Mantra 1

Sukta 109

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

राष्ट्रभृतः। इदमुग्राय बभ्रवे नमो यो अक्षेषु तनूवशी। घृतेन कलिं शिक्षामि स नो मृडातीदृशे

IAST Transliteration

rāṣṭrabhṛ́taḥ | idám ugrā́ya babhráve námo yó ákṣeṣu tanūvaśī́ | ghṛténa kálíṃ śíkṣāmi sá no mṛḍātī́dṛśe ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Upholders of the realm. This obeisance is to the formidable Babhru, who among the dice is master over men’s very persons. With ghee I discipline Kali: may he be gracious unto us in such a case.

Translation

Para penopang kerajaan. Sembah sujud ini bagi Babhru yang dahsyat, yang di antara dadu menjadi penguasa atas diri manusia. Dengan ghee (ghṛta) aku menertibkan Kali; semoga ia berbelas kasih kepada kami dalam keadaan demikian.

Word by Word

राष्ट्रभृतः(those who are) supporters/bearers of the realm

इदम्this (act/utterance)

उग्रायto the fierce one

बभ्रवेto Babhru (the tawny/brown one; an epithet/name)

नमःobeisance, homage

यःwho

अक्षेषुamong the dice (in dice-play)

तनूवशीhaving power over the body/self-controlled (lit. body-master)

घृतेनwith ghee

कलिम्the ‘Kali’ throw/side (worst cast in dice)

शिक्षामिI train/discipline; I set right

सःhe

नःto us / our

मृडातिis gracious; shows mercy

ईदृशेto one such as this (of this kind)

Attribution

Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (varies)

Devata: Babhru (dice-power) and Kali (personified losing throw/misfortune)

Chandas: Anuṣṭubh tendency (requires metrical verification)

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhayankara","emotional_arc":"Acknowledges formidable power → asserts disciplined control → seeks gracious outcome.","listener_experience":"Sobriety and steadiness; a calming check on risky excitement.","intensity":5}