Mantra 77
Sukta 8
सोऽर्धमासानां पाशान्मा मोचि । तस्येदं वर्चस्तेजः प्राणमायुर्नि वेष्टयामीदमेनमधराञ्चं पादयामि
só ’rdhamāsā́nāṁ pāśā́n mā́ moci | tásyedáṁ varcás téjaḥ prāṇám ā́yur ní veṣṭayāmi ídam enam adharā́ñcam pādayāmi
Let him not be loosed from the half-months’ nooses. His splendour—his fiery force, his breath, his life—I wrap fast about; this man I make downward-turned, I press him down beneath.
Rishi: Atharvanic/Angiras attribution (varies by anukramaṇī)
Devata: Pāśa (bond/noose) and the mantra’s binding force
Chandas: Mixed; first clause short injunction, followed by prose-like operative formula
{"primary_rasa":"raudra","secondary_rasa":"bhayankara","emotional_arc":"From forbidding release to tightening enclosure, culminating in forced abasement.","listener_experience":"Claustrophobic, coercive; sense of tightening bonds and downward pressure.","intensity":8}