Mantra 1
Sukta 16
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
अभयम्। असपत्नं पुरस्तात् पश्चान्नो अभयं कृतम्। सविता मा दक्षिणत उत्तरान्मा शचीपतिः
IAST Transliteration
abháyam | asapátnam purástāt paścā́n no abháyaṃ kṛtám | savitā́ mā dakṣiṇatá uttarā́n mā śacī́patiḥ ||
English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)
Fearlessness—rival-less in front, behind for us is fearlessness made. Let Savitar guard me from the south; from the north let the Lord of Śacī guard me.
Word by Word
अभयम्fearlessness; safety
अभयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootअ-भय (प्रातिपदिक) < भय
असपत्नम्without rivals; uncontested
असपत्नम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअ-सपत्न (प्रातिपदिक) < सपत्न
पुरस्तात्in front; from the east/fore
पुरस्तात्:
Adhikaraṇa
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुरस् + तात् (अव्यय-निर्माण)
पश्चात्behind; from the west/aft
पश्चात्:
Adhikaraṇa
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपश्चात् (अव्यय)
नःof us; for us
नः:
Sampradāna
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
अभयम्fearlessness; safety
अभयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootअ-भय (प्रातिपदिक) < भय
कृतम्made; established
कृतम्:
Karma
TypeVerb (past passive participle)
Root√कृ (करणे) → कृत (क्त-प्रत्यय)
सविताSavitṛ (the impeller, Sun-god)
सविता:
Kartā
TypeNoun
Rootसवितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
माme
मा:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
दक्षिणतःfrom the south; on the right
दक्षिणतः:
Adhikaraṇa
TypeIndeclinable
Rootदक्षिण + तस् (अव्यय-निर्माण)
उत्तरात्from the north
उत्तरात्:
Adhikaraṇa
TypeIndeclinable
Rootउत्तर + तस्/आत् (अव्यय-निर्माण)
माme
मा:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
शचीपतिःŚacīpati (Indra, lord of Śacī)
शचीपतिः:
Kartā
TypeNoun (proper epithet)
Rootशचीपति (प्रातिपदिक) = शची + पति
Attribution
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (anonymous/collective)
Devata: Abhaya; Savitar; Indra (Śacīpati)
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (compressed, charm-like)
Mantra Rasa
{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"vira","emotional_arc":"From alertness (naming threats/directions) to settled confidence (guardians installed).","listener_experience":"A sense of being ‘covered’ and socially unassailable.","intensity":4}