Mantra 1
Sukta 20
सुरक्षा। अप न्यधुः पौरुषेयं वधं यमिन्द्राग्नी धाता सविता बृहस्पतिः । सोमो राजा वरुणो अश्विना यमः पूषास्मान् परि पातु मृत्योः
su-rakṣā́ | áp ní adhúḥ pauruṣéyaṃ vadháṃ yám índrāgnī́ dhā́tā savitā́ bṛ́haspátiḥ | sómo rā́jā váruṇo aśvínā yamáḥ pūṣā́smān pári pātu mṛtyóḥ
A sure defence have they set up, thrusting away the man-wrought stroke of slaughter: Indra with Agni, Dhātṛ, Savitar, and Bṛhaspati; King Soma, Varuṇa, the Aśvins, Yama—let Pūṣan guard us round about from Death.
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (protective hymn; r̥ṣi attribution varies in ancillary lists)
Devata: Sarvadevatā with emphasis on Pūṣan as guardian against Mṛtyu
Chandas: Mixed/Anuṣṭubh-like cadence with extended pādas (late Atharvanic style)
{"primary_rasa":"bhayankara","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_arc":"Acknowledges danger (man-wrought slaughter) → mobilizes divine coalition → resolves into guarded calm against death.","listener_experience":"From alert fear to contained safety; sense of being surrounded by guardians.","intensity":6}