apām upasthe mahiṣo2 vavardha3 ||
Mit hohem Glanz des Zeichens schreitet Agni zu den beiden Welten; der Stier brüllt laut. Vom äußersten Saum des Himmels her hat er unvergleichliche Größe erlangt; im Schoß der Wasser ist der Mächtige gewachsen.
pra | ketunā | bṛhatā | yāti | agniḥ | ā | rodasī | vṛṣabhaḥ | roravīti | divaḥ | cit | antāt | upamām | udānaṭ | apām | upasthe | mahiṣaḥ | vavardha
Ketu-Agni sāman (brightness motif)
o; hau; i
{ "prastava": "o (with brief āvahana-style lead-in on pra ketunā…)", "udgitha": "pra ketunā bṛhatā yātyagnirā rodasī | vṛṣabho roravīti", "pratihara": "i (or hau-i linkage depending on local Kauthuma prayoga)", "upadrava": "divaś cid antād upamām udānaṭ", "nidhana": "apām upasthe mahiṣo vavardha (with final o/hau cadence)", "structure_notes": "Triṣṭubh text typically receives stobha padding at joints: after prastāva and before nidhana; the ‘roravīti’ segment is a classic udgītha peak-word for lengthening.", "singer_assignments": "Prastotṛ: prastāva; Udgātṛ: udgītha + upadrava; Pratihartṛ: pratihāra; all three: nidhana (with controlled unison cadence)." }
{ "gloss_summary": "Ketu is the visible brilliance (arcis) by which Agni is recognized; with great splendour he goes to heaven and earth. As a bull he roars; from heaven’s far limit he attains unsurpassed greatness. ‘In the lap of the waters’ indicates Agni’s concealed presence and subsequent increase.", "ritual_interpretation": "The verse is read as confirming successful kindling and the rite’s reach to both worlds; apām upasthe supports the doctrine of fire latent in moist wood/waters, drawn out by ritual effort.", "theological_insight": "Agni is simultaneously manifest (ketu/rorava) and hidden (apām upasthe): divinity is known by signs yet rooted in subtle substrates.", "etymology_highlights": "ketu ~ ‘mark/sign’; upastha ~ ‘lap/support’; vavardha ~ ‘grew/increased’ as ritual augmentation of agni-tejas." }