Mantra 13
Agni as the sacrificial forerunner who opens the rite, framed by cosmic illumination and Indra’s paradigm of releasing prosperity
पात्यग्निर्विपो अग्रं पदं वेः पाति यह्वश्चरणं सूर्यस्य पाति नाभा सप्तशीर्षाणमग्निः
pātyagnirvipo agraṃ padaṃ veḥ pāti yahvaścaraṇaṃ sūryasya pāti nābhā saptaśīrṣāṇamagniḥ
pāty agnir vipo agraṃ padaṃ veḥ pāti yahvaś caraṇaṃ sūryasya pāti nābhā saptaśīrṣāṇam agniḥ
阿耆尼（Agni）护持智者之最先的境位，亦护持求道者之步履；雄伟的阿耆尼护持太阳之行程；阿耆尼在中心护持那“七首”之力。
pāti | agniḥ | vipaḥ | agram | padam | veḥ | pāti | yahvaḥ | caraṇam | sūryasya | pāti | nābhā | sapta-śīrṣāṇam | agniḥ
Rathantara (generic assignment; exact gāna requires Sāmavedic gāna-pāṭha)
{ "prastava": "Stobha prelude leading into first ‘pāti agniḥ’", "udgitha": "First two protection statements (sage station; sun’s course)", "pratihara": "Responsive ‘pāti…’ refrain", "upadrava": "Third statement focusing on ‘nābhā saptaśīrṣāṇam’ with longer sustain", "nidhana": "Collective closure on ‘agniḥ’", "structure_notes": "Because the text is short, tradition often balances meaning by elongating the three ‘pāti’ clauses equally, giving a triadic protective seal.", "singer_assignments": "Prastotṛ sets protective tone; Udgātṛ carries clauses; Pratihartṛ reinforces the ‘pāti’ refrain; all conclude firmly." }
{ "gloss_summary": "Agni protects the highest station of the inspired and the seeker; protects the sun’s course; protects at the center the ‘seven-headed’ form.", "ritual_interpretation": "Agni as guardian of ritual progress (padam), cosmic order (sun’s course), and the altar’s central power (nābhi).", "theological_insight": "Protection is maintenance of r̥ta—Agni preserves both knowledge-path and cosmic rhythm.", "etymology_highlights": "‘Saptaśīrṣan’ interpreted as seven flames/manifestations; ‘agraṃ padam’ as highest station attained through rite/knowledge." }