Sukta 24
मरुतां पिता पशूनामधिपतिः स मावतु । अस्मिन् ब्रह्मण्यस्मिन् कर्मण्यस्यां पुरोधायामस्यां प्रतिष्ठायामस्यां चित्त्यामस्यामाकूत्यामस्यामाशिष्यस्यां देवहूत्यां स्वाहा
marútā́m pitā́ paśūnā́m ádhipatiḥ sá mā́vatu | asmín bráhmaṇy asmín kármaṇy asyā́m purodhā́yām asyā́m pratiṣṭhā́yām asyā́m cittíyām asyā́m ākū́tyām asyā́m āśíṣy asyā́m devahū́tyāṃ svā́hā
The Father of the Maruts, the Lord of cattle—may he protect me: in this sacred spell, in this operation; in this fore-setting, in this establishment; in this intent, in this resolve; in this benediction, in this god-invocation—Svāhā!
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (exact r̥ṣi attribution varies by anukramaṇī for this section)
Devata: A protective overlord figure designated by epithets (Father of the Maruts; Lord of cattle)
Chandas: Mixed prose-like anuvāka with mantra cadence (not a strict single meter; litany style)
{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_arc":"From invoking a powerful overlord → expanding protection across layers → sealing calm certainty with svāhā.","listener_experience":"A feeling of being ‘covered on all sides’; procedural confidence and quiet strength.","intensity":4}