Mantra 7

Sukta 96

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

यदि क्षितायुर्यदि वा परेतो यदि मृत्योरन्तिकं नीऽत एव। तमा हरामि निरृतेरुपस्थादस्पार्शमेनं शतशारदाय

IAST Transliteration

yádi kṣitā́yur yádi vā parétó yádi mṛtyór ántikaṃ nī́ta evá | tám ā́ harāmi nírṛter upásthād aspā́rśam enaṃ śatáśāradāya

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

If his life be wasted, if he be as one departed, if verily he be led nigh unto Death—him do I bring back from Nirṛti’s lap, making him untouched, for a hundred autumns.

Word by Word

यदिif

क्षितायुः(he) whose lifespan is diminished

यदिif

वाor

परेतःgone beyond; departed (as good as dead)

यदिif

मृत्योःof death

अन्तिकम्near; into proximity

नीतः(having been) led

एवindeed; just

तम्him

आtowards; back (preverb)

हरामिI take away; I bring back

निरृतेःof Nirṛti (goddess of destruction/misfortune)

उपस्थात्from the lap/seat (i.e., from the grasp)

अस्पार्शम्untouched; uncontacted

एनम्this one; him

शतशारदायfor a hundred autumns (years)

Attribution

Rishi: AV 20 RV-derived; r̥ṣi attribution uncertain without anukramaṇī cross-check.

Devata: Nirṛti/Mṛtyu as adversarial powers; implicit healer-power of the mantra and officiant

Chandas: RV-style; likely Triṣṭubh (verification pending).

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_arc":"From dread and liminality (near Death) to wonder and relief (retrieval; inviolability; long life).","listener_experience":"A sense of being ‘pulled back’ and re-anchored; family experiences reassurance and renewed agency.","intensity":8}