Mantra 9
Aindra praise: Indra as unstoppable helper, victor, and giver of wealth/protection to the sacrificer
महे च न त्वाद्रिवः परा शुल्काय दीयसे न सहस्राय नायुताये वज्रिवो न शताय शतामघ
mahe ca na tvādrivaḥ parā śulkāya dīyase na sahasrāya nāyutāye vajrivo na śatāya śatāmagha
mahe ca naḥ tvā adrivaḥ parā śulkāya dīyase na sahasrāya nāyutāye vajrivo na śatāya śatāmagha
Not for a hire, O stone-wielder, do we seek thee for our greatness; not for a thousand, nor for ten thousand, O thunderbolt-bearer, O bestower of hundredfold gifts (do we invoke thee as a mercenary).
mahe | ca | naḥ | tvā | adrivaḥ | parā | śulkāya | dīyase | na | sahasrāya | na | ayutāya | vajrivaḥ | na | śatāya | śatā-magha
Unknown/unspecified
{ "prastava": "(typical) stobha-led prelude such as ‘o…’/‘hā…’ introducing the melodic frame (exact stobha varies by gāna)", "udgitha": "Text-bearing core on ‘mahe ca naḥ tvā…’ with lengthenings at vocatives", "pratihara": "Responsive refrain segment, often mirroring the udgītha cadence", "upadrava": "After-song reiteration focusing on the closing epithet ‘śatāmagha’", "nidhana": "Cadential close with prolonged final vowel/visarga handling per sāman style", "structure_notes": "Without the specific gāna form, only the canonical fivefold distribution can be indicated; Kauthuma practice often assigns the main semantic load to udgītha/upadrava, with prastāva/pratihāra carrying stobha expansions.", "singer_assignments": "Prastotṛ: prastāva; Udgātṛ: udgītha+upadrava; Pratihartṛ: pratihāra; all three: nidhana." }
{ "gloss_summary": "Śulka is vetana (hire). The mantra denies invoking Indra as a paid agent for greatness; the numbers (hundred, thousand, ayuta) are hyperbolic ‘fees’ rejected.", "ritual_interpretation": "Stotra is not a commercial exchange; the sacrificer’s praise is offered with śraddhā, and the phala is granted by Indra’s svātantrya (sovereign will).", "theological_insight": "Gods are not compelled by payment; they respond to right praise and right intent aligned with ṛta.", "etymology_highlights": "śulka = vetana; śatāmagha = ‘whose magha (bounty) is in hundreds’; vajrivaḥ = vajra-yuktaḥ (possessor of the thunderbolt)." }