Mantra 23

Sukta 2

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

उप स्तृणीहि बल्बजमधि चर्मणि रोहिते । तत्रोपविश्य सुप्रजा इममग्निं सपर्यतु

IAST Transliteration

úpa str̥ṇīhi balbajám ádhi cármaṇi róhite | tátrópavíśya suprájā imám agním saparyatu ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Spread thou the balbaja-strewing upon the hide, O Red One. Thereon, when she hath sat her down, let the well-offspringed woman do reverence unto this Agni.

Word by Word

उपnear, towards; (as preverb)

स्तृणीहिspread (strew)

बल्बजम्balbaja-grass (a kind of grass used for bedding/covering)

अधिupon, on

चर्मणिon the hide/skin

रोहितेon the red (hide)

तत्रthere

उपविश्यhaving sat down (near)

सुप्रजाः(they) having good progeny

इमम्this

अग्निम्Agni; the fire

सपर्यतुlet them honor/worship

Attribution

Rishi: Traditionally assigned within the AV marriage corpus (often Atharvanic/Angirasic attribution in ancillary lists); specific r̥ṣi varies by anukramaṇī tradition.

Devata: Agni (as gṛhapati-witness and rakṣohā)

Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (dominant in domestic/marriage verses; as transmitted here)

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":null,"emotional_arc":"Practical preparation → calm installation → reverent stability.","listener_experience":"Feels orderly, safe, ‘settling in’.","intensity":3}