Mantra 30
Sukta 23
ब्रह्मज्येष्ठा संभृता वीर्याऽणि ब्रह्माग्रे ज्येष्ठं दिवमा ततान । भूतानां ब्रह्मा प्रथमोत जज्ञे तेनार्हति ब्रह्मणा स्पर्धितुं कः
bráhma-jyeṣṭhā́ saṃbhṛtā́ vīryā̀ṇi bráhmā́gre jyéṣṭhaṃ divám ā́ tatāna | bhūtā́nāṃ bráhmā́ prathamóta jajñe ténārhati bráhmaṇā spárdhituṃ káḥ
Brahman is the eldest: gathered are the potencies; Brahman, eldest at the beginning, stretched forth the heaven. Of beings Brahmā was born the first; with that—by Brahman—who is meet to strive in rivalry?
ब्रह्मन् सबसे ज्येष्ठ है; सब शक्तियाँ संचित हैं। ब्रह्मन्—आदि में ज्येष्ठ—ने ही स्वर्ग को फैलाया। भूतों (समस्त प्राणियों) में ब्रह्मा प्रथम जन्मा; उस ब्रह्मन् के साथ—ब्रह्मन् के बल से—प्रतिस्पर्धा करने योग्य कौन है?
Rishi: Atharvanic/anonymous (late AV political-theological stratum)
Devata: Brahman / Brahmā (sacral power personified)
Chandas: Triṣṭubh-like cadence (late, mixed; not strictly classical RV triṣṭubh)
{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"vira","emotional_arc":"From cosmic origin to settled certainty: rivalry dissolves into inevitability of order.","listener_experience":"Awe and stabilization; sense that legitimate order is unshakeable.","intensity":5}