Mirror: http://tinyurl.com/o8etgjb

Seated male sculpture, or "Priest King" from Mohenjo-daro (41, 42, 43). Fillet or ribbon headband with circular inlay ornament on the forehead and similar but smaller ornament on the right upper arm. The two ends of the fillet fall along the back and though the hair is carefully combed towards the back of the head, no bun is present. The flat back of the head may have held a separately carved bun as is traditional on the other seated figures, or it could have held a more elaborate horn and plumed headdress.

Two holes beneath the highly stylized ears suggest that a necklace or other head ornament was attached to the sculpture. The left shoulder is covered with a cloak decorated with trefoil, double circle and single circle designs that were originally filled with red pigment. Drill holes in the center of each circle indicate they were made with a specialized drill and then touched up with a chisel. Eyes are deeply incised and may have held inlay. The upper lip is shaved and a short combed beard frames the face. The large crack in the face is the result of weathering or it may be due to original firing of this object.

Material: white, low fired steatite
Dimensions: 17.5 cm height, 11 cm width
Mohenjo-daro, DK 1909
National Museum, Karachi, 50.852
Marshall 1931: 356-7, pl. XCVIII

Tracing the roots of a Meluhha expression dhāvaḍa iron-smelters of ancient times signified by Indus Script hieroglyph 'three twisted strands of rope' 

Mohenjo-daro stone statue. On his forehead and on his right shoulder is seen a string with a 'dotted circle'. Dotted circles together with trefoils decorate the uttariyam he wears leaving his right-shoulder bare.

The trefoil may be signified by the gloss  tridhāˊtu -- ʻthreefold (strands)ʼ. The string with bead adorning his shoulder and forehead may be a rendering of  kand'fire-altar' for (smelting) dhāū, dhāv 'red ore'.

An evidence for this argument comes from the gloss: dām m. ʻyoung ungelt oxʼ (Wg.)(CDIAL 6184) which is rebus for दामा dāmā A string, cord which ties the dotted circle (bead) on the priest's forehead and right shoulder. A further reinforcement is provided by an archaeologically attested artifact of a stone sculpture of a calf adorned with 'trefoil' hieroglyphs.

The word दामा dāmā 'string' evokes the metalwork of the smelters using bellows: ध्मातृ m. a blower , smelter or melter (of metal) Rigveda RV. v , 9 , 5 Sukta appended. A derived etymon is dhamaga'blacksmith' (Prakritam).

Sumerian marble calf with inlaid trefoils of blue stone. From the late Uruk era, 

Jemdet Nasr cira 3300 - 2900 B.C.E 5.3 cm. long; Vorderasiatisches Museum, 

See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/09/indus-script-priest-with-trefoil.html

The use of the fire-altar for ores is a process of purification. The purifier is पोतृ [p= 650,1] प्/ओतृ or पोतृ, m. " Purifier " , N. of one of the 16 officiating priests at a sacrifice (the assistant of the Brahman ; = यज्ञस्य शोधयिट्रि Sa1y. ) RV. Br. S3rS. Hariv. போற்றி pōṟṟi, < id. n. 1. Praise, applause, commendation; புகழ்மொழி. (W.) 2.Brahman temple-priest of Malabar; கோயிற் பூசைசெய்யும் மலையாளநாட்டுப் பிராமணன். (W.) 3. See போத்தி, 1.--int. Exclamation of praise; துதிச்சொல்வகை. பொய்தீர் காட்சிப் புரையோய் போற்றி (சிலப். 13, 92).

Hieroglyph: दामा dāmā A string, cord. (Samskritam) தாமம்¹ tāmam, n. < dāman. Rope, cord, string; கயிறு. (பிங்.) Wreath, flower garland, chaplet, especially worn on shoulders.

Rebus: N. dhāu ʻ ore (esp. of copper) ʼ; Or. ḍhāu ʻ red chalk, red ochre ʼ (whence ḍhāuā ʻ reddish ʼ; M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron -- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ)

Pa. kandi (pl. -l) necklace, beads. Ga. (P.) kandi (pl. -l) bead, (pl.) necklace;(S.2) kandiṭ bead.(DEDR 1215). Rebus: Tu. kandůka, kandaka ditch, trench. Te. kandakamu id. Konḍa kanda trench made as a fireplace during weddings. Pe. kanda fire trench. Kui kanda small trench for fireplace. Malt. kandri a pit. (DEDR 1214) kand 'fire-altar' (Santali)

The fire-altar is used for smelting dhāū, dhāv 'red ore'.

dhāˊtu ʻ *strand of rope ʼ (cf. tridhāˊtu -- ʻ threefold ʼ RV., ayugdhātu -- ʻ having an uneven number of strands ʼ KātyŚr.). [√dhā]; S. dhāī f. ʻ wisp of fibres added from time to time to a rope that is being twisted ʼ, L. dhāī˜ f.(CDIAL 6773) తాడు [ tāḍu ] or త్రాడు tādu. [Tel.] n. A cord, thread, string. A match for a gun. The palm tree, so called because cordage is made from it. See under తాటి. The cord of marriage, being the string round the bride's neck, from which the పుస్తె or tali is hung. Henceతాడు తెగిన (lit. cord broken) means widowed. అగ్గితాడు or జేనకితాడు a match, made of cord dipped in brimstone.

dāmam दामम् (At the end of a compound) Wreath, garland.dāman दामन् n. [दो-मनिन्] 1 A string, thread, fillet, rope. -2 A chaplet, a garland in general; आद्ये बद्धा विरहदिवसे या शिखा दाम हित्वा Me.93; कनकचम्पकदामगौरीम् Ch. P.1; Śi.4.5. -3 A line, streak (as of lightning); वुद्युद्- दाम्ना हेमराजीव विन्ध्यम् M.3.2; Me.27. -4 A large bandage. -5 Ved. A gift. -6 A portion, share. -7 A girdle. -Comp. -अञ्चलम्, -अञ्जनम् a foot-rope for horses, &c.; सस्रुः सरोषपरिचारकवार्यमाणा दामाञ्चलस्खलितलोलपदं तुरङ्गाः Śi.5.61. -उदरः an epithet of Kṛiṣṇa. दामनी dāmanīA foot-rope.दामा dāmā A string, cord. dāmnī दाम्नी A garland; 'यस्या दाम्न्या त्रिधाम्नो जघनकलितया˚'विष्णुपादादिकेशान्तवर्णनस्तोत्रम् 22. (Samskritam) 6283 dāˊman1 ʻ rope ʼ RV. 2. *dāmana -- , dāmanī -- f. ʻ long rope to which calves are tethered ʼ Hariv. 3. *dāmara -- .[*dāmara -- is der. fr. n/r n. stem. -- √dā2]1. Pa. dāma -- , inst. °mēna n. ʻ rope, fetter, garland ʼ, Pk. dāma -- n.; Wg. dām ʻ rope, thread, bandage ʼ; Tir. dām ʻ rope ʼ; Paš.lauṛ.dām ʻ thick thread ʼ, gul. dūm ʻ net snare ʼ (IIFL iii 3, 54 ← Ind. or Pers.); Shum. dām ʻ rope ʼ; Sh.gil. (Lor.) dōmo ʻ twine, short bit of goat's hair cord ʼ, gur. dōm m. ʻ thread ʼ (→ Ḍ. dōṅ ʻ thread ʼ); K. gu -- dômu m. ʻ cow's tethering rope ʼ; P. dã̄u, dāvã̄ m. ʻ hobble for a horse ʼ; WPah.bhad. daũ n. ʻ rope to tie cattle ʼ, bhal. daõ m., jaun. dã̄w; A. dāmā ʻ peg to tie a buffalo -- calf to ʼ; B. dām,dāmā ʻ cord ʼ; Or. duã̄ ʻ tether ʼ, dāĩ ʻ long tether to which many beasts are tied ʼ; H. dām m.f. ʻ rope, string, fetter ʼ, dāmā m. ʻ id., garland ʼ; G. dām n. ʻ tether ʼ, M. dāvẽ n.; Si. dama ʻ chain, rope ʼ, (SigGr) dam ʻ garland ʼ. -- Ext. in Paš.dar. damaṭāˊ, °ṭīˊ, nir. weg. damaṭék ʻ rope ʼ, Shum. ḍamaṭik, Woṭ. damṓṛ m., Sv. dåmoṛīˊ; -- with -- ll -- : N. dāmlo ʻ tether for cow ʼ, dã̄wali, dāũli, dāmliʻ bird -- trap of string ʼ, dã̄wal, dāmal ʻ coeval ʼ (< ʻ tied together ʼ?); M. dã̄vlī f. ʻ small tie -- rope ʼ.2. Pk. dāvaṇa -- n., dāmaṇī -- f. ʻ tethering rope ʼ; S. ḍ̠āvaṇu, ḍ̠āṇu m. ʻ forefeet shackles ʼ, ḍ̠āviṇī, ḍ̠āṇī f. ʻ guard to support nose -- ring ʼ; L. ḍã̄vaṇ m., ḍã̄vaṇī, ḍāuṇī (Ju. ḍ̠ -- ) f. ʻ hobble ʼ, dāuṇī f. ʻ strip at foot of bed, triple cord of silk worn by women on head ʼ, awāṇ. dāvuṇ ʻ picket rope ʼ; P. dāuṇ, dauṇ, ludh. daun f. m. ʻ string for bedstead, hobble for horse ʼ, dāuṇī f. ʻ gold ornament worn on woman's forehead ʼ; Ku. dauṇo m., °ṇī f. ʻ peg for tying cattle to ʼ, gng. dɔ̃ṛ ʻ place for keeping cattle, bedding for cattle ʼ; A. danʻ long cord on which a net or screen is stretched, thong ʼ, danā ʻ bridle ʼ; B. dāmni ʻ rope ʼ; Or. daaṇa ʻ string at the fringe of a casting net on which pebbles are strung ʼ, dāuṇi ʻ rope for tying bullocks together when threshing ʼ; H. dāwan m. ʻ girdle ʼ, dāwanīf. ʻ rope ʼ, dã̄wanī f. ʻ a woman's orna<-> ment ʼ; G. dāmaṇ, ḍā° n. ʻ tether, hobble ʼ, dāmṇũ n. ʻ thin rope, string ʼ, dāmṇī f. ʻ rope, woman's head -- ornament ʼ; M. dāvaṇ f. ʻ picket -- rope ʼ. -- Words denoting the act of driving animals to tread out corn are poss. nomina actionis from *dāmayati2.3. L. ḍãvarāvaṇ, (Ju.) ḍ̠ã̄v° ʻ to hobble ʼ; A. dāmri ʻ long rope for tying several buffalo -- calves together ʼ, Or. daũ̈rā, daürā ʻ rope ʼ; Bi. daũrī ʻ rope to which threshing bullocks are tied, the act of treading out the grain ʼ, Mth. dã̄mar, daũraṛ ʻ rope to which the bullocks are tied ʼ; H. dã̄wrī f. ʻ id., rope, string ʼ, dãwrī f. ʻ the act of driving bullocks round to tread out the corn ʼ. -- X *dhāgga<-> q.v.*dāmayati2; *dāmakara -- , *dāmadhāra -- ; uddāma -- , prōddāma -- ; *antadāmanī -- , *galadāman -- , *galadāmana -- , *gōḍḍadāman -- , *gōḍḍadāmana -- , *gōḍḍadāmara -- .dāmán -- 2 m. (f.?) ʻ gift ʼ RV. [√dā1]. See dāˊtu -- .*dāmana -- ʻ rope ʼ see dāˊman -- 1.Addenda: dāˊman -- 1. 1. Brj. dã̄u m. ʻ tying ʼ.3. *dāmara -- : Brj. dã̄wrī f. ʻ rope ʼ.

தாமம்¹ tāmam

, n. < dāman. 1. Rope, cord, string; கயிறு. (பிங்.) 2. Line to tie cattle. See தாமணி. 3. Wreath, flower garland, chaplet, especially worn on shoulders; பூமாலை. (பிங்.) வண்டிமிருந் தாம வரைமார்ப (பு. வெ. 12, இருபாற். 3). 4. Necklace of beads; string, as of pearls; வடம். (பிங்.) முத்துத் தாம முறையொடு நாற்றுமின் (மணி. 1, 49). 5. Woman's waist ornament of 16 or 18 strings of beads; 18W.) 6. Row, line; ஒழுங்கு. தடமலர்த் தாம மாலை (சீவக. 1358). 7. Flower; பூ. (பிங்.) 8. An ornamental part of a crown, one of the five muṭi-y-uṟuppu, q. v.; முடியுறுப்புகள் ஐந்தனுள் ஒன்று. (திவா.) 9. Senna. See கொன்றை. (பிங்.)

damya ʻ tameable ʼ, m. ʻ young bullock to be tamed ʼ Mn. [~ *dāmiya -- . -- √dam]Pa. damma -- ʻ to be tamed (esp. of a young bullock) ʼ; Pk. damma -- ʻ to be tamed ʼ; S. ḍ̠amu ʻ tamed ʼ; -- ext. -- ḍa -- : A. damrā ʻ young bull ʼ, dāmuri ʻ calf ʼ; B. dāmṛā ʻ castrated bullock ʼ; Or. dāmaṛī ʻ heifer ʼ, dāmaṛiā ʻ bullcalf, young castrated bullock ʼ,dāmuṛ, °ṛi ʻ young bullock ʼ.
Addenda: damya -- : WPah.kṭg. dām m. ʻ young ungelt ox ʼ.(CDIAL 6184)

धातु 1 [p=513,3] constituent part , ingredient (esp. [ and in RV. only] ifc. , where often = " fold " e.g. त्रि-ध्/आतु , threefold&c ; cf. त्रिविष्टि- , सप्त- , सु-) RV. TS. S3Br. &c

धातु 1 [p=513,3] primary element of the earth i.e. metal , mineral , are (esp. a mineral of a red colour) Mn. MBh. &celement of words i.e. grammatical or verbal root or stem Nir. Pra1t. MBh. &c (with the southern Buddhists धातु means either the 6 elements [see above] Dharmas. xxv ; or the 18 elementary spheres [धातु-लोक] ib. lviii ; or the ashes of the body , relics L. [cf. -गर्भ]).

dhāˊtu n. ʻ substance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour) ʼ Mn., ʻ ashes of the dead ʼ lex., Pa. dhātu -- m. ʻ element, ashes of the dead, relic ʼ; KharI. dhatu ʻ relic ʼ; Pk. dhāu -- m. ʻ metal, red chalk ʼ; N. dhāu ʻ ore (esp. of copper) ʼ; Or. ḍhāu ʻ red chalk, red ochre ʼ (whence ḍhāuā ʻ reddish ʼ; M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron -- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ); -- Si. dā ʻ relic ʼ; -- (CDIAL 6773)  هژدات haj̱ẕ-dāt, s.m. (6th) (corrup. of S اژدهات) The name of a mixed metal, bell-metal, brass. Sing. and Pl. د هژداتو غر da haj̱ẕ-dāto g̠ẖar, A mountain of brass, a brazen mountain.

धावडी [ dhāvaḍī ] a Relating to the class धावड. Hence 2 Composed of or relating to iron.धवड [ dhavaḍa ] m (Or धावड) A class or an individual of it. They are smelters of iron.

Ta. tātu powder, dust, pollen. To. to·Q powdery, soft (of flour or powdered chillies). (DEDR3159) Ta. taviṭu bran, minute particle. Ma. taviṭu bran. 

Ka. tavuḍu, tavaḍu id. Koḍ. tavḍï inmost skin of rice grains. Tu. tauḍubran, husk. Te. tavuḍu bran. Nk. (Ch.) tavṛ chaff.(DEDR 3111)

దడ్డీ [ daḍḍī ] daḍḍī. [Tel.] n. A lump or ingot of steel.

Sankhaa shell, conch; mother -- of -- pearl; a chank, commonly used as a trumpet -- dhama a trumpeter D i.259=M ii.19; Mii.207=S iv.322. -- dhamaka a conch blower, trumpeter J i.284; vi.7.  i.Dhamaka ( -- ˚) (adj.) one who blows Miln 31; see vaŋsa˚, sankh˚, singa˚.Dhamati [Ved. dhamati, dhmā, pp. dh amita & dhmāta, cp. Ohg. dampf "steam"] to blow, to sound (a drum); to kindle (by blowing), melt, smelt, singe A i.254; iv.169; J i.283, 284; vi.441; Nd1 478; Miln 262.<-> ppr. dhamāna S i.106; Miln 67. -- Caus. dhameti to blow (an instrument) J ii.110; Miln 31, and dhamāpeti to cause to blow or kindle DhA i.442. -- pp. dhanta & dhanita (the latter todhvan, by which dhamati is influenced to a large extent in meaning. Cp. uddhana). (Pali) ఇధ్మము [ idhmamu ] idhmamu. [Skt.] n. Fuel, చిదుగు, వంటచెరుకు. 1568 idhmávant ʻ provided with fuel ʼ TBr. [idhmá -- m. ʻ fuel ʼ RV.: √indh] इध्म [p= 167,3] 

m. (n. L. ) fuel in , general; fuel as used for the sacred fire RV. AV. S3Br. 

Ka1tyS3r. A1s3vGr2. MBh. &c

ధామము [ dhāmamu ] dhāmamu. [Skt.] n. A house, abode or dwelling. ఇల్లు. A place, చోటు. Light, వెలుగు. Brightness, splendour, కాంతి. వరసద్గుణధామ O thou abode of noble virtues! గుణధాముడు he who is the home of excellence. ధామనిధి dhāma-nidhi. n. The sun. Lit: The abode of brightness.

ధమని [ dhamani ] dhamani. [Skt.] n. A vein. నరము, బోలునరము. A tube or pipe, గొట్టము. A flute. R. vi. 10. ధమనుడు dhamanuḍu. n. One who blows a pair of bellows, కొలిమితిత్తి నూదువాడు. A cruel man, క్రూరుడు. Fire, అగ్ని.

dhama m. N. of ब्रह्मन् m. of यमm. of कृष्ण. 6730 dhamá in cmpds. ʻ blowing ʼ Pāṇ., dhamaka -- m. ʻ blacksmith ʼ Uṇ.com. [√dham]Pa. dhama -- , °aka -- m. ʻ one who blows ʼ, Pk. dhamaga<-> m.; K. dam m. ʻ blast of furnace or oven, steam of stewing ʼ; -- Kho. Sh.(Lor.) dam ʻ breath, magical spell ʼ ← Pers. dam. ध्मातृ [p= 520,3] m. a blower , smelter or melter (of metal) RV. v , 9 , 5; n. a contrivance for blowing or melting ibid. धम [p= 509,3] mfn. 

blowing , melting (ifc. ; cf. करं- , खरिं- , जलं- &c )ध्मात [p= 520,3]mfn. blown , blown up or into RV. &c inflamed , excited W.n. a partic. wrong pronunciation of vowels Pat.(Monier-Williams) 6888 *dhmātra ʻ fireplace ʼ. [dhmātŕ̊ -- n. ʻ implement for smelting ʼ RV. -- √dham]Phal. dhatāˊr, dahatāˊr m. ʻ fireplace ʼ (→ Bshk. dātar), Sv. dāntar -- kuṭha.6824 *dhunman ʻ noise ʼ. [Cf. dhúnimant -- ʻ noisy ʼ RV.; √dhvan. -- Very doubtful: S. L. P. point in part to *dhūmmā -- ]Kal. thumaṛa ʻ dust -- storm ʼ; S. dhūma f. ʻ noise ʼ, L. P. dhumm f., P. dhūm f.; Ku. dhūm f. ʻ gaiety, abundance ʼ; N. dhum ʻ riot, outcry ʼ; A. dhum ʻ noise of an explosion ʼ; B. dhum ʻ thump ʼ; Or. dhūma ʻ noise ʼ; OAw. dhūma f. ʻ uproar ʼ, lakh. dhūm ʻ pomp ʼ; H. G. dhūm f. ʻ bustle ʼ; M. dhūm f. ʻ ardour ʼ. -- Redup. L. P. Ku. dhūm -- dhām f. ʻ tumult, pomp, pageantry ʼ, N. B. Or. dhum -- dhām, H. dhūm -- dhām f., G. M. dhum -- dhām f. 6798 dhārmiká ʻ righteous ʼ Mn., m. ʻ judge ʼ lex., ʻ juggler ʼ Ratnāv. [dharmin -- ]Ku. dhāmī m. ʻ drummer who excites people to dance under the inspiration of a deity ʼ; N. dhāmi ʻ wizard ʼ, dhamini ʻ his wife ʼ; H.dhāmiyã̄ m. pl. ʻ a Hindu sect who are followers of Prānnāth ʼ; M. dhāmyā, °mā, dhām -- gãḍ m. ʻ insulting term of address to a Mādhyandina or Yajurvedī ʼ (LM 354 < dharmya -- ).Addenda: dhārmiká -- : Garh. dhāmī ʻ a priest of folk -- religion ʼ.6757 dhárman1 n. ʻ support, prop, established order ʼ RV. [√dhr̥] Shum. lyēmī ʻ roof ʼ, Kal.rumb. drāmīˊ; A. dhām ʻ big cross beam supporting a platform ʼ. sudhárman--.6737 dhamyátē ʻ is blown on ʼ RV. [√dham] L. dhammaṇ ʻ (night) to turn into dawn ʼ (< ʻ *to be kindled ʼ), dhammī, °mī˜f. ʻ dawn ʼ < MIA. pp. *dhammiā sc. *rāttī. 6734 dhamanī f. ʻ bellows ʼ KātySm., ʻ sort of perfume ʼ Bhpr. [√dham]Pk. dhamaṇĭ̄ -- f. ʻ bellows ʼ, S. dhãvaṇi f., H. dhaunī f., G. dhamaṇi f. (whence dhamaṇvũ ʻ to blow with bellows ʼ); -- K. daman, dat. °müñü f. ʻ bad smell (esp. of stale curd or other bad food) ʼ.6732 dhamana n. ʻ blowing with bellows ʼ lex. [√dham]K. damun m. ʻ bellows ʼ. -- Ash. domótilde; ʻ wind ʼ (→ Pr. dumūˊ), Kt. dyīmi, Wg. damútildemacr;, Bashg. damu; Paš.lauṛ.dāmāˊn, kuṛ. domón, uzb. damūn ʻ rain ʼ (< ʻ *storm ʼ → Par. dhamāˊn ʻ wind ʼ IIFL i 248): these Kaf. and Dard. forms altern. <dhmāna -- ?6731 dhámati ʻ blows ʼ RV. [√dham]

Pa. dhamati ʻ blows, kindles ʼ, Pk. dhamaï, °mēi; K. damun ʻ to roar (of wind), blow up a fire ʼ; S. dhãvaṇu ʻ to blow (with bellows), beat (of pulse) ʼ; P. dhauṇā ʻ to blow (with bellows) ʼ, WPah.khaś. rudh. dhamṇū, G. dhamvũ. -- Kt. dəmō -- , Pr. -- lemo -- ʻ to winnow ʼ rather < dhmāyátē. -- Kho. (Lor.) damik ʻ to work a charm on ʼ deriv. dam ʻ charm ʼ ← Pers. rather than < *dhāmayati. -- Ext. -- kk -- or X MIA. phukk -- , phuṁk -- s.v. *phūtka -- : L. dhaũkaṇ ʻ to blow (with bellows) ʼ; P. dhauk(h)ṇā, dhaũk(h)ṇā ʻ to blow (with bellows), bellow, brawl ʼ; Ku. dhaũkṇo ʻ to blow, breathe ʼ, dhaũkalo ʻ bellows ʼ; H. dhaũknā ʻ to blow (with bellows), breathe on, pant ʼ.(CDIAL)

5.009.01 Mortals bearing oblations glorify you, Agni, the divine; I praise you, Ja_tavedas, for that you convey successively oblations (to the gods). [Ja_tavedas: the name seems to imply, he whom all know to be identical with all that exists; or, Vedasmean wealth, when it will signify, he from whom all wealth is generated].
5.009.02 Agni, is the invoker of the gods (on behalf of) him, the donor (of the oblation), the abode (of the fruit of good works), by whom the sacred grass has been strewn; (he) in whom congregate all sacrifices securing food and fame.
5.009.03 He (it is) whom the two sticks have engendered like a new-born babe; the supporter of men and descendants of Manu, the fit object of sacrifice.
5.009.04 You are laid hold of with difficulty like the young of tortuously-twining (snakes); you who are the consumer of many forests, as an animal is of fodder. [Like the young of tortuously twining snakes: putro na hva_rya_n.a_m, like the son of the crooked-going, like a young snake, ba_la sarpah; or it may mean the colt of rearing and plunging horses, of those not broken in a as'iksi.ta ba_las'vah].
5.009.05 Of whom smoke-emitting, the flames intensely collect; then, when diffused in the three regions, Agni inflates himself in the firmament, like the blower of a bellows, and sharpens (his flames), as (the fire blazes from the blast) of the blower. [When diffused in the three regions: yadi_m aha trito divi upadhama_ti = tris.u stha_n.esu vya_ptah, spread in the three regions; or, tria_i stha_na_ni ati_tya, having gone beyond the three regions; a_tma_nam upa vardhayati, he blows up or enlarges himself; as the fire blazes from the blast of the blower: the text has s'is'i_te dhma_tari, he sharpens as in a blower; i.e., like the fire, which in the proximity of one blowing with a bellows, blazes up, so Agni sharpens his flames,or of himself adds to their intensity].
5.009.06 By the protections of you, Agni, the friend (of all), and by our praises (of you), may we pass safe from the evil acts of men, as if from malignant (enemies).
5.009.07 Powerful Agni, bestow upon us the institutors (of pious rites), that wealth (which we desire); may he discomfit (our foes); may he cherish us; may he ever ready to bestow upon us food; and do you, Agni, be present in battles for our success. 

S. Kalyanaraman
Sarasvati Research Center
November 20, 2015