Mantra 9

Sukta 18

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

तीक्ष्णेषवो ब्राह्मणा हेतिमन्तो यामस्यन्ति शरव्यां३ न सा मृषा । अनुहाय तपसा मन्युना चोत दूरादव भिन्दन्त्येनम्

IAST Transliteration

tīkṣṇéṣavo brāhmaṇā́ hétimanto yā́masyanti śarávyāṁ ná sā́ mṛ́ṣā | anuhā́ya tápasā́ mányunā ca utá dūrā́d áva bhindanty enam ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Sharp-arrowed are the Brahmans, weapon-bearing: they speed the arrow-flight; it is not vain. Pursuing him with ardour and with wrath, yea even from afar they cleave him down.

Word by Word

तीक्ष्णेषवःsharp-arrowed (having sharp arrows)

ब्राह्मणाःBrahmins

हेतिमन्तःweapon-bearing, armed

यामस्यन्तिthey aim/let fly (direct)

शरव्याम्a missile/arrow (projectile)

नnot

साthat (she/it)

मृषाfalsely, in vain

अनुafter, along

हायhaving left/abandoned

तपसाby austerity/heat (ascetic power)

मन्युनाby wrath/indignation

चand

उतand also, moreover

दूरात्from afar

अवdown, away (preverb)

भिन्दन्तिthey split, shatter

एनम्him/it (this one)

Attribution

Rishi: Atharvanic/Angirasa tradition (anukramaṇī-dependent)

Devata: Brahman (mantra-power); implicitly the collective Brahmans as empowered agents

Chandas: Triṣṭubh-like (Atharvanic mixed)

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"raudra","secondary_rasa":"vira","emotional_arc":"Mobilization → certainty of efficacy → relentless pursuit → decisive cleaving.","listener_experience":"A surge of protective courage and confidence; sense of being backed by a powerful collective.","intensity":9}