Mantra 2

Sukta 38

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

येना निचक्र आसुरीन्द्रं देवेभ्यस्परि । तेना नि कुर्वे त्वामहं यथा तेऽसानि सुप्रिया

IAST Transliteration

yénā nícakra āsurī́ndraṃ devébhyaḥ spári | ténā ní kurve tvā́m aháṃ yáthā te ’sā́ni supriyā́ ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

By that whereby the Asurī brought Indra low, and severed him away from the Gods—by that same means do I subject thee, that I may be unto thee exceeding dear.

Word by Word

येनby which; with which

निचक्रhe drove down; he overthrew

आसुरीम्the Asuric/demonic (power)

इन्द्रम्Indra

देवेभ्यःto/for the gods

परिaway; around; off (as an adverbial particle)

तेनwith that; by that

निdown; in; firmly

कुर्वेI make; I effect

त्वाम्you

अहम्I

यथाso that; in such a way that

तेof you; your

असानीmay I be

सुप्रियाvery dear; well-beloved

Attribution

Rishi: Traditionally Atharvanic/Angirasa attribution for coercive charms (hymn-level tradition varies by anukramaṇī)

Devata: Āsurī (personified coercive power) / Vaśīkaraṇa-śakti

Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (predominant in this section)

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"shringara","secondary_rasa":"raudra","emotional_arc":"Desire intensifies into domination; sweetness (‘dear’) is pursued through force.","listener_experience":"Magnetic but unsettling; a push-pull of longing and aggression.","intensity":7}