Mantra 17

Sukta 3

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

तृणैरावृता पलदान् वसाना रात्रीव शाला जगतो निवेशनी । मिता पृथिव्यां तिष्ठसि हस्तिनीव पद्वती

IAST Transliteration

tṛṇáir ā́vṛtā paladā́n vásānā rā́trīva śā́lā jágato nivéśanī | mitā́ pṛthivyā́ṃ tíṣṭhasi hastínīva padvátī ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Covered with grasses, wearing her side-boards, like Night, O Hall, a lodging-place for all that moves; measured on Earth thou standest, firm-footed as a she-elephant.

Word by Word

तृणैःwith grasses, by means of grass

आवृताcovered, wrapped

पलदान्straw-mats / thatch-bundles (coverings)

वसानāwearing, putting on

रात्रीnight

इवlike, as

शालाhut, hall, shelter

जगतःof the world / of what moves

निवेशनीdwelling-place, lodging, resting-place

मिताmeasured, bounded

पृथिव्याम्on/in the earth

तिष्ठसिyou stand, you remain

हस्तिनीa female elephant

इवlike, as

पद्वतीhaving feet/steps; footed (firm-footed)

Attribution

Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (house/hall hymn)

Devata: Śālā; protective Night imagery secondarily

Chandas: Mixed/Anuṣṭubh-like domestic cadence (as transmitted in AV śālā-hymn)

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_arc":"Soft covering → protective night → universal lodging → final assertion of firm footing.","listener_experience":"Comforted, grounded, quietly amazed at the home-as-deity vision.","intensity":3}