Sukta 23
शत्रुनिवारणम्। नक्तंजातास्योषधे रामे कृष्णे असिक्नि च । इदं रजनि रजय किलासं पलितं च यत्
náktam-jātā́sy òṣadhe rā́me kṛ́ṣṇe ásikni ca | idáṃ rajani rajaya kilā́saṃ palitáṃ ca yát ||
Night-born art thou, O Herb—O dark one, black one, yea, black-hued besides. This, O Night, do thou make dark again: the kílāsa, and the grayness—whatsoever it be.
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (often transmitted without a single named ṛṣi for minor healing charms; assigned in some indices to Atharvan/Angiras lineages).
Devata: Oṣadhi (the herb) and Rājanī/Night (personified night-power).
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (4 pādas of 8 syllables; typical of Atharvanic healing charms).
{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_arc":"From concern over whitening → invocation of deep night-power → calm confidence in restoration.","listener_experience":"Cooling reassurance; sense of being gently covered and re-integrated.","intensity":4}