Mantra 2
Sukta 31
य आशानामाशापालाश्चत्वार स्थन देवाः । ते नो निरृत्याः पाशेभ्यो मुञ्चतांहसो अंहसः
yé āśā́nām āśā-pā́lāś catvā́raḥ sthána devā́ḥ | té no nírṛtyā́ḥ pā́śebhyo muñcatā́ṃhaso aṃhásaḥ ||
Ye who are warders of the Quarters—four Gods, stand ye firm: from Nirṛti’s nooses do ye release us, from distress, from distress.
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (seer not securely individualized for this verse in common indices).
Devata: Āśāpāla-devāḥ (guardians of the quarters); with Nirṛti as the hostile power whose bonds are to be broken.
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (likely; short pādas with Atharvanic cadence).
{"primary_rasa":"bhayankara","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_arc":"From threat (Nirṛti’s noose) → firm protective command → settling into relief.","listener_experience":"A sense of being rescued from a tightening trap; then grounded calm.","intensity":7}