Mantra 12

Sukta 4

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

शमग्नयः समिद्धा आ रभन्तां प्राजापत्यं मेध्यं जातवेदसः । शृतं कृण्वन्त इह माव चिक्षिपन्

IAST Transliteration

śám agnáyaḥ samíddhā́ ā́ rabhantāṃ prājāpatyáṃ médhyaṃ jātávedasaḥ | śrítam kṛṇvántá ihá mā́va cikṣipan ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

With welfare, let the kindled Fires lay hold—O Jātavedases—of what is Prajāpatian, sacrificially pure; making it here well-supported, let them not cast it down.

Word by Word

• शम्: auspiciously; in peace
• शम्: Karaṇa (भाव-उपपद; ‘कल्याणेन/शान्त्या’)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शम् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक ‘शम्’ = कल्याण/शान्ति)

• अग्नयः: the fires (Agni-s)
• अग्नयः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)

• समिद्धाः: kindled; well-lit
• समिद्धाः: Kartā (अग्नयः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective (participle)
• Root: सम्-इध् (धातु) → समिद्ध (कृदन्त, भूतकृत्/क्त)

• आ: towards; forth (prefix)
• आ: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)

• रभन्ताम्: let them undertake; let them take up
• रभन्ताम्: — (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रभ् (धातु) [आ-रभ्]

• प्राजापत्यम्: (that which is) Prajāpati’s; belonging to Prajāpati
• प्राजापत्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: प्राजापत्य (प्रातिपदिक; प्रजापतेः सम्बन्धि)

• मेध्यम्: fit for sacrifice; pure
• मेध्यम्: Karma (प्राजापत्यम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेध्य (प्रातिपदिक)

• जातवेदसः: Jātavedas (all-knowing fires/Agni-s)
• जातवेदसः: Kartā (अग्नयः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Noun (epithet)
• Root: जातवेदस् (प्रातिपदिक; अग्नि-विशेषण)

• शृतम्: the cooked/boiled (offering)
• शृतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective/Participle (used as noun)
• Root: श्रु/श्रव् (धातु ‘श्रु’ = पचने/शरणे?; वैदिके ‘शृ’/‘श्रु’ → शृत ‘उष्णीकृत/पक्व’)

• कृण्वन्तः: making; preparing
• कृण्वन्तः: Kartā (जातवेदसः/अग्नयः इत्यस्य)
• Type: Participle
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृण्वत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त, शतृ)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikaraṇa (देश/अवसर)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)

• मा: do not
• मा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (निषेध-अव्यय)

• अव: down; away (prefix)
• अव: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अव (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)

• चिक्षिपन्: let them not throw down; let them not cast away
• चिक्षिपन्: — (निषेध-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb (injunctive/aorist form used with prohibitive mā)
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु) [अव-क्षिप्]

Attribution

Rishi: Atharvanic funerary tradition (specific attribution varies by edition for AV 18.4).

Devata: Agni(s), especially Jātavedas in pluralized form

Chandas: Mixed/expanded; likely Triṣṭubh-family (verify in critical edition)

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":null,"emotional_arc":"From activation (kindled fires) to secure holding and steady support, ending with a firm prohibition against failure.","listener_experience":"Reassurance and steadiness; a sense that the rite/transition will not ‘slip’.","intensity":4}