Mantra 54
Sukta 3
तन्वं स्वर्गो बहुधा वि चक्रे यथा विद आत्मन्नन्यवर्णाम्। अपाजैत् कृष्णां रुशतीं पुनानो या लोहिनी तां ते अग्नौ जुहोमि
tanvàṃ svargó bahudhā́ ví cakre yáthā vid átmann anyávārṇām | apā́jait kṛṣṇā́ṃ ruśátīṃ punāná yā́ lóhinī tā́ṃ te agnáu juhomi ||
The heavenly Power hath fashioned the body manifoldly, even as the wise discern within the self a changed hue. It hath driven off the black, while purifying it into shining brightness: that Red One—her I offer for thee in Agni.
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (AVŚ 12.3 complex; specific ṛṣi per anukramaṇī)
Devata: Agni as purifier/transmuter; secondarily ‘Lohinī’ as personified red potency
Chandas: Triṣṭubh-like (with Atharvanic irregularities)
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