Mantra 1

Sukta 109

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

राष्ट्रभृतः। इदमुग्राय बभ्रवे नमो यो अक्षेषु तनूवशी। घृतेन कलिं शिक्षामि स नो मृडातीदृशे

IAST Transliteration

rāṣṭrabhṛ́taḥ | idám ugrā́ya babhráve námo yó ákṣeṣu tanūvaśī́ | ghṛténa kálíṃ śíkṣāmi sá no mṛḍātī́dṛśe ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Upholders of the realm. This obeisance is to the formidable Babhru, who among the dice is master over men’s very persons. With ghee I discipline Kali: may he be gracious unto us in such a case.

Translation

ਰਾਜ ਨੂੰ ਧਾਰਨ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਿਓ। ਇਹ ਨਮਸਕਾਰ ਉਗ੍ਰ ਬਭ੍ਰੂ ਨੂੰ ਹੈ—ਜੋ ਪਾਸਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਨੁੱਖਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਰੀਰਾਂ ਉੱਤੇ ਵੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਰੱਖਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਤਨੂਵਸ਼ੀ ਹੈ। ਘਿਉ ਨਾਲ ਮੈਂ ਕਲੀ ਨੂੰ ਅਨੁਸ਼ਾਸਿਤ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ; ਐਸੇ ਵੇਲੇ ਉਹ ਸਾਡੇ ਉੱਤੇ ਕਿਰਪਾਲੂ ਹੋਵੇ।

Word by Word

राष्ट्रभृतः(those who are) supporters/bearers of the realm

इदम्this (act/utterance)

उग्रायto the fierce one

बभ्रवेto Babhru (the tawny/brown one; an epithet/name)

नमःobeisance, homage

यःwho

अक्षेषुamong the dice (in dice-play)

तनूवशीhaving power over the body/self-controlled (lit. body-master)

घृतेनwith ghee

कलिम्the ‘Kali’ throw/side (worst cast in dice)

शिक्षामिI train/discipline; I set right

सःhe

नःto us / our

मृडातिis gracious; shows mercy

ईदृशेto one such as this (of this kind)

Attribution

Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (varies)

Devata: Babhru (dice-power) and Kali (personified losing throw/misfortune)

Chandas: Anuṣṭubh tendency (requires metrical verification)

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhayankara","emotional_arc":"Acknowledges formidable power → asserts disciplined control → seeks gracious outcome.","listener_experience":"Sobriety and steadiness; a calming check on risky excitement.","intensity":5}