Mantra 1

Sukta 33

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

दर्भः। सहस्रार्घः शतकाण्डः पयस्वानपामग्निर्वीरुधां राजसूयम्। स नोऽयं दर्भः परि पातु विश्वतो देवो मणिरायुषा सं सृजाति नः

IAST Transliteration

dárbhaḥ | sahasrārgháḥ śatá-kāṇḍaḥ páyasvān apā́m agnír vīrúd hāṃ rājasū́yam | sá no ’yáṃ darbhaḥ pári pātu viśváto devó maṇír ā́yuṣā sáṃ sṛjāti naḥ ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Darbha—of thousandfold worth, hundred-stemmed, rich in sap; the Fire of Waters, the royal consecration of plants. May this our Darbha guard us round about from every side: the divine Amulet conjoineth us with life and length of days.

Translation

ದರ್ಭ—ಸಹಸ್ರಾರ್ಘ (ಸಾವಿರಮಟ್ಟದ ಮೌಲ್ಯವಂತ), ಶತಕಾಂಡ (ನೂರು ಕಾಂಡಗಳವನು), ರಸಸಂಪನ್ನ; ಅಪಾಮಗ್ನಿ (ನೀರಿನ ಅಗ್ನಿ), ವೀರుధಾಂ ರಾಜಸೂಯ (ಸಸ್ಯಗಳ ರಾಜಾಭಿಷೇಕ). ನಮ್ಮ ಈ ದರ್ಭ ಎಲ್ಲ ದಿಕ್ಕುಗಳಿಂದ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಸುತ್ತುವರಿದು ರಕ್ಷಿಸಲಿ; ದೇವ ಮಣಿ (ದಿವ್ಯ ತಾಯಿತ) ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಆಯುಷ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ದೀರ್ಘಾಯುಷ್ಯದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸೇರಿಸಲಿ.

Word by Word

दर्भःdarbha grass

सहस्रार्घःworth a thousand (highly valued)

शतकाण्डःhaving a hundred stalks/segments

पयस्वान्abounding in sap/milk; nourishing

अपाम्of the waters

अग्निःAgni; fire

वीरुधाम्of the plants/herbs

राजसूयम्the rājasūya (royal consecration); royal rite

सःhe/that (this darbha)

नःof us; our

अयम्this

दर्भःdarbha grass

परिaround; on all sides

पातुmay (he) protect

विश्वतःfrom all sides; everywhere

देवःthe divine one

मणिःamulet; jewel (as a charm)

आयुषाwith life; by longevity

सम्together; completely

सृजातिcreates; sends forth; bestows

नःto us

Attribution

Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (late book; r̥ṣi not securely individualized)

Devata: Darbha as Maṇi (divine amulet), with ‘apām agni’ imagery

Chandas: Mixed late meter; tends toward Jagatī length (requires recension-specific scansion)

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_arc":"From awe at darbha’s cosmic stature to calm assurance of complete protection and long life.","listener_experience":"Feels enclosed, stabilized, and ‘consecrated’—as if placed inside a safe ritual circle.","intensity":5}