Mantra 2

Sukta 25

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

आपो न देवीरुप यन्ति होत्रियमवः पश्यन्ति विततं यथा रजः । प्राचैर्देवासः प्र णयन्ति देवयुं ब्रह्मप्रियं जोषयन्ते वरा इव

IAST Transliteration

ā́po na devī́r úpa yanti hotríyam aváḥ paśyanti vítataṁ yáthā rájaḥ | prācáiḥ devā́saḥ prá nayanti devayúṁ brahmapríyaṁ joṣayante varā́ iva

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

As goddesses, the Waters draw near the Hotṛ; they look upon the aid spread forth, as on the wide expanse. With leaders in the van the Gods lead onward the god-devoted man, dear unto sacred prayer, and cherish him as wooers a chosen maid.

Word by Word

आपःwaters

नnot / like (in simile-context)

देवीःgoddesses / divine (fem.)

उपnear, towards

यन्तिgo, proceed

होत्रियम्the hotṛ-priest / the officiant

अवःhelp, protection, favor

पश्यन्तिsee, behold

विततम्spread out, extended

यथाas, just as

रजःmist, haze; dust; (also) space/air

प्राचैःwith the eastern (ones) / by those in the east

देवासःthe gods

प्रforth, forward

नयन्तिlead, guide

देवयुम्god-seeking / devoted to the gods

ब्रह्मप्रियम्dear to sacred prayer / fond of brahman

जोषयन्तेtake pleasure in, favor, welcome

वराःsuitors; choosers; excellent ones

इवlike, as

Attribution

Rishi: As in RV parallel (RV-derived in AV 20)

Devata: Āpas (Waters) and the Viśve Devāḥ (All Gods)

Chandas: Triṣṭubh

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_arc":"From gentle approach (upayanti) → widening vision (rajah) → confident guidance (pra nayanti) → affectionate cherishing (varā iva).","listener_experience":"Calm assurance of being supported; softened heart and steadied voice.","intensity":4}