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.

Translation

Mahānagnī, avec le bâton śamyā, court tout autour du kṛkavāka. Nous ne savons quel est ce fauve qui, de sa tête, emporte 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}