Mantra 15
Sukta 3
यथा वातेन प्रक्षीणा वृक्षाः शेरे न्यऽर्पिताः । एवा सपत्नांस्त्वं मम प्र क्षिणीहि न्यऽर्पय पूर्वान्जातां उतापरान् वरणस्त्वाभि रक्षतु
yáthā vā́tena prá-kṣīṇā vṛkṣā́ḥ śére ní-’rpitāḥ | evā́ sapatnā́n tváṃ máma prá kṣiṇīhi ní-’rpaya pū́rvān jātā́m utā́parān varuṇás tvā́bhi rakṣatu ||
As, wasted by the Wind, the trees lie there, cast down,—even so do thou waste away my rivals and lay them low, those born before and those that shall be born hereafter. May Varuṇa guard thee round about.
Rishi: Atharvanic/Āṅgirasa line (per Anukramaṇī tradition; variable)
Devata: Varuṇa; operative agent: Maṇi (addressed as ‘tvam’)
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh
{"primary_rasa":"raudra","secondary_rasa":"bhayankara","emotional_arc":"From stark natural devastation (felled trees) to commanded social devastation (rivals), ending in a protective ‘seal’ of authority.","listener_experience":"A sense of hard certainty and dominance, tempered by Varuṇa’s guarding presence.","intensity":8}