Mantra 12
Sukta 2
यौ ते श्वानौ यम रक्षितारौ चतुरक्षौ पथिषदी नृचक्षसा । ताभ्यां राजन् परि धेह्येनं स्वस्त्यऽस्मा अनमीवं च धेहि
yaú te śvā́nau yama rakṣitā́rau caturákṣau pathiṣádī nṛcákṣasā | tā́bhyāṃ rā́jan pári dhehy enaṃ svastí ’smā anāmīváṃ ca dhehi
The two Dogs that are thine, O Yama, guardians, four-eyed, seated on the path, beholding men—with those two, O King, encompass thou this man; set for him welfare, and set him free from hurt.
Rishi: Atharvanic funeral tradition (AV 18)
Devata: Yama (primary); his two dogs (subsidiary guardians)
Chandas: Triṣṭubh-like
{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhayankara","emotional_arc":"From the stark image of path-guardians to reassurance through royal protection and welfare.","listener_experience":"A sense of being watched transforms into being protected; fear softens into trust.","intensity":5}