Mantra 17

Sukta 17

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

नास्मै पृश्निं वि दुहन्ति येऽस्या दोहमुपासते । यस्मिन् राष्ट्रे निरुध्यते ब्रह्मजायाचित्त्या

IAST Transliteration

nā́smái pṛ́śniṃ ví duhanti yé ’syā́ dóham upā́sate | yásmin rā́ṣṭre nirudhýate brahma-jā́yā-cíttyā

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

For him the speckled cow yields not her milk to those who wait upon her milking—within that realm which is shut and held in durance by the intent that touches the Brahman’s wife.

Word by Word

नnot

अस्मैto/for him

पृश्निम्the speckled cow (pṛśni)

विapart, forth (intensifier with verb)

दुहन्तिthey milk

येwho (those who)

अस्याःof her

दोहम्milking; the act of milking

उपासतेthey attend on; they worship/serve

यस्मिन्in which

राष्ट्रेin the kingdom/realm

निरुध्यतेis restrained; is shut in/blocked

ब्रह्मजायाthe Brahman’s wife

चित्त्याby intention/thought; with (her) resolve

Attribution

Rishi: As hymn 5.17 (anukramaṇī-dependent)

Devata: Brahmanical order as punitive agency; prosperity (paśu, kṣīra) as controlled by brahman

Chandas: Anuṣṭubh

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"raudra","secondary_rasa":"bhayankara","emotional_arc":"From ordinary pastoral scene to stark deprivation—nourishment withheld.","listener_experience":"A sharp warning: abundance is conditional upon right conduct.","intensity":8}