Mantra 56
Sukta 3
दक्षिणायै त्वा दिश इन्द्रायाधिपतये तिरश्चिराजये रक्षित्रे यमायेषुमते । एतं परि दद्मस्तं नो गोपायतास्माकमैतोः । दिष्टं नो अत्र जरसे नि नेषज्जरा मृत्यवे परि णो ददात्वथ पक्वेन सह सं भवेम
dákṣiṇāyai tvā diśá índrāyā́dhipataye tíraścīrājaye rakṣitré yamā́yeṣumate | etáṃ pári dadmás táṃ no gopāyatā́smākam aitóḥ | diṣṭáṃ no átra járase ní neṣaj jarā́ mṛtyáve pári ṇo dadātv átha pakvéna sahá sám bhavema ||
To the Southern Quarter thee we commit—unto Indra the Overlord, unto Tiraścīrāja the Guardian, unto Yama armed with arrows. This do we set about: let it guard us from the assailant that comes against our own. Let the appointed ill here settle for old age; let Old Age assign us away from Death; then with full ripeness may we together be made whole.
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (AVŚ 12.3; anukramaṇī-dependent)
Devata: Regents of the South: Indra (adhipati), Tiraścīrāja (rakṣitṛ), Yama (iṣumat)
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh-expanded / mixed
{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhayankara","emotional_arc":"Acknowledgment of dread (south/Yama) → empowerment (Indra) → calm containment → mature acceptance of aging.","listener_experience":"A sober steadiness; fear is present but governed.","intensity":6}