Sama Veda — Pūrvārcika, Mantra 4
Agni as Jātavedas—ritual guide and luminous power who secures faultless sacrifice and protection in the sadas
इमं स्तोममर्हते जातवेदसे रथमिव सं महेमा मनीषया भद्रा हि नः प्रमतिरस्य संसद्यग्ने सख्ये मा रिषामा वयं तव .
imaṃ stomamarhate jātavedase rathamiva saṃ mahemā manīṣayā bhadrā hi naḥ pramatirasya saṃsadyagne sakhye mā riṣāmā vayaṃ tava .
imaṃ stomam arhate jātavedase ratham iva saṃ mahemā manīṣayā | bhadrā hi naḥ pramatiḥ asya saṃsadi1 agne2 sakhye3 mā riṣāmā vayaṃ tava ||
我们以虔敬之思，为堪受赞颂的贾塔维达斯（Jātavedas）编成此颂，如同严整之战车。因在祭会（saṃsad）中，他的引导于我等为吉祥。阿耆尼（Agni）啊，愿在你的友谊（sakhya）中，我们——属于你的人——不遭伤害。
imam | stomam | arhate | jātavedase | ratham-iva | sam | mahemā | manīṣayā | bhadrā | hi | naḥ | pramatiḥ | asya | saṃsadi | agne | sakhye | mā | riṣāmā | vayam | tava
Rathantara (Agneya-prakṛti, traditional assignment)
o; hau; hāyi
{ "prastava": "o (prolonged) + brief linking stobha", "udgitha": "imaṃ stomam arhate jātavedase ratham iva saṃ mahemā manīṣayā (expanded with hau/hāyi per gāna tradition)", "pratihara": "bhadrā hi naḥ pramatir (response phrase; often slightly compressed text with melodic answer)", "upadrava": "asya saṃsady agne sakhye mā riṣāmā (after-song; reinforces protection theme)", "nidhana": "vayaṃ tava (cadential close, often collectively reinforced)", "structure_notes": "Rathantara practice typically lengthens udgītha and nidhana for ‘firmness’; stobhas act as joints between semantic units, mirroring ratha-sandhi (chariot joinery).", "singer_assignments": "Prastotṛ: prastāva; Udgātṛ: udgītha + upadrava; Pratihartṛ: pratihāra; all: nidhana (with supporting hum/ā-kāra as per śākhā custom)." }
{ "gloss_summary": "The hymn is fashioned like a well-joined chariot for Jātavedas; ‘pramati’ is the right guiding intelligence; ‘saṃsadi’ is the sadas (ritual hall). Prayer: in Agni’s friendship may we not be harmed.", "ritual_interpretation": "Emphasizes faultless performance in the Soma-assembly; Agni’s guidance secures correctness of acts and chants.", "theological_insight": "Agni is both recipient and regulator: the deity who accepts praise also grants the intellect that makes praise effective.", "etymology_highlights": "Jātavedas = ‘jāta’ (born/manifest) + ‘veda’ (knowing); pramati as ‘pra’ (forward/complete) + ‘mati’ (thought)." }