Mantra 1
Sukta 33
दर्भः। सहस्रार्घः शतकाण्डः पयस्वानपामग्निर्वीरुधां राजसूयम्। स नोऽयं दर्भः परि पातु विश्वतो देवो मणिरायुषा सं सृजाति नः
dárbhaḥ | sahasrārgháḥ śatá-kāṇḍaḥ páyasvān apā́m agnír vīrúd hāṃ rājasū́yam | sá no ’yáṃ darbhaḥ pári pātu viśváto devó maṇír ā́yuṣā sáṃ sṛjāti naḥ ||
Darbha—of thousandfold worth, hundred-stemmed, rich in sap; the Fire of Waters, the royal consecration of plants. May this our Darbha guard us round about from every side: the divine Amulet conjoineth us with life and length of days.
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (late book; r̥ṣi not securely individualized)
Devata: Darbha as Maṇi (divine amulet), with ‘apām agni’ imagery
Chandas: Mixed late meter; tends toward Jagatī length (requires recension-specific scansion)
{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_arc":"From awe at darbha’s cosmic stature to calm assurance of complete protection and long life.","listener_experience":"Feels enclosed, stabilized, and ‘consecrated’—as if placed inside a safe ritual circle.","intensity":5}