Mantra 57
Sukta 3
प्रतीच्यै त्वा दिशे वरुणायाधिपतये पृदाकवे रक्षित्रेऽन्नायेषुमते । एतं परि दद्मस्तं नो गोपायतास्माकमैतोः । दिष्टं नो अत्र जरसे नि नेषज्जरा मृत्यवे परि णो ददात्वथ पक्वेन सह सं भवेम
pratī́cyai tvā diśé váruṇāyā́dhipataye pṛdā́kave rakṣitré ’nnā́yeṣumate | 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 Western Quarter thee we commit—unto Varuṇa the Overlord, unto Pṛdāku the Guardian, unto Food 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 West: Varuṇa (adhipati), Pṛdāku (rakṣitṛ), Anna (iṣumat)
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh-expanded / mixed
{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_arc":"From concern about threat and depletion → wonder at food as divine protector → calm confidence in order and longevity.","listener_experience":"A grounded sense of being fed and protected; security through sufficiency.","intensity":4}