Mantra 4
Sukta 18
निर्वै क्षत्रं नयति हन्ति वर्चोऽग्निरिवारब्धो वि दुनोति सर्वम्। यो ब्राह्मणं मन्यते अन्नमेव स विषस्य पिबति तैमातस्य
nír vái kṣatráṃ náyati hánti várcó ’gnír ivā́rabdho ví dunoti sárvam | yó brā́hmaṇaṃ mányate ánnam evá sá viṣásya píbati taimā́tasya ||
Verily it leads his kṣatra forth, it smites his splendour; like fire once seized and kindled it shakes all asunder. He who deems the Brahmin to be but food—he drinks of poison, of Taimāta’s bane.
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (Atharvan/Angiras milieu)
Devata: Brahman (sacral power) with Agni as operative simile
Chandas: Mixed/Anuṣṭubh-like (Atharvanic pragmatic meter; exact scansion requires pada-length verification)
{"primary_rasa":"raudra","secondary_rasa":"bhayankara","emotional_arc":"From declaration of loss (kṣatra/varcas) to catastrophic fire-image to final poison verdict.","listener_experience":"A stern moral shock; deterrence through awe and fear.","intensity":9}