Mantra 10

Sukta 136

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

महानग्नी कृकवाकं शम्यया परि धावति । अयं न विद्म यो मृगः शीर्ष्णा हरति धाणिकाम्

IAST Transliteration

mahā́nagnī́ kṛ́kavākaṃ śámyayā pári dhāvati | ayáṃ ná vidmá yó mṛgáḥ śī́rṣṇā hárati dhā́ṇikām ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Mahānagnī with the śamyā-staff runs round about the kṛkavāka. We know not what wild creature this is that with its head bears off Dhāṇikā.

Word by Word

महानग्नीthe great fireless (female), i.e., a great non-fiery one (epithet)

कृकवाकम्the kṛkavāka (a bird/creature name; often taken as a kind of owl/curlew)

शम्ययाwith a wooden stick/peg (śamyā)

परिaround, all around

धावतिruns, rushes

अयम्this (one)

नnot

विद्मwe know

यःwho, which

मृगःthe wild animal, beast

शीर्ष्णाwith (his) head

हरतिcarries off, takes away

धाणिकाम्a dhāṇikā (a small vessel/implement; exact referent uncertain)

Attribution

Rishi: Traditionally Atharvanic/Angirasa attribution for late AV book material (specific r̥ṣi uncertain in common indices for 20.136).

Devata: Rakṣas/Graha-expulsion; Mahānagnī as named afflicting agent addressed/depicted.

Chandas: Anuṣṭubh-like (late, narrative/ritual diction; metrical irregularities possible).

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"bhayankara","secondary_rasa":"vira","emotional_arc":"Fear of the unknown rises, then is met by active protective pursuit.","listener_experience":"Heightened alertness and resolve; a sense of ‘we are doing something now.’","intensity":7}