Sukta 16
उतेयं भूमिर्वरुणस्य राज्ञ उतासौ द्यौर्बृहती दूरेअन्ता । उतो समुद्रौ वरुणस्य कुक्षी उतास्मिन्नल्प उदके निलीनः
utéyáṃ bhū́mir váruṇasya rā́jña utā́sau dyáur bṛhatī́ dūré-antā́ | utó u samudráu váruṇasya kukṣī́ utā́smínn álpe udaké nilī́naḥ ||
And this Earth is of Varuṇa the King; and yonder Heaven, the mighty, whose bounds are far away. And the two Oceans are Varuṇa’s bellies; and in this scant water also he lieth hidden.
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (hymn to Varuṇa; specific ṛṣi attribution varies by anukramaṇī)
Devata: Varuṇa (as king, lord of waters and ṛta)
Chandas: Triṣṭubh (predominant cadence; to be verified by pada count in recensional analysis)
{"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"bhayankara","emotional_arc":"Awe at cosmic vastness, then a chill realization of immanence (‘even in little water’).","listener_experience":"Vastness and accountability; a quiet pressure toward honesty.","intensity":6}