Mantra 9
Sukta 3
तीक्ष्णेनाग्ने चक्षुषा रक्ष यज्ञं प्राञ्चं वसुभ्यः प्र णय प्रचेतः । हिंस्रं रक्षांस्यभि शोशुचानं मा त्वा दभन् यातुधाना नृचक्षः
tīkṣṇénāgne cákṣuṣā rakṣa yajñáṃ prā́ñcaṃ vásubhyaḥ prá ṇaya pracetaḥ | hiṃsráṃ rákṣāṃsy abhí śóśucānaṃ mā́ tvā dabhann yātudhā́nā nṛcákṣaḥ ||
With sharp-eyed vision, O Agni, guard the sacrifice, and lead it forward unto the Vasus, O thou of forethought. Blazing against the injurious Rākṣasas, let not the Yātudhānas circumvent thee, O man-discerning.
Rishi: Atharvanic/Āṅgirasa tradition (per Anukramaṇī-dependent assignment)
Devata: Agni (as protector and leader of sacrifice)
Chandas: Triṣṭubh (probable; confirm in critical edition)
{"primary_rasa":"vira","secondary_rasa":"raudra","emotional_arc":"Steady guardianship → flare of protective aggression → secure forward movement","listener_experience":"Protective confidence, sharpened attention, sense of being led safely","intensity":7}