Mantra 24

Sukta 3

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अग्निः पचन् रक्षतु त्वा पुरस्तादिन्द्रो रक्षतु दक्षिणतो मरुत्वान्। वरुणस्त्वा दृंहाद्धरुणे प्रतीच्या उत्तरात् त्वा सोमः सं ददातै

IAST Transliteration

agníḥ pácan rakṣatu tvā purástād índro rakṣatu dakṣiṇató marútvān | váruṇas tvā dṛṃhād dharúṇe pratī́cyā uttárāt tvā sómaḥ sáṃ dadātai ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Let Agni, as he cooks, protect thee from the front; let Indra with the Maruts protect thee from the south. Let Varuṇa make thee firm in the supporting base from the west; from the north let Soma set thee wholly in place.

Word by Word

अग्निःAgni (fire-god)

पचन्cooking, ripening (as he cooks)

रक्षतुmay (he) protect

त्वाyou

पुरस्तात्from/in the front, in the east

इन्द्रःIndra

रक्षतुmay (he) protect

दक्षिणतःfrom the south

मरुत्वान्accompanied by the Maruts

वरुणःVaruṇa

त्वाyou

दृंहात्may (he) make firm/strengthen

धरुणेin the support/firm foundation

प्रतीच्याfrom the west

उत्तरात्from the north

त्वाyou

सोमःSoma

सम्together, completely

ददातैmay (he) bestow/place (upon you)

Attribution

Rishi: As per AV 12.3 Pṛthivī-cycle tradition (seer attribution varies).

Devata: Agni, Indra (with Maruts), Varuṇa, Soma (as guardians of quarters).

Chandas: Triṣṭubh-like (longer pādas; not strict anuṣṭubh).

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"vira","emotional_arc":"From active guarding (Agni/Indra) to firming (Varuṇa) to gentle completion (Soma).","listener_experience":"Feeling protected from all sides; calm confidence to proceed with the rite/work.","intensity":5}