Atharva Veda 13.3.21: Kanda 13, Anuvaka 1, Sukta 3, Mantra 21
Sukta 3
नि॒म्रुच॑स्ति॒स्रो व्युषो॑ ह ति॒स्रस्त्रीणि॒ रजां॑सि॒ दिवो॑ अ॒ङ्ग ति॒स्रः । वि॒द्मा ते॑ अग्ने त्रे॒धा ज॒नित्रं॑ त्रे॒धा दे॒वानां॑ जनि॑मानि विद्म॒ तस्य॑ दे॒वस्य॑ । क्रु॒द्धस्यै॒तदागो॒ य ए॒वं वि॒द्वांसं॑ ब्राह्म॒णं जि॒नाति॑ । उद् वे॑पय रोहित॒ प्र क्षि॑णीहि ब्रह्म॒ज्यस्य॒ प्रति॑ मुञ्च॒ पाशा॑न्
ní-mrúcás tisró vyúṣo ha tisrás trī́ṇi rájāṃsi dívo aṅgá tisráḥ | vidmá te agne trédhā janítram trédhā devā́nāṃ janímāni vidmá tásya devásya | kruddhásyáitád ā́go yá eváṃ vidvā́ṃsaṃ brāhmaṇáṃ jinā́ti | úd vepaya rohita prá kṣiṇīhi brahmajyásya práti muñca pā́śān ||
Three are the downward darkenings, three the dawn-breakings; three, forsooth, the regions—three of heaven, O surely. We know, O Agni, thy threefold birthplace; threefold we know the births of the Gods—of that God. This is the offence against the wrathful One: whoso, thus knowing, injureth a learned Brahman. Up—make him tremble, O Rohita; waste him away: in requital loose forth the nooses upon the Brahma-hurter.
निम्रुचस्तिस्रो व्युषो ह तिस्रस्त्रीणि रजांसि दिवो अङ्ग तिस्रः। विद्मा ते अग्ने त्रेधा जनित्रं त्रेधा देवानां जनिमानि विद्म तस्य देवस्य। क्रुद्धस्यैतदागो य एवं विद्वांसं ब्राह्मणं जिनाति। उद्वेपय रोहित प्र क्षिणीहि ब्रह्मज्यस्य प्रति मुञ्च पाशान्॥
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (hymn complex associated with Brahman-protection; specific r̥ṣi attribution varies by anukramaṇī)
Devata: Agni; Rohita (solar/royal punitive power); the ‘kruddha deva’ backing brahmanical sanctity
Chandas: Mixed/irregular (predominantly triṣṭubh-jagatī cadence in extended pādas; refrain-like abhicaric close)
Primary: raudra
Secondary: bhayankara
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