Mantra 8
Sukta 4
संयतं न वि ष्परद् व्यात्तं न सं यमत्। अस्मिन् क्षेत्रे द्वावही स्त्री च पुमांश्च तावुभावरसा
saṁyátam ná ví ṣparad vyā́ttam ná sám yamat | asmín kṣétré dvā́v ahī́ strī́ ca púmā́ṁś ca tá̄v ubhá̄v arásāḥ ||
As one restrained, it sprang not forth; as one with jaws agape, it closed not on. In this our field are two serpents, female and male: let both of them be void of sap and strength.
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (hymn attributed in later indices to Atharvan/Angiras-type seers; varies by anukramaṇī)
Devata: Ahi (serpent) as the addressed/controlled agent; Indra becomes explicit in later verses of the same sukta
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (predominant in AV charms; verse shows anuṣṭubh-like cadence)
{"primary_rasa":"bhayankara","secondary_rasa":"vira","emotional_arc":"Begins with threat imagery (springing jaws) but quickly locks it down into confident containment.","listener_experience":"Fear is acknowledged then mastered; a ‘sealed perimeter’ feeling.","intensity":7}