Mantra 1
Sukta 50
रात्रिः। अध रात्रि तृष्टधूममशीर्षाणमहिं कृणु । अक्षौ वृकस्य निर्जह्यास्तेन तं द्रुपदे जहि
rā́triḥ | átha rātri tṛṣṭadhū́mam aśī́rṣāṇam áhím kṛṇu | ákṣau vṛ́kasya nírjahyā sténam táṃ drupadé jahí ||
Night! Now, O Night, make the serpent smoke-choked, make him headless. Tear out the wolf’s two eyes; smite that thief with the wooden fetter, in the stocks.
रात्रि! अब, हे रात्रि, उस सर्प को धुएँ से घुटा हुआ कर, उसे निरशीर्ष कर। भेड़िये की दोनों आँखें उखाड़ दे; उस चोर को द्रुपद (काष्ठ-बेड़ी/काठ के बंधन, स्टॉक्स) में मार, दंड दे।
Rishi: Atharvanic
Devata: Rātrī (primary); hostile beings (ahi/vṛka/stena) as targets
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh-like (with opening vocative marker)
{"primary_rasa":"raudra","secondary_rasa":"bhayankara","emotional_arc":"From invocation to escalating neutralizations to final restraint.","listener_experience":"A sense of fierce protection—fear is converted into commanding authority.","intensity":9}