Mantra 5
Sukta 5
शर्व एनमिश्वासो दक्षिणाया दिशो अन्तर्देशादनुष्ठातानु तिष्ठति नैनं शर्वो न भवो नेशानः
śárva énam iṣvā́so dákṣiṇāyā diśó antardeśā́d anuṣṭhātā́nu tíṣṭhati náinam śárvo ná bhavó néśānaḥ
From the southern quarter, from the mid-region, the Archer—Śarva—stands attendant upon him as the performer; and Śarva shall not smite him, nor Bhava, nor Īśāna.
Rishi: Traditionally within AV 15 (Vrātya material): associated with Atharvanic/Angirasa transmission; specific r̥ṣi attribution is unstable across ancillary lists
Devata: Rudra in his names Śarva, Bhava, Īśāna; also the personified ‘Archer’ as protective function
Chandas: Mixed/prose-like Atharvanic cadence; not securely metrical (often treated as anustubh-adjacent in recensional practice)
{"primary_rasa":"bhayankara","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_arc":"From ominous south-fear to calm security through pacification.","listener_experience":"A felt ‘closing’ of the vulnerable side; relief after naming the danger.","intensity":6}