Mantra 138
Sukta 3
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
सर्पस्त्वा हनिष्यतीत्येनमाह
IAST Transliteration
sarpás tvā́ haniṣyátī́ti enam ā́ha
English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)
‘A serpent will smite thee,’—thus said he unto him.
Word by Word
सर्पःthe serpent
सर्पः:
कर्तृ
TypeNoun
Rootसर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
त्वाyou (object)
त्वा:
कर्म
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
हनिष्यतिwill strike/kill
हनिष्यति:
—
TypeVerb
Root√हन् (हिंसागत्योः)
इतिthus / ‘saying’
इति:
—
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
एनम्him / this one
एनम्:
कर्म
TypePronoun
Rootएतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → एनद्-आदेश
आहsaid
आह:
—
TypeVerb
Root√अह्/√ब्रू (वचन) — परम्परया ‘आह’ (परस्मैपद-परिपूर्णभूत)
Attribution
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (not specified)
Devata: Apotropaic power against serpents/poison (sarpāṇām pratiṣedha)
Chandas: Short narrative/prose segment (meter uncertain)
Mantra Rasa
{"primary_rasa":"bhayankara","secondary_rasa":"raudra","emotional_arc":"Sudden fear/alert → readiness for counteraction.","listener_experience":"A sharp warning that focuses attention and mobilizes protective intent.","intensity":7}