Mantra 15

Sukta 9

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

श्वऽन्वतीरप्सरसो रूपका उतार्बुदे । अन्तःपात्रे रेरिहतीं रिशां दुर्णिहितैषिणीम्। सर्वास्ता अर्बुदे त्वममित्रेभ्यो दृशे कुरूदारांश्च प्र दर्शय

IAST Transliteration

śvànvatīr apsáraso rū́pakā utā́rbude | antáḥ-pā́tre réríhatīṃ riśā́ṃ durnihitáiṣiṇīm | sárvā́s tā́ arbude tvám amítrebhyo dṛśé kúru udārā́ṃś ca prá darśaya ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Dog-followed Apsarases, shape-wearing, and thou, O Arbuda—her that within the vessel licks again and again, seeking harm, hunting what is ill-bestowed: all those, O Arbuda, make thou visible to our foes; their gaping sores, too, show forth.

Word by Word

श्वःtomorrow

अन्वतीःfollowing (fem. pl.)

अप्सरसःApsarases

रूपकाःforms/figures; shape-makers

उतand; also

अर्बुदेin/at Arbuda (name of a being/place; also ‘tumor’ in later usage)

अन्तःपात्रेin the inner vessel/container

रेरिहतीम्licking repeatedly; gnawing

रिशाम्injuries/harmful wounds

दुर्निहितैषिणीम्seeking what is ill-placed/hidden wrongly; mischief-seeking

सर्वाःall (fem. pl.)

ताःthose

अर्बुदेin/at Arbuda

त्वम्you

अमित्रेभ्यःfrom enemies

दृशेfor seeing; to be seen

कुरूदारान्Kuru-people/men of the Kuru (as targets to be shown)

चand

प्रforth; clearly

दर्शयshow (imperative)

Attribution

Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (verify Anukramaṇī assignment per edition).

Devata: Apsarases (as malignant spirits) and Arbuda (personified affliction)

Chandas: Mixed/irregular (verify per critical edition)

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"bhayankara","secondary_rasa":"raudra","emotional_arc":"Uncanny infiltration imagery → decisive exposure/command.","listener_experience":"Creeping recognition of hidden harm followed by catharsis through revelation.","intensity":7}