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

ராஜ்யத்தைத் தாங்குவோர்களே. அச்சம் தரும் பப்ருவுக்கு இந்நமஸ்காரம்—அவன் அக்‌ஷ (பாசை)களில் மனிதரின் உடல்மீதும் வசியம் செலுத்தும் அதிபதி. நெய்யால் நான் ‘கலி’யை ஒழுங்குபடுத்துகிறேன்; இத்தகைய நிலையில் அவன் எங்களுக்கு அருள் புரிவானாக.

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}