Mantra 4

Sukta 18

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

रिश्यपदीं वृषदतीं गोषेधां विधमामुत। विलीढ्यं ऽ ललाम्यं१ ता अस्मन्नाशयामसि

IAST Transliteration

riśyápadīṁ vṛ́ṣadatīṁ goṣedhā́ṁ vidhámām utá | vilīḍhyàm ’ lalā́myam tā́ asmán nāśayāmasi ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

The Antelope-footed, the Bull-toothed, the Cow-hindering, the Overthrower—yea, and the Licker, the Marked one—those do we from us cause to perish.

Word by Word

• रिश्यपदीम्: (her) having antelope-like feet / swift-footed
• रिश्यपदीम्: कर्म
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रिश्यपद (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/तत्पुरुष-समास)

• वृषदतीम्: (her) bestowing strength/virility; vigorous-giving
• वृषदतीम्: कर्म
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृषदत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)

• गोषेधाम्: cow-warder / protector of cattle
• गोषेधाम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: गोषेधा (प्रातिपदिक; समास)

• विधमाम्: driving away; dispelling
• विधमाम्: कर्म
• Type: Adjective (participial)
• Root: वि + धम् (धातु) → विधमा (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वर्तमानकृदन्त/विशेषणार्थ)

• उत: and; also
• उत: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत

• विलीढ्यम्: licked over; smeared/licked
• विलीढ्यम्: कर्म
• Type: Adjective (past participle)
• Root: वि + लिह् (धातु) → विलीढ (भूतकृदन्त)

• ललाम्यम्: having a mark/crest; ornamented (with a forehead-mark)
• ललाम्यम्: कर्म
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ललाम्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘ललाम’ से व्युत्पन्न)

• ताः: those (fem.)
• ताः: कर्म
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)

• अस्मत्: of us; from us
• अस्मत्: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)

• नाशयामसि: we cause to perish; we drive away/destroy
• नाशयामसि: कर्तृ
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश्/नाशय् (धातु; causative) = नश् → नाशयति

Attribution

Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (specific r̥ṣi attribution varies by anukramaṇī; often classed under Atharvan/Angiras lineages for such apotropaic verses)

Devata: Apotropaic address to hostile female beings (yātudhānī/kr̥tyā-like); functional ‘devatā’ is the expulsion-power of the mantra

Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (4 pādas of ~8 syllables; with Atharvanic flexibility)

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"raudra","secondary_rasa":"bhayankara","emotional_arc":"From recognition of multiple threats to a climactic act of eradication and relief.","listener_experience":"Heightened vigilance followed by cathartic security.","intensity":8}