Mantra 1
Sukta 7
सर्वाधारवर्णनम्। कस्मिन्नङ्गे तपो अस्याधि तिष्ठति कस्मिन्नङ्ग ऋतमस्याध्याहितम्। क्वऽ व्रतं क्वऽ श्रद्धास्य तिष्ठति कस्मिन्नङ्गे सत्यमस्य प्रतिष्ठितम्
kásmin aṅgé tápaḥ asyā́dhi tiṣṭhati kásmin aṅga ṛtám asyā́dhyāhitam | kvà vratáṃ kvà śraddhā́syá tiṣṭhati kásmin aṅgé satyám asyá prátiṣṭhitam ||
In what, I pray thee, standeth the ardor of this? In what, O dear one, is the Order thereof laid up? Where stand its ordinance, where its Faith? In what, I pray thee, is its Truth established fast?
Rishi: Speculative Atharvanic seer-tradition (often attributed in anukramaṇī to a brahmavādin figure; varies by tradition)
Devata: Kasmai?/Brahman (the ‘What?’ as ultimate support; implicit Brahmanic principle)
Chandas: Tr̥ṣṭubh/Jagatī-like (longer pādas; interrogative brahmodya style)
{"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_arc":"Wonder and questioning → quiet orientation toward a hidden ground.","listener_experience":"Awe mixed with intellectual humility; a sense of standing before a vast support.","intensity":6}