Sukta 53
कालः प्रजा असृजत कालो अग्रे प्रजापतिम्। स्वयंभूः कश्यपः कालात् तपः कालादजायत
kāláḥ prajā́ asṛjat kāló ágre prajā́patim | svayambhū́ḥ káśyapaḥ kālā́t tápaḥ kālā́d ajāyata ||
Time sent forth the creatures; Time, in the beginning, brought Prajāpati to birth. Self-existent Kaśyapa—from Time was born; from Time was born austere Heat (tapas).
Rishi: Late Atharvanic attribution; variable in tradition.
Devata: Kāla; cosmogonic figures Prajāpati/Kaśyapa/tapas as emanations.
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh.
{"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_arc":"Wonder at origin → settling into calm inevitability.","listener_experience":"Awe mixed with reassurance: life is held by a larger rhythm.","intensity":4}