Sukta 20
शत्रुनिवारणम्। अदारसृद् भवतु देव सोमास्मिन् यज्ञे मरुतो मृडता नः । मा नो विददभिभा मो अशस्तिर्मा नो विदद् वृजिना द्वेष्या या
adā́rasṛd bhavatu deva somā́smín yajñé maruto mṛḍátā naḥ | mā́ no vidád abhibhā́ mó aśástir mā́ no vidád vṛjínā dveṣyā́ yā́ ||
Unhindered in its course be thou, O god Soma, in this our sacrifice; and ye, O Maruts, be gracious unto us. Let not overpowering oppression find us; nor, indeed, let evil repute find us; let not the hateful mischief, the wrong, find us.
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (often transmitted without a single named ṛṣi in practical prayoga; to be confirmed against the Anukramaṇī for AV 1.20.1).
Devata: Soma and the Maruts (protective deities invoked for unobstructed rite and mercy).
Chandas: Predominantly Anuṣṭubh-like cadence (to be metrically confirmed against pada-count in the edition used).
{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"vira","emotional_arc":"Begin with confident flow → call for gracious protection → repeated negations build a calm, fortified field.","listener_experience":"Steadying reassurance; sense of being socially and ritually ‘covered.’","intensity":4}